Oilers Coaching Changes Coming? Not What You Might Think

It’s nearing the end of the season and well we don’t have much to talk about in the way of successes. While I’d much rather be writing about who the Oilers are going to be playing in the first round of the playoffs, instead I’ve been thinking about whom the Oilers might draft, sign or trade this off season.

Something else that I, and many of you have probably been thinking is what the Oilers are going to do staff wise for next season. Craig MacTavish has publicly stated his support for head coach Dallas Eakins so we know it’s not likely he’s going anywhere.

The Oilers have gone through head coaches like I go through underwear (once a year or so). After Craig MacTavish was fired stepped away in 2009 the team has had Pat Quinn (one year), Tom Renney (two years), and Ralph Krueger (one year). It’s because of the constant change at the position and lack of any consistency that I would echo MacT’s statements that Eakins shouldn’t be going anywhere, and while another season of futility like this one shouldn’t be tolerated, another change in the head coach on the team is not what is needed.

That all being said I’ve long been an advocate of Eakins being able to hire his own staff. Keith Acton was an Eakins add so he won’t be going anywhere, so that would mean the replacement of Kelly Buchberger and Steve Smith, the current Oilers assistant coaches. There has been talk about this recently including this article by Jason Gregor which talks about how the majority of playoff teams have much more experience from their coaches than the Oilers do. You can read the whole article here. There is one quote from the article that really stuck with me about the importance of this experience;

Over the past four seasons, the Oilers have elected to use young, inexperienced players in key positions, and it has been a major struggle.

It is time the Oilers insulate them not only with veteran players who can play important minutes, but also with some much needed coaching know-how.

The Oilers’ on-ice deficiencies are apparent, but fixing all of them this off-season is unlikely, and that’s why adding some experience to the coaching staff is a must.

Gregor is absolutely right, changes need to be made. Today I’m going to look at a few coaches that I think might make decent options as replacement for Bucky and Smith.

Craig Ramsay

Fired earlier by the Florida Panthers this season along with assistant coach Gord Murphy and head coach Kevin Dineen, Ramsay’s name has been dropped many times as a possible associate coach for Eakins. Most notably by Bob Stauffer, but also by other members of the mainstream media.

For starters, Ramsay has played more than 1000 games in the NHL, all with the Buffalo Sabres. When he retired with the Sabres he was immediately added to their coaching staff as an assistant. Since then he’s been an assistant coach with the Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators, Philadelphia Flyers, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins. He’s also been a head coach with the Sabres, Flyers and Atlanta Thrashers.

As a head coach his record is rather underwhelming (66-71-7-12), but when he took over in the interim for the Flyers in the 1999-2000 season he led them to the conference finals where they lost to the eventual cup champion New Jersey Devils.

With all the experience Ramsay would bring, one would think he would have a lot to add to the team and be able to take on some of the special teams responsibilities.

Todd Nelson

A little against the grain when it comes to adding an experienced coach but Nelson has done so much with the Oilers farm team that you have to think he’d be given some consideration. Since Nelson has been the head coach in Oklahoma City (2010) He’s had a lot of success, his record is 157-103-40. He has yet to miss the playoffs and is managing to turn out some quality prospects.

He’s also familiar with a lot of the current Oilers roster. He’s coached Hall, Eberle, Justin Schultz along with Anton Lander, Tyler Pitlick, Martin Marincin and Oscar Klefbom. Don’t forget about the continued development of Mark Arcobello.

Nelson is seen as a player’s coach, he can also manage a successful power play and isn’t a bad teacher either. He knows the systems Eakins employs and seems to get the most out of his players. He’s destined for a return to the NHL, He was an assistant coach with the Atlanta Thrasher prior to taking over in OKC, and if the Oilers don’t call him up you can bet it won’t be long before another NHL team comes calling.

Andy Murray

Murray is a name I haven’t yet heard mentioned when it comes to coaching in the NHL for some time, but he’s still coaching and I think if the Oilers are to make a move then he should be at the top of their list. Currently Murray is the head coach of the Western Michigan Broncos in the NCAA where he’s having success and has developed a few NHL talents including Danny DeKeyser and recent Oilers acquisition Jordan Oesterle.

Murray has been with Western Michigan for three seasons and has compiled a record of 59-41-19, in his first season the team won their conference tournament before and early exit in the NCAA tournament. But it’s not his NCAA experience that would make him a good addition to the Oilers coaching team.

Murray, like Ramsay, has a ton of NHL coaching experience. He’s still the Los Angeles Kings all time leader in coaching wins and games coached. He was also head coach of the St. Louis Blues and has been nominated for NHL coach of the year (2009). Before becoming head coach with the LA Kings, Murray spent time as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Flyers, Minnesota North Stars and the Winnipeg Jets. His overall record as an NHL head coach is 333-278-58-71.

The thing I remember about Murray’s teams when he was with LA, they were good defensively. The forwards all played a good two way game and he seemed to get the most from his players. Andy Murray has been away from the NHL for a few years now and I’m sure if the Oilers were to come calling he’d be willing to listen to what MacT had to offer.

What will Happen?

It’s hard to say what Eakins will decide, but I think the consensus is change needs to be made and Dallas has to be able to pick his staff. Whether or not he picks a name off of my list above or goes with two completely different options is yet to be seen. But above I think I’ve laid out three really good options.

You can go for adding a ton of experience by taking both Ramsay and Murray or you can add one of them along with Nelson for a mix, either way I don’t think things can get any worse. What would you do? Let me know below or as always I’m around the twittersphere as @Rustyknuckler.

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