“Edmonton Oilers Complete Bench Overhaul with Ideal Trio: McFarland, Aubry, and Allen Join Knoblauch to Fuel 2025-26 Cup Chase”
The Edmonton Oilers made a powerful statement about their intentions for the upcoming season with the hiring of three key additions to head coach Kris Knoblauch’s staff—Paul McFarland as assistant coach, Peter Aubry as goalie coach, and Conor Allen as skills coach. Each hire addresses specific needs, bolsters critical areas, and reflects the organization’s belief that behind-the-scenes excellence is just as important as what happens under the bright lights on game nights. For an Oilers team built around the transcendent talents of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the pursuit of the Stanley Cup has now become an all-hands-on-deck mission. The addition of McFarland, Aubry, and Allen doesn’t just deepen the coaching staff—it sharpens it. It elevates the daily operation. And it underscores that the front office sees this season as a singular opportunity to win now.
Paul McFarland’s arrival brings a wealth of NHL experience, a sharp hockey mind, and a reputation for building elite offensive systems. He isn’t just another assistant coach—he’s someone who’s been tasked with developing and fine-tuning high-octane attacks in Florida, Toronto, and Seattle. The Oilers are no strangers to goal scoring, but McFarland’s appointment ensures that the team’s offensive identity evolves beyond McDavid and Draisaitl carrying the bulk of the load. His philosophy emphasizes puck movement, quick decision-making, and constant off-the-puck motion, all traits that can empower depth forwards and help Edmonton become less predictable against the league’s top-tier defenses. More than that, McFarland is respected for his ability to communicate complex adjustments in relatable terms. Players understand him. They respond to him. In a locker room full of superstars, youth, and veteran grinders, that ability to connect is invaluable.
Just as important as the tactics is the energy McFarland brings to the bench. He’s known for his calm presence, willingness to listen, and tireless preparation. These are the kinds of intangible qualities that matter most in a playoff series, when momentum shifts quickly and emotional control becomes critical. McFarland’s track record also includes developing strong power plays—something that the Oilers have excelled at in recent years, but which will now benefit from even more nuance and structure. With McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, and others forming a lethal top unit, McFarland will help ensure they stay unpredictable and precise as opponents desperately search for answers.
In Peter Aubry, the Oilers get more than a goalie coach—they get a builder of mental toughness, technical soundness, and consistency. Aubry’s reputation from his time with the Chicago Blackhawks and internationally is that of a modern goalie guru. He understands the position both from a technical standpoint and a psychological one, which is critical for a team like Edmonton that has so often been defined in recent years by its goaltending highs and lows. Stuart Skinner remains the go-to netminder, and while he’s shown flashes of brilliance, the pressure of long playoff runs has at times exposed the gaps in his game. Aubry’s presence is meant to close those gaps.
Aubry’s approach is deeply process-oriented. He works on the details—rebound control, post-integration, read-and-react timing—but does so while building trust with his goalies. He’s not a yeller. He’s a teacher. He makes adjustments, not judgments. That calm demeanor will be essential as Skinner enters another high-expectation season. With Jack Campbell’s future uncertain and a host of young goaltenders waiting in the wings, Aubry’s tutelage could be the difference between mediocrity and excellence in the crease. The Oilers don’t just need good goaltending—they need reliable goaltending. They need goaltending that can steal games in March and shut down scoring threats in May. Aubry has been tasked with making sure Edmonton gets exactly that.
Perhaps the most underrated hire is Conor Allen, whose role as a skills coach may not generate headlines but could quietly have one of the biggest impacts on Edmonton’s season. The NHL has evolved into a league where skill development never stops, even at the highest level. Allen brings a progressive, player-centric mindset to his work. His sessions are detailed, tailored, and built on communication. Players at every stage of their career—from rookies to ten-year vets—benefit from refining mechanics, sharpening edge work, and improving puck-handling under pressure. Allen’s job is to ensure the Oilers’ players don’t just maintain their skill level—they improve it during the grind of an 82-game season.
Where Allen may shine brightest is in his work with young players trying to break through. The Oilers have an exciting prospect pool and a few fringe roster players whose development could make or break the team’s depth this year. Allen will be the one helping them take that next step. Small improvements in skill execution—quicker release on a shot, tighter puck control on the cycle, more effective zone exits—can create huge dividends in real-time games. Allen’s experience as a player and teacher allows him to see those details others miss and improve them in measurable ways.
Together, McFarland, Aubry, and Allen form a powerful trio of coaching talent that complements Kris Knoblauch’s calm leadership and clear system. Knoblauch, who impressed in his first season as head coach, now has a staff that mirrors his strengths and fills in his blind spots. McFarland helps coordinate the game-planning and forward rotations. Aubry ensures the net is secure. Allen builds the foundation, one skill at a time. It’s a well-balanced, intelligent staff that can support players on every level—emotionally, physically, and tactically.
From the front office’s perspective, these hires represent a clear pivot toward precision. After years of being a team that relied on star power to outscore problems, the Oilers are now building the kind of institutional strength that supports sustainable success. These are not flashy signings. But they’re the kind that championship teams make. Every elite franchise in today’s NHL has a world-class support structure behind the bench—one that ensures players never stop growing, game plans never go stale, and setbacks are addressed before they become patterns. Edmonton has joined that tier with these hires.
Fans may not see McFarland diagramming plays on the broadcast, or Aubry tweaking goalie stances in real-time, or Allen guiding extra work after practice, but those moments are where seasons are shaped. Those moments create habits, build resilience, and develop chemistry. That kind of quiet excellence is what separates good teams from great ones. It’s what turns a playoff team into a champion.
The players will also feel the difference. Confidence comes not just from scoring goals or making saves, but from knowing that every day in the facility is helping you become a better version of yourself. When a coach can explain why a play broke down, offer a fix, and see it executed days later—it builds belief. That belief fuels trust. And that trust turns locker rooms into winning cultures. That’s what this Oilers coaching staff is built to do.
Ultimately, these hires send a message to the rest of the league: the Oilers are all in. This isn’t just another run at the playoffs. This is a franchise that has built its core, found its stars, and is now arming itself with the kind of behind-the-scenes intelligence that can elevate them above the rest. With Paul McFarland, Peter Aubry, and Conor Allen on board, Edmonton has turned its bench into a brain trust—one capable of adapting, innovating, and leading under pressure.
As the 2025-26 season draws closer, there will be no shortage of pressure or expectation in Oil Country. But now, behind every shift and every strategy, there will be an elite coaching presence guiding the way. And in the pursuit of a Stanley Cup, that kind of presence could make all the difference.
