The Edmonton Oilers are currently searching for their 19th head coach in franchise history. Since parting ways with Kris Knoblauch on May 14, Edmonton has certainly spoken with some candidates. Aside from the Bruce Cassidy saga, which continues to drag along, it’s also believed the Oilers have spoken to former Toronto bench boss Craig Berube.
However, one name that has been floated around that I believe the Oilers should consider is that of Peter Laviolette; he was most recently head coach of the New York Rangers. Let’s explore Laviolette’s background and style to see if he’d be a fit in Edmonton.
Laviolette comes with a ton of experience
It’s believed that after hiring two relative newcomers in Jay Woodcroft and Knoblauch, the Oilers are looking for a more experienced coach this time around. Well, there aren’t many coaches with more experience than Laviolette. His 846 career regulation wins are seventh all-time in NHL history, and his 86 career playoff wins are good for 12th all-time. He is one of only seven coaches in league history to achieve the 800 win total. In fact, he is the winningest American-born coach in NHL history.
In terms of playoff success, Laviolette has one championship, when he coached the 2006 Carolina Hurricanes over the Oilers in seven games. He has also taken the Philadelphia Flyers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2010, as well as the Nashville Predators in 2017. He is the fourth coach in NHL history to lead three separate teams to a Stanley Cup Final.
His most recent job with the Rangers saw him lead them to two games away from another Cup Final in 2024, before losing to Florida in six games. Laviolette has more than enough experience to suit the Oilers’ needs for a coach who’s been in big moments before.
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Offensively minded system matches Edmonton
In terms of coaching systems, Laviolette tends to employ strategies that would work well with the Oilers’ preferred style of play. He emphasizes aggressive fore-check and puck pursuit, putting pressure on the opposing team’s defencemen. He encourages his defencemen to jump into the play if they see chances to do so, and often times employs a “left-wing-lock” style defensive coverage so as to prevent odd-man rushes stemming from defencemen activating off the blueline.
Laviolette also tends to lean on controlled zone entries over a more basic dump-and-chase style. His power plays make use of quick passes to open up multiple high traffic shooting lanes. Plus, a Laviolette penalty kill involves defencemen clogging up lanes and playing aggressively to turn the puck over for clearing attempts.
These systems sound on-paper like a fit for many of Edmonton’s players. Evan Bouchard, Jake Walman, and Darnell Nurse would be very comfortable jumping into the play offensively. A controlled zone entry emphasis would showcase the explosiveness of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Aggressive forechecking is when the Oilers are at their best, and it sounds like Laviolette’s preferred systems would be a hit.
More of a personality behind the bench
Both Jay Woodcroft and Kris Knoblauch had their stretches of success in Edmonton. Woodcroft turned the Oilers around and helped them win their first series in five years against the Los Angeles Kings, before defeating Calgary in the Battle of Alberta. Knoblauch also turned the Oilers around in the wake of Woodcroft’s firing and led the team to consecutive Stanley Cup Final.
However, neither coach seemed to have much of a personality as head coach. There’s nothing wrong with a quiet, calm approach, but Edmonton will likely be looking for a new coach with more of a voice.
Laviolette is certainly that type of coach. He emphasizes a level of hustle and grit not just during games, but even in practices. As a coach, he pushes the pace and making sure everyone is buying into the compete level he wants to see. He is also not afraid to get loud or yell if he feels the need. There are a few well known videos from his time in Philadelphia from the NHL 24/7 series showing impassioned intermission speeches. He is more than happy to tell his players how they’re playing and what they need to change. Maybe the Oilers need a coach who’s more like that after back-to-back quieter bench bosses.
Laviolette’s name has come up briefly in coaching speculation, but nothing serious has been reported. I think the Oilers should take a long look at potentially bringing him in. He has the experience of a winner, and has done it with multiple teams. His systems seem ready built to mesh with the Oilers roster, and his demeanour might be a welcome change to the team. His name should certainly be in the consideration for 19th Head Coach of the Edmonton Oilers.
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