While general manager Ken Holland explores various avenues to adjust the Edmonton Oilers roster ahead of Friday’s NHL trade deadline, head coach Kris Knoblauch is focused on adapting the lineup configuration with the existing players. Lately, his attention has been on the Oilers’ defense, which underwent changes to a couple of pairings over the weekend. Cody Ceci was separated from his usual partner Darnell Nurse, instead being paired with Brett Kulak, while Nurse partnered with Vincent Desharnais during a 6-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.
These changes persisted as the Oilers embarked on a four-game road trip, commencing with a game against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, where the new pairings were maintained at Boston’s TD Garden.
However, despite the Oilers’ solid defensive performance, conceding no more than two goals during a four-game winning streak leading up to Boston, there were concerns that the changes might disrupt the successful formula.
“I think a lot of things have contributed to that. Obviously, when you are limiting your goals against, you’re winning,” Knoblauch remarked ahead of Tuesday’s game. “It’s not just the Edmonton Oilers, but every NHL team. So, that’s important, to keep the goals against down and I think a lot of things factor into that.”
Knoblauch highlighted various factors contributing to the defensive success, including improved 5-on-5 play, penalty kill efficiency, and solid goaltending performances from Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard.
Despite the promising start with the new defensive pairings, Knoblauch emphasized the need for cautious evaluation, especially with just one game played under the new setup.
“It was just one game and I thought they were outstanding. I liked all the pairs,” Knoblauch commented, acknowledging Ceci and Kulak’s notable performance against Pittsburgh. “A couple of guys, I thought they really elevated their game, played well. We’re going to get tested a lot more tonight against Boston, but for one game, I thought they worked well together.”
With the trade deadline looming, the changes sparked speculation about potential roster alterations for the Oilers. Knoblauch emphasized the importance of making changes judiciously and ensuring they enhance the team chemistry.
“You always have to be careful about making changes just for the sake of change,” Knoblauch warned. “You have to be careful of disrupting the chemistry within the team or within that linemate or whatever it is. And I think it’s really important to add the right type of player.”
Ultimately, the Oilers have their sights set on a deep playoff run, with the trade deadline expected to reflect their ambitions in some capacity, whether through acquiring rentals or making significant roster moves.
“That being said, I like our team,” Knoblauch concluded. “We’ve got a lot of good players. And I guess we’ll see on Friday.”