Ex-Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli resurfaces, vying for the Nashville Predators’ top job after years out of the NHL spotlight.
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Jim, do you think any of McDavid’s comments maybe did have a little bit of a deeper meaning, sort of taking jabs at his own coaching staff in Edmonton?
Jim, do you think any of McDavid’s comments maybe did have a little bit of a deeper meaning, sort of taking jabs at his own coaching staff in Edmonton?
do you think there might be any tension between the players and the coaching staff, just based on your experience covering the team?
do you think there might be any tension between the players and the coaching staff, just based on your experience covering the team?
Yeah, it’s a tough one because that response from McDavid came kind of unprompted.
Yeah, it’s a tough one because that response from McDavid came kind of unprompted.
He was asked about Nikita Kucherov and the four points that he had that night, and that was the answer he gave instead of really talking about Kucherov.
He was asked about Nikita Kucherov and the four points that he had that night, and that was the answer he gave instead of really talking about Kucherov.
It was kind of like how perfectly coached the Tampa Bay Lightning are.
It was kind of like how perfectly coached the Tampa Bay Lightning are.
Now, keep in mind, we should go back to his history with John Cooper, right?
Now, keep in mind, we should go back to his history with John Cooper, right?
The Olympics and Four Nations, all this.
The Olympics and Four Nations, all this.
So he knows and he’s getting to know this coach really well.
So he knows and he’s getting to know this coach really well.
So when you have a team like Tampa Bay who comes in and beats you pretty handily, five to two, and you look at how they run that system, and then you look at the frustrations and struggles going on in Edmonton, which has been kind of consistent all season, two steps forward, two steps back, it’s just been that way all year, I can understand why McDavid is frustrated.
So when you have a team like Tampa Bay who comes in and beats you pretty handily, five to two, and you look at how they run that system, and then you look at the frustrations and struggles going on in Edmonton, which has been kind of consistent all season, two steps forward, two steps back, it’s just been that way all year, I can understand why McDavid is frustrated.
What really caught people off guard was the unprompted answer that he just sort of pivoted on his own, and he doubled down and he did it twice in the same interview.
What really caught people off guard was the unprompted answer that he just sort of pivoted on his own, and he doubled down and he did it twice in the same interview.
so that was what really kind of got people surprised.
so that was what really kind of got people surprised.
We all looked around at each other like, “What’s going on here?”
We all looked around at each other like, “What’s going on here?”
Like, “Why is he talking about this?”
Like, “Why is he talking about this?”
And so when we talked to Knoblauch after the game and we, we mentioned the comments, Knoblauch paused for quite a while before he was like, “How do I answer this?”
And so when we talked to Knoblauch after the game and we, we mentioned the comments, Knoblauch paused for quite a while before he was like, “How do I answer this?”
And so he said, “You know what?
And so he said, “You know what?
I think it’s fine.
I think it’s fine.
The, the, the communication and the organization and the systems are, are fine.”
The, the, the communication and the organization and the systems are, are fine.”
There is definitely, I will say this, these, these are coaches and players who I don’t think are on the same page.
There is definitely, I will say this, these, these are coaches and players who I don’t think are on the same page.
I see Knoblauch seeing the game in a different way than I think the stars do, and this is now the second star, McDavid and Dreisel, just before the Olympic break, where he also made a comment at coaching.
I see Knoblauch seeing the game in a different way than I think the stars do, and this is now the second star, McDavid and Dreisel, just before the Olympic break, where he also made a comment at coaching.
so I think the stars see a different thing going on in Edmonton and I think the coaches see a different thing going on in Edmonton, to the point where Paul Coffey was brought in this year to change things up.
so I think the stars see a different thing going on in Edmonton and I think the coaches see a different thing going on in Edmonton, to the point where Paul Coffey was brought in this year to change things up.
So my take is that there probably needs to be at some point on this road trip a kind of let’s have it out on the table moment in Edmonton, where everybody gets together and says, “You know what?
So my take is that there probably needs to be at some point on this road trip a kind of let’s have it out on the table moment in Edmonton, where everybody gets together and says, “You know what?
Those comments probably weren’t meant to be a shot.”
Those comments probably weren’t meant to be a shot.”
And he’s probably telling the truth.
And he’s probably telling the truth.
I wasn’t taking a jab at Knoblauch.
I wasn’t taking a jab at Knoblauch.
I think that’s probably true.
I think that’s probably true.
But I think now that it’s out there and there are questions in the past about the coaching and questions about how the stars see the team and how they’re b- not as good as this, this season as they were last, they do gotta get this out on the table.
But I think now that it’s out there and there are questions in the past about the coaching and questions about how the stars see the team and how they’re b- not as good as this, this season as they were last, they do gotta get this out on the table.
They just gotta air out all their grievances and kind of talk about this and so they can move forward together as a group, because this is the group.
They just gotta air out all their grievances and kind of talk about this and so they can move forward together as a group, because this is the group.
I don’t see Knoblauch going anywhere.
I don’t see Knoblauch going anywhere.
Something would really have to happen for Knoblauch to lose his job this season.
Something would really have to happen for Knoblauch to lose his job this season.
It’s possible, but I don’t see it.
It’s possible, but I don’t see it.
So it, it’s one of those things where I think you just need to get it out there, air it all out on the table while you’re on the road in a conference room or at a restaurant or something like that and say, “Okay, we’ve said it or here’s what we’re thinking.
So it, it’s one of those things where I think you just need to get it out there, air it all out on the table while you’re on the road in a conference room or at a restaurant or something like that and say, “Okay, we’ve said it or here’s what we’re thinking.
Let’s move forward.”
Let’s move forward.”
but I get the sense there is some frustration here, and how can there not be?
but I get the sense there is some frustration here, and how can there not be?
This team has not been very good.
This team has not been very good.
they’ve struggled a lot this season.
they’ve struggled a lot this season.
They are only in the Pacific division, or in the race they’re in because the Pacific division is so bad.
They are only in the Pacific division, or in the race they’re in because the Pacific division is so bad.
McDavid called it a pillow fight of a division.
McDavid called it a pillow fight of a division.
so there’s a lot going on here in Edmonton that I think they’re kind of not real happy about.
so there’s a lot going on here in Edmonton that I think they’re kind of not real happy about.
So I think they’re on the same page.
So I think they’re on the same page.
Do I think it was directly a shot at Knoblauch?
Do I think it was directly a shot at Knoblauch?
No, I think it was probably first a sh- a compliment of John Cooper.
No, I think it was probably first a sh- a compliment of John Cooper.
But when you get the whole pieces all put together, I can understand why this was taken out of context and why McDavid had to kind of walk it back on Monday.
But when you get the whole pieces all put together, I can understand why this was taken out of context and why McDavid had to kind of walk it back on Monday.
So, it’s interesting.
So, it’s interesting.
There’s a lot going on here in Edmonton, and I don’t think everybody’s real happy right now.
There’s a lot going on here in Edmonton, and I don’t think everybody’s real happy right now.
But, I don’t think he was directly trying to insult Chris Knoblauch.
But, I don’t think he was directly trying to insult Chris Knoblauch.