The Edmonton Oilers had an underwhelming playoff campaign, as they were eliminated in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks. Before this season, the Oilers had made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in two straight seasons, losing to the Florida Panthers both times.
According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, there is a high likelihood that significant changes are imminent in Edmonton, whether to the coaching staff, front office, or roster.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli believes significant changes are coming to the organization this offseason.
“I do think significant changes are coming in Edmonton,” Seravalli said on Sportsnet 590. “I think a coaching change is likely. I think it’s more likely than not that Kris Knoblauch and his staff are sent packing. I think there’s likely to be front office changes coming in Edmonton as they reshape and restructure.”
Seravalli also suggested the Oilers may also look to move on from veteran defenseman Darnell Nurse:
“Do they find a way to convince a team, sweeten a package with a team, to move on from Darnell Nurse? I think that’s needed,” he added. “It’s almost like a little bit of addition by subtraction. You can’t have a player taking up that much space on your cap and not producing at a level that is commensurate for your team. That’s on top of going out and getting a goalie.”
Darnell Nurse has often been at the center of criticism, with many questioning whether his on-ice production justifies his hefty $74 million contract.
The comments from Seravalli point to what is expected to be a turbulent summer for the Oilers, as management looks to address significant roster, coaching, and front-office issues following yet another failed postseason run.
Oilers’ Evan Bouchard speaks after Norris Trophy snub
On Thursday, the NHL announced Cale Makar, Zach Werenski and Rasmus Dahlin as the three finalist for the Norris Trophy given to the best defenseman in the league.
One name that surprised many by its exclusion was Bouchard. He recently joined TSN OverDrive and expressed his disappointment:
“When I saw that come out, I was definitely upset a little bit. But you can’t really let that bother you. You don’t really think about it too much during the season. You’ve got a bigger picture — a team thing,” Bouchard said.
Bouchard led all defensemen with 95 points (21 goals and 74 assists) in 82 games. However, some critics pointed to his defensive errors as a reason he wasn’t in the running.
Edited by Abhishek Dilta
