On Wednesday, the Oilers hired Oklahoma City Barons assistant coach Rocky Thompson to the same position at the NHL level. Thompson is a younger guy and an experienced coach, having been an assistant the last seven years, three in the WHL with the Oil Kings, and four in the AHL with the Barons.
He’s a guy that connects well with players, and is a guy that many enjoy playing for. He’s known as a player’s coach, and brings an interesting element to the Oilers’ staff. There is certainly a mix when it comes to what Edmonton has behind the bench now following the hiring of both Thompson, and last month Craig Ramsay.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about the move after it happened, but 24 hours later I’m feeling pretty good about the move, and think that Dallas Eakins made a smart decision bringing on the former NHL’er.
Why Rocky Is The Right Guy:
The Oilers coaching staff has an interesting dynamic to it. Head Coach Dallas Eakins is a technical guy that seems like a bit of a disciplinarian. He’s a stricter coach that clearly expects certain things from his players, and won’t settle for anything less or coddle them. Associate coach Keith Acton is an old school kind of coach with that old school approach to the job.
Craig Ramsay is one of the best pure teachers in the game today, and is a technical guy that is excellent in communicating with players on an individual level. He’s able to find out how each guy learns best, and get the message across to them. That’s highly valuable.
Those three guys will all be on the bench, and while they are a good mix, there is something missing. The Oilers didn’t have anyone who was labeled as a player’s coach and were lacking an eye in the sky. Enter Thompson.
Rocky Thompson is a fun guy by all accounts, and likes to enjoy himself and make other people enjoy the experience of the game. There are numerous videos of Thompson’s player introductions in the locker room in OKC, where players can be seen laughing and having a good time. He’s a guy that can loosen up a room, and bring some personality.
He’s an open guy too, and has good relationships with his players according to most of them. The ones who have spoken regarding the move all say they really enjoyed playing for him and thought he did a great job. He’s a guy the players can turn to, and every staff needs that guy.
He’s already got a relationship with a number of players on the roster from their days in Oklahoma City. Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Justin Schultz, Martin Marincin, and Tyler Pitlick have all spent time under Thompson at the AHL level, and know how he works. That will be valuable.
He’s younger too, at only 36 years of age, and will certainly be able to communicate with the players on the roster. He’s less than ten years removed from playing the game, and understands life as a player in today’s game.
He’s the eye in the sky too, and is experienced in that role from his time with the Barons. Oklahoma City coach Todd Nelson said he was very valuable in that spot down there, and helped give the coaching staff a different perspective and allowed them to make adjustments that they might not have seen from the bench. The Oil haven’t done this for a few years now.
Thompson is also the guy who broke down all the video for the Barons, and should be a huge addition to the Oilers staff in this regard. Many see Thompson as extremely smart in this regard, and he should factor into preparation for opponents and dissecting in-game video.
The Overview:
This move completes the Oilers coaching staff for the upcoming season, and adds that element to the staff that the team was missing. Thompson will help the communication between the players and the staff, and will no doubt help bring some more energy into the locker room on a nightly basis.
He’s a smart guy too, and has some experience in this job. He’s a players coach and will certainly help give the guys someone to talk to. That’s still a valuable commodity in sports, and is often overlooked.
He’s not the homerun that Craig Ramsay was back in June, but Rocky Thompson is a solid hire that got the job based on ability and on merit. He’ll be a good add to the staff, and I firmly believe Dallas Eakins made a very good decision here.
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