“Edmonton Oilers Overhaul Bench with Key Additions: McFarland, Aubry, and Allen Join Coaching Staff in Strategic Revamp”
The Edmonton Oilers made a bold and calculated move this week, announcing a series of coaching hires that could prove pivotal in the franchise’s pursuit of a Stanley Cup. The organization officially welcomed assistant coach Derek McFarland, goaltending coach Peter Aubry, and skills coach Noah Allen to the staff, while also extending assistant coach Glen Gulutzan. It’s a significant overhaul that head coach Kris Knoblauch described as carefully considered, purposeful, and entirely necessary. With these additions, the Oilers aim to tighten the structural screws of a team that already boasts elite talent but still searches for the final elements to push them over the top. The Oilers have come close in recent years, but subtle details and structural inconsistencies have prevented them from seizing hockey’s ultimate prize. These coaching moves, more than just new faces, are designed to sharpen the execution, reinforce the fundamentals, and unlock even more from a roster already loaded with game-breakers.
Derek McFarland’s arrival brings a familiar presence to the Oilers’ coaching suite. McFarland, who previously worked as an assistant coach with the Oilers under Todd McLellan, rejoins the organization with the benefit of both past insight and fresh experience. Most recently an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs, McFarland helped structure one of the NHL’s most potent power plays and brings a modern offensive philosophy that meshes well with Knoblauch’s system. His ability to work with skilled forwards is widely regarded, and with a team that features superstars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers are banking on McFarland’s expertise to elevate their five-on-five attack and special teams efficiency. McFarland is known for his attention to detail, but also his calm demeanor behind the bench — something Knoblauch cited as critical for fostering communication and consistency throughout the lineup.
Equally important is the addition of goaltending coach Peter Aubry, whose presence signals a shift in the Oilers’ approach to developing and managing their netminders. Goaltending has long been one of Edmonton’s most discussed pain points, and the decision to bring in Aubry — who served as the Chicago Blackhawks’ goalie coach from 2015 to 2022 — marks a commitment to specialized development at the position. Aubry’s tenure in Chicago saw the emergence of young talents while also helping veterans maintain strong form. With a reputation for blending analytics with a strong technical foundation, Aubry arrives in Edmonton with a clear mission: to stabilize the crease, improve consistency, and nurture the growth of both incumbent and future goalies. This hire could have a ripple effect across the organization, from the NHL level to the AHL affiliates and prospects, ensuring the team’s goaltending development pipeline becomes more structured, data-informed, and responsive.
In a league increasingly defined by speed, precision, and technical execution, the addition of Noah Allen as a skills coach further showcases Edmonton’s strategic intentions. Allen, who has worked with junior programs and NHL skaters alike, brings a modern, hands-on approach to player development. His focus will include fine-tuning puck handling, skating efficiency, and situational skill execution — the kind of micro-level improvement that can separate contenders from champions. His role may often fly under the radar, but it is precisely the kind of behind-the-scenes appointment that can make measurable impacts over the course of an 82-game season. With young players such as Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg continuing to evolve, and established stars always looking for an edge, Allen’s ability to tailor his sessions to individual needs may offer a fresh developmental spark to the team.
The extension of Glen Gulutzan also carries notable implications. A fixture on the Oilers’ bench since 2018, Gulutzan has provided a steady influence through multiple coaching changes and brings valuable continuity as Knoblauch further molds the team in his image. By keeping Gulutzan in the fold, the Oilers preserve institutional knowledge and maintain a trusted voice in the room — one who knows the inner workings of the locker room, the temperament of the stars, and the team’s strengths and weaknesses over time. While many fans focus on new arrivals, the decision to retain Gulutzan underlines the organization’s desire to balance evolution with stability. It also speaks volumes about his ability to adapt to different coaching regimes while still providing measurable value.
All four moves align closely with the sentiments expressed by Kris Knoblauch, who emphasized that the coaching additions were not arbitrary, but rather the product of targeted reflection and a shared vision. “We knew exactly what we needed,” Knoblauch stated in the press release. That phrase has resonated across Oil Country as a signal of clarity and conviction. It suggests a coaching staff not content with incremental gains but one determined to make systemic improvements — the kind that reverberate from the dressing room to the ice surface. In a league where tactical preparation and staff cohesion can determine playoff outcomes, the Oilers’ brass are betting on this newly constructed group to raise the team’s floor while pushing its ceiling higher than ever before.
The coaching shake-up also indicates the front office’s full support behind Knoblauch’s leadership, giving him the tools and collaborators he wants to best implement his system. Since taking over mid-season last year, Knoblauch made an immediate impact, helping the team stabilize and go on an extended tear to end the regular season. His calm presence, combined with sharp tactical insight, helped revitalize the locker room and refocus the group after a turbulent start. But even after a deep playoff run, the Oilers were left again with disappointment — proof that talent alone isn’t enough. These coaching moves aren’t just about fixing weaknesses; they’re about giving Knoblauch the freedom and staff necessary to oversee a truly cohesive, adaptable, and elite-level operation.
What makes this set of hires even more intriguing is how they complement each other. McFarland brings experience managing high-pressure situations and elite offensive weapons. Aubry offers a fresh methodology in a position the team has long struggled to solve. Allen focuses on granular, individual improvements that pay off in critical moments. Gulutzan provides stability and veteran perspective, having seen both the highs and lows of the franchise’s journey over the past several years. Together, they form a staff that is diverse in background but unified in purpose — a coaching team built not on familiarity or past success alone, but on complementary skill sets and shared strategic vision.
Looking at the broader NHL landscape, Edmonton’s coaching revamp reflects a growing trend in the league: the move toward holistic, specialized coaching infrastructures. Gone are the days when one head coach and two assistants ran every facet of the team. Today’s successful franchises are those that build staffs capable of addressing all levels of performance — from tactical planning to psychological preparation, from skills development to goalie-specific programming. The Oilers, in bringing in this trio of new voices and extending an important internal one, have signaled that they intend to be a part of that modern blueprint. And with a core group that includes generational talents entering their prime, the timing could not be more crucial.
Another layer to consider is how these hires might influence player buy-in and culture. When players see the organization investing in coaching resources that directly help them improve, the result is often a deeper sense of accountability and trust. McDavid, Draisaitl, and the rest of the leadership group are already locked in on bringing a Stanley Cup back to Edmonton, but having a coaching staff equipped to fine-tune their already elite performance can offer that extra motivation and belief. For younger players and fringe roster members, the presence of specialists like Allen can provide the development edge necessary to carve out NHL roles. And for goaltenders, the clarity and structure that Aubry brings can offer consistency in a position often clouded by uncertainty.
As training camp approaches, all eyes will be on how these new coaches integrate into the Oilers’ existing systems and how quickly they can implement meaningful change. The pressure will be immediate. Edmonton is not a team in transition — it’s a contender with no time to waste. The expectation, internally and externally, is that this roster is built to win now. The coaching changes must translate quickly into results. They will be judged not only by regular-season standings or power play efficiency, but by how well the team defends leads in the playoffs, how composed the goaltending remains under pressure, and how effectively the depth players contribute when it matters most.
Of course, coaching hires alone won’t guarantee a championship. But for a franchise with aspirations as lofty as Edmonton’s, every small edge matters. A sharper power play, a more consistent goaltending performance, or a subtle improvement in breakout execution can mean the difference between watching the Stanley Cup Final and playing in it. The Oilers have gambled that this group of coaches — McFarland, Aubry, Allen, and the retained Gulutzan — can provide those margins. They aren’t the headline-grabbing offseason moves that dominate free agency, but in the long run, they could be the most impactful.
The coming months will reveal how well this new-look staff translates vision into reality. For now, the Oilers have made their intentions clear: they’re not standing pat. They’re leaning into every opportunity to get better. And they believe, to borrow Knoblauch’s own words, that they’ve brought in exactly what they need.
