Is Edmonton Oilers Coach Kris Knoblauch Any Closer to Fixing the Defence? The Challenges, Adjustments, and Future Prospects
The Edmonton Oilers have long been known for their offensive prowess, led by superstars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. However, the team’s defensive shortcomings have remained a consistent problem. Despite the team’s incredible scoring ability, the inability to keep pucks out of their own net has been a stumbling block in their quest for a Stanley Cup. For years, this defensive liability has undermined their chances of advancing deep into the playoffs. In the 2024-25 season, the Oilers faced yet another season where their defense was the topic of discussion, and coach Kris Knoblauch found himself tasked with solving this critical issue. But as the season unfolded, the question remained: Is Kris Knoblauch any closer to fixing the defense?
Kris Knoblauch took over as head coach of the Oilers after a tumultuous period for the team. While his experience as an assistant coach and in junior hockey helped his reputation, his task in Edmonton was clear — he had to address the defensive inefficiencies that had plagued the Oilers for so long. The Oilers had shown flashes of promise under Knoblauch, but their inability to sustain strong defensive performances over the course of the season kept them from realizing their full potential. With a high-scoring roster, the team was often left exposed on the back end, allowing opponents to exploit their weaknesses. This imbalance created a situation where their offense would need to bail out their defense on too many occasions.
One of the most pressing issues for the Oilers has been their defensive zone coverage. While the team has dynamic forwards capable of scoring in bunches, their defenders have struggled to clear the crease and prevent dangerous scoring opportunities. The Oilers’ blue line has been criticized for poor gap control, defensive zone awareness, and the inability to break out of the zone cleanly. Knoblauch’s challenge was not just to improve individual performances but to implement a team-wide defensive structure that could support the offensive juggernaut up front.
In response to these challenges, Knoblauch made several key adjustments throughout the season. One of the first moves was tweaking the defensive pairings. The Oilers’ blue line was often criticized for being disjointed, with players struggling to develop chemistry and cohesion. By experimenting with different combinations, Knoblauch hoped to find pairings that could stabilize the defense. The addition of veterans like Mattias Ekholm and the development of younger defensemen such as Evan Bouchard were crucial to this process. Knoblauch’s approach was to mix experience with youth, ensuring that the defensive group had both leadership and skill on the ice.
The coaching staff also focused on improving the Oilers’ transition game. A common problem for the team was turning the puck over in their own zone and allowing fast breaks from their opponents. Knoblauch emphasized better puck management and the importance of not forcing plays from the back end. By encouraging defenders to make simpler, safer passes, Knoblauch aimed to reduce turnovers and avoid the quick goals that often stemmed from these mistakes. The improvement in the Oilers’ breakouts was noticeable, with defensemen like Bouchard and Ekholm being more reliable in moving the puck up the ice and starting plays rather than stalling the offense.
Another critical aspect that Knoblauch worked on was the penalty kill. The Oilers had one of the worst penalty kills in the league, and this weakness often came to the forefront in high-pressure games. Knoblauch made it a priority to improve the team’s ability to kill penalties, and while it was a work in progress, the improvements were visible. By tweaking their systems and focusing on better positioning and discipline, the Oilers began to show signs of improvement. However, this area remains a point of concern for Knoblauch, as there were still instances where the Oilers’ penalty kill was exposed, especially against high-powered power plays.
Knoblauch also worked to change the culture around defense within the team. One of the underlying issues with the Oilers’ defensive struggles was a lack of commitment to playing defense. Players like McDavid and Draisaitl had often been guilty of floating on the backcheck or being caught in transition, leaving their defenders exposed. Knoblauch’s approach was to instill a sense of responsibility and accountability. He emphasized that everyone on the team, from the forwards to the defensemen, needed to contribute to both ends of the ice. This meant McDavid and Draisaitl would have to play more defensively responsible hockey, with better backchecking and support in the defensive zone.
As the season progressed, the results were somewhat mixed. While the team did show improvements in some areas, such as allowing fewer odd-man rushes and playing a more structured defensive system, the Oilers continued to struggle with consistency. At times, the defense would still unravel in critical moments, especially against high-pressure teams in the playoffs. This inconsistency raised the question of whether Knoblauch’s efforts were enough to fix the problem or whether the team needed a more substantial overhaul on the blue line.
One of the major talking points in Edmonton was the play of goaltender Stuart Skinner. While Skinner showed flashes of brilliance, his play was often erratic, and he struggled to make key saves in critical moments. Knoblauch’s defense could only do so much if the goaltender wasn’t able to step up and make those key stops. Skinner’s inconsistency was a concern, and the team had to rely heavily on their offense to bail them out of games. While goaltending is not solely the responsibility of the head coach, Knoblauch’s ability to work with Skinner and other netminders would play a crucial role in the team’s defensive success moving forward.
Knoblauch’s relationship with the defensemen on the roster also came under scrutiny. While there were moments of improvement from players like Bouchard and Ekholm, some felt that Knoblauch’s system was too complicated for certain players to execute effectively. A few defensive players appeared to struggle with the more nuanced aspects of the system, leading to breakdowns in coverage and more scoring opportunities for opponents. As a result, Knoblauch had to balance his defensive system with the individual strengths of his players, ensuring that they were able to perform without being overwhelmed by complexity.
Despite these challenges, Knoblauch remained optimistic about the potential of the Oilers’ defense. He understood that fixing a defense that had been a problem for so long would take time. The team had to be patient and allow the players to grow into their roles within the system. There was also the looming issue of cap space and whether the Oilers could make any moves to further strengthen their defense. While Knoblauch had worked with the pieces at his disposal, the Oilers’ management would likely need to make moves in the off-season to address some of the defensive holes.
As the 2025-26 season approached, Knoblauch was faced with the pressure of delivering results. The Oilers were once again a championship contender based on their offensive talent, but their defense would need to improve significantly if they were to finally break through and win a Stanley Cup. The question on everyone’s mind was whether Knoblauch’s adjustments would be enough to get the Oilers over the hump. With the right balance of coaching, personnel, and player development, there was hope that the team could become more defensively responsible and give their offensive stars the support they needed to succeed.
In conclusion, while Kris Knoblauch has made notable strides in addressing the Edmonton Oilers’ defensive issues, the question of whether he has fixed the problem remains unanswered. The defensive system has shown improvement, but consistency continues to be a problem. Knoblauch’s ability to fine-tune his coaching strategies, work with his players, and get the most out of his goaltending will be critical in the coming years. If the Oilers can find the right balance between their explosive offense and improved defense, they may finally be able to compete for a championship. Until then, the jury is still out on whether Knoblauch is truly any closer to fixing the defense in Edmonton.
