Could Big Changes Be Coming for the Oilers? 😳 | NHL Insider Notebook

When it comes to the Edmonton Oilers, what a disappointing season it has been. If you’re looking at the quarter mark and handing out some report cards, I’m giving the Edmonton Oilers a D. And the only thing that’s saving them from a failing grade is the fact that they’ve somehow been able to milk out points in games that they don’t have any business winning, like against the Philadelphia Flyers or Columbus Blue Jackets last week. gets pumped up their numbers and made their spot in the standings seem like they’re on a better trajectory than many would have uh envisioned at this point in time. Um look, it’s been a disaster on so many different fronts. And we talked very early on in today’s show about the idea of the over reliance that the Oilers forwards have had on Conor McDavid and Leon Dry settle. Believe it or not, if you look back over the last 10 years, the Oilers have gotten fewer points and production out of the bottom half of their lineup this year than any other year in the McDavid and Dryidle experience, which is kind of hard to believe. Uh, when you talk about a net goal share so far this season, uh, with the Oilers, McDavid and Dry settle on the ice versus off of it. Um they’re they’ve been outscored 30-9 so far this season with Conor McDavid and Leon Dryidle off the ice. That is crazy. So where do the Oilers go from here? Well, David Tomasic hasn’t worked. Isaac Howard is back in Bakersfield. Matt Seavoy is trending in the right direction. He looks like a guy who’s coming on is going to be a player for this team. The Oilers need not just help defending, not just in net where their goalending has been poor, but they also need some more talent on their forward group. That is definitely evident so far. And man, this depth has eroded in a very short order for Edmonton. So, keep an eye on what Edmonton does next because, you know, I think the seat has gotten a little warmer under Chris Knoblock as this road trip has gone on. They’re not seeing the returns. and uh Jay Woodcraftoft was fired under pretty similar circumstances even though Chris Knobach has taken this team to two straight Stanley Cup finals. The seat’s getting warmer, but beyond that, at some point they’re going to have to do something because missing the playoffs this year and they’re kind of, believe it or not, teetering closer to that edge as we’ve had to readjust some expectations for Edmonton. It’s been ugly. How do they find their way out of it? How do they find more skills? Stan Bowman has his work cut out for him. He’s tried to find solutions. is David Tamasek’s the Swedish leading scorer last season. He’s barely played and so trying to find diamonds in the rough. That hasn’t been it either. They’re going to have to make some tough decisions as the Edmonton Oilers are tied with the Calgary Flames, believe it or not, for uh regulation wins so far this season. They both have just four and Calgary has played one fewer game so far this season. And Calgary is at the bottom of the West standings alongside St. Lewis

The Edmonton Oilers are tied for the fewest wins in the NHL as we approach American Thanksgiving. Is it time to panic in Edmonton? NHL Insider Frank Seravalli discusses what’s next for the Oilers, and the rising pressure on McDavid, Draisaitl, Stan Bowman, and Kris Knoblauch.

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25 comments

  3. main responsible is Knoblauch, he is not a good trainer, no system, pure chaos, did not improve any player. Bowman is just as guilty, does not ack goal-tending as a problem, gave contracts to Fred (useless), too high to Bouch, too quick to Eckholm and Knoblauch. Bowman has failed, Knoblauch has to go, goal-tending needs a number 1, a trainer that is accountable and makes players accountable, particularly on the defense, a strong hand, not a softie as Knob.

  4. I knew when we lost in the 2024 Finals that we were never winning a cup with this group. We simply are not winning with Skinner in net and being leakier than a sieve on D

  7. Last season November 18th 2024 the oilers had 9 wins and 8 losses and you guys were panicking, the oilers ended up going to the cup finals . This year November 18th 2025 the oilers have the exact same record of 9 wins and 8 losses and you guys are panicking
    again lol €
    haven't you noticed how coach
    Kris Knoblauch plays his team ? They will Come on strong in the late December and into the New year like last year.

  8. This season…. is WORSE than past 2 years…. The cup final is DONE….. 30% of all their players have left; awful addition: Fred/Wallman/Maniapani/HOward/Savoie/ NURSE – need to go/ Bouchbomb stupid/ekholm lazy and is done/ and of course the nasty sloppy skinner and Pics… aweful tandum… OILERS will be on pacific bottom…. april 2026. AND KNOB will be fired by end 2025

  12. I would trade Bouchard for Sorokin. Oilers have to have a goalie. Lepponen in Bakersfield could be a replacement for Bouch and Wallman does the PP also.

  13. What’s crazy is the Oilers have never actually built a good team around McDavid and Draisaitl for their entire careers. The two of those players are just so super human they are able to drag a pile of shit to the finals 2 years in a row. In its own way, it’s a testament to how good they really are.

  19. I have been following the Oilers since they entered the the NHL. When the team was in their hay days of winning the cups there was one BIG difference. Wage parity. You don't think so. How bout your job. Your co-worker is making 20,000 more than you. That's great for the co-worker and how do you feel. Wages back in the glory years were relatively close. Edmonton has a lot of super great talent and is disrupting the play. TWO CONTRACTS that need to go are Nurse and Bouchard. WTF have they been doing. Recently gets a goal and all is forgiven. Oh give me a break because he is not worth it. OH got an idea, if Bouchard is that great trade him for a goalie because he can't skate fast enough to catch forwards that pass him. Side note, that has been my observation and opinion. Is there anybody else see the picture as I do.

  21. click bait. The Oilers have a very tough schedule to start the season and, historically, never come flying out of the gates in the first 20 games. It's a marathon not a sprint.

  25. I remember thinking when they hired Knobs, that they should've just promoted Gully.
    Not that I had an issue with Knobs, and hard to argue going the final in back to back yrs…but I would've just promoted Gully at the time…

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