Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch reveals he almost coached the Winnipeg
Photo credit: Edmonton Oilers YouTube
The Stanley Cup Final is brewing with some intriguing backstory.
Kris Knoblauch, head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, reminisced about bumping into Paul Maurice, now coaching the Florida Panthers, at the 2015 NHL Draft.
Knoblauch, then guiding the OHL's Erie Otters, had a chat with Maurice about a gig with the Winnipeg Jets. Connor McDavid was on Knoblauch's roster and ended up as the first overall selection to the Oilers.
Knoblauch didn't get the job but Maurice offered to mentor Knoblauch as he climbed the coaching ladder. Fast forward nine years, and they're squaring off in the Stanley Cup Final.
Knoblauch said he interviewed for an assistant job in Winnipeg with Maurice. Didn't get the job but Maurice offered to mentor him anytime he needed advice. Said he took him up on it a few times over the years.
However, Knoblauch isn't intimidated facing a seasoned coach like Maurice.
And when asked about the importance of Stanley Cup Final experience, Knoblauch had a clever take.
Experience is good. I don't know how much experience is beneficial. You can ask the Buffalo Bills how important Super Bowl experience is.
He's referring to when the Bills lost fourt straight Super Bowls from 1991-94.
| POLL | ||
4 JUIN | 131 ANSWERS Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch reveals he almost coached the Winnipeg Who has the coaching edge in the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers? | ||
| Kris Knoblauch | 52 | 39.7 % |
| Paul Maurice | 79 | 60.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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