Oilers Coach Emerges as Potential Contender for Prestigious Trophy
Photo credit: Sportsnet
The Edmonton Oilers started out the year as arguably the biggest disaster of any team in the league. Now things have turned in the exact opposite direction.
Edmonton Oilers Pull Off Season-Saving Turnaround Under Knoblauch
The Oilers started off the season as one of the worst teams in the entire league. The team went 3-9-1 before head coach Jay Woodcroft got the axe as he was replaced by rookie head coach Kris Knoblauch. Since then, the team has returned to form, catapulting themselves back into a top-three spot in the pacific division. Remarkably, the team is 26-6-0 since making the coaching change. This is in large part thanks to their historic and ongoing 16-game winning streak.
Rest, recharge & reset is the theme of the week for the #Oilers as they take a 16-game win streak into the break.
Then, what happens in Vegas won't stay in Vegas on Feb. 6 as the team will have a chance to tie the @NHL record.
Then, what happens in Vegas won't stay in Vegas on Feb. 6 as the team will have a chance to tie the @NHL record.
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The party is just getting started in Edmonton as the Oilers look to tie the all-time NHL record for consecutive wins tomorrow night as they take on the Vegas Golden Knights. Regardless of the outcome of the game though, head coach Kris Knoblauch has firmly placed himself in the conversation for the Jack Adams award as the best head coach in the league.
Knoblauch To Receive Jack Adams Consideration Following Oilers Turnaround?
Oilers reporters now believe that the head coach could very well be a finalist if not a favorite for the Jack Adams this year. They make some interesting arguments. Zach Laing points to the team's point percentage under Knoblauch.
The Oilers have a .813 points percentage under his tutelage, blowing by the rest of the league. The only other coach in [Oilers] franchise history to win one was Glen Sather in 1985-86.
Jason Gregor believes that there may be better candidates around the league, but also sees no reason why the Oilers bench boss can't be a finalist himself.
If it continues, I think he could be a finalist. Will be hard to beat out Rick Tocchet as he's taken a bad Vancouver team to the top of the NHL. The Oilers weren't a bad team, they were a good team playing poorly, but no question Knoblauch, and Paul Coffey's, approach has helped the Oilers immensely.
The Oilers look poised to grab at least the 2nd spot in the Pacific division as they trail the Golden Knights by five points with five games in hand. This makes tomorrow's matchup all the more important. Stay tuned to see of the Oilers can pull off the historic win.
| POLL | ||
5 FEVRIER | 373 ANSWERS Oilers Coach Emerges as Potential Contender for Prestigious Trophy Do you think Knoblauch deserves to be in the Jack Adams conversation? | ||
| Yes | 233 | 62.5 % |
| No | 140 | 37.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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