With so many different people talking about our Edmonton Oilers, it can be tricky to keep up. Each week, we here at The Oil Rig will compile some of the biggest and best news, updates, rumours, and discussions for you to keep up-to-date on all things Oilers.
This week the Oilers’ continued struggles drag on this road trip, and patience is running thin throughout the fanbase. The team still has yet to win a regulation game since October 28 versus the Utah Mammoth and Elliotte Friedman mentioned today on his podcast that Daryl Katz is putting the pressure on everyone. With this, a whole bunch of news popped over the last week regarding the team.
Let’s get right into exploring these stories, but first, a few quick hit rumours and updates!
Connor Clattenburg is called up and Noah Philp on LTIR
The Oilers have officially recalled 2024 fifth-round pick Connor Clattenburg from the Bakersfield Condors. Clattenburg is known for one thing: being a menace on the ice. He’s not going to provide offence or defence. He’s here to kill the opposition on checks, hits, and beat the ever living heck out of them in a fight. The Oilers have desperately needed some sort of energy or grit to get them involved into games and Clattenburg fits this role perfectly.
Allegedly according to Friedman, the Oilers were not happy with how the Floria Panthers rubbed in their cup win this summer. I’d love to see Clatty beat the snot out of Sam Bennett. Noah Philp has been placed on LTIR because of this. Philp was injured in the game against the Buffalo Sabres, but no word was made on what sort of injury it is.
Injury updates on Nugent-Hopkins and Kapanen
Per Jason Gregor, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is expected to skate and practice with the team when they come home to play the Dallas Stars with a potential return that Saturday against the Seattle Kraken. If he does return, he would have officially missed nine total games. They desperately need him back for the 5v5 offence.
Kasperi Kapanen has been out since the Detroit Red Wings game. Stan Bowman gave a small update a few days ago regarding his status, noting that he probably will not return until December. Kapanen has been used a 4RW and a PKer thus far this season.
Is Coffey coming back?
Paul Coffey was kicked upstairs back in his advisor role when the playoffs ended and the Oilers gave his defensive responsibilities to Penalty Kill Coach Mark Stuart.
The results…haven’t been pretty. The defence has not been moving the puck well at all and nowhere near the level it’s been in the past few years. With this, Friedman heard rumours that Coffey could be returning to the bench but said that was denied. He did mention later that if it continues, then he could consider it. Coffey back to the bench would be a welcomed (re-welcome?) addition.
Goalies rumours in Edmonton
David Pagnotta made a few appearances over a few Oiler talk shows this last week specifically regarding the goaltending situation. A bit of deja vu as Pagnotta believes it’s going to be hard to make a move in season and that they may have to settle for a lesser, inexpensive option—the same old story.
Cam Talbot was linked, but I don’t see Detroit trading him as he’s their current starting goalie and John Gibson just got injured. Talbot coming back would be interesting however. Obviously, he has familiarity in this city and some of his underlying stats over the last few years are decently strong (3.8 GSAx this season, 12.8, 10.2, and -0.7 over the last three years). I think it would be a cool story IF he were to come back and win the Oilers a cup.
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No coaching changes any time soon
Pagnotta also dove into whether Kris Knoblauch’s job is in danger. He currently believes that despite this awful start, his job is in no danger as of yet. The Oilers signed Knoblauch to a three-year extension right before the season started. Him, Craig Berube, Ryan Huska, and Andrew Brunette are the four main candidates being brought up for a possible coaching change.
While Pagnotta does not think his job is in danger, Frank Seravalli thinks otherwise. Seravalli thinks that as the days go on and the more this continues, the seat gets warmer and warmer. Time will tell what happens but it seems at this point, no coaching change is coming *yet*.
Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire
