Edmonton Oilers GM Bowman: 'I think Kris (Knoblauch) is going to be the coach here for a while'

Roster questions abound for the Edmonton Oilers heading into the second off-season in a row having lost in the Stanley Cup Final.
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What's going to happen with goaltending that was great, yet still not nearly good enough when it mattered most?
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Will the defensive corps be kept together, or will they have to spend half a season readjusting again?
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Oh, yeah. And what's going to happen with that whole Connor McDavid -in-the-last-year-of-his-contract thing, while we're at it?
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But one thing is for sure: The Oilers most definitely have their man when it comes to the guy who's been running it all behind the bench.
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Sure, you can't possibly compare anyone to Paul Maurice, whose Florida Panthers have hoisted the Stanley Cup in back-to-back seasons.
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He's won the big games.
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But during that entire time, no other head coach in the NHL has won more games in the regular season and playoffs combined than Edmonton's Kris Knoblauch.
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And let's not forget he was only in his first two seasons as a head coach in the league, going 48-29-5 on the way to a third-place finish in the Pacific Division with 101 points this year, after turning around a team that started out 3-9-1, and going 46-18-5 to end up second in the division with 104 points the previous year.
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Both times, Knoblauch has guided the club to the Stanley Cup Final. And while it still felt like utter defeat at Friday's final press conference of the season — on the same day Rogers Place was scheduled to host Game 7, had they been able to tie the series — it's not difficult to see a long list of predecessors who would have gladly traded spots with the current head coach.
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From Pat Quinn in 2009-10 to Jay Woodcroft's last full season in 2022-23, there have been nine different head coaches between Knoblauch and Craig MacTavish, the last one to lead the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2006.
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'I thought Kris did an outstanding job this year. I really enjoyed working with him,' said Oilers general manager Stan Bowman. 'I think we have a great camaraderie and collaboration, I think we see the game similarly.
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'It's not easy coaching star players. Talking to my dad (Scotty Bowman) over the years, they can be some of the most challenging guys to coach because they have so much talent. But to be able to connect with them to play at their best, but the way that you need them to play for the team. I think he did an outstanding job. So, I think Kris is going to be the coach here for a while. I enjoy working with him and I think we're lucky to have him.'

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How Montreal Victoire's Erin Ambrose is using fashion to stand up for the 2SLGBTQ+ community

Social Sharing In a photo shoot, Montreal Victoire defender Erin Ambrose sports a bucket hat and a grey t-shirt that shows a fist in the air, covered in a hockey glove and draped in a rainbow flag. "Be you," is written on the glove. It's an eye-catching shirt, and in her second year of creating her own Pride apparel line with CCM Hockey, it's the defender's favourite design so far. "I just think it's a very powerful thing," Ambrose said in an interview with CBC Sports. "You think of just the symbol of a fist up in the air and what that does stand for." For Ambrose, it's not just a fashion statement. The hockey-gloved fist in the air is a sign of protest, an act of standing up for a community that's increasingly been under attack over the last couple of years. It's the boldest item that's been released as part of Ambrose's collaboration with CCM Hockey so far, and one that Ambrose is proud to wear. "It's so important because as welcome as I feel in the community, as accepted as I feel in my day-to-day life, I know that I am still a minority in saying that," Ambrose said. For Ambrose, it's also a way of merging two parts of her. There's Ambrose the hockey player, an Olympic gold medallist and 2024 Defender of the Year in the PWHL. You're probably used to seeing her in Team Canada colours or a Victoire jersey. But there's also Ambrose the person, an openly gay woman who wears her heart on her sleeve, and is always thinking of ways she can make the 2SLGBTQ+ community safer for everyone. The shirts, hats and sweat suit that are part of her clothing line reflect that part of Ambrose — someone who's grown in what she wears and how she feels comfortable representing herself. Making a statement "As I've gotten older, I also am getting more comfortable wearing the rainbow around," the 31-year-old from Keswick, Ont. said. " There are still places I might think twice about it and I wish that wasn't the case. But at the same time, I have no problem walking my dog with the [Pride] graphic T-shirt on." The hints of rainbow are subtle in some of the designs, ranging from the boldness of the gloved fist to bright colours highlighted in the CCM logo. Erin Ambrose on the importance of embracing Pride in the PWHL 16 hours ago Duration 2:53 Montreal Victorie's Erin Ambrose talks about the impact of celebrating Pride and sharing her identity off the ice. But it may actually be the rainbow CCM logo, one that's historically been associated with men playing sports, that says the most. "I think it actually makes the biggest statement because CCM allowed for their logo to be put in rainbow, and we're talking about a hockey company that has been around for over 100 years," Ambrose said. "That doesn't usually happen." Ambrose was approached to create the line by Dale Williams, CCM Hockey's global sports marketing manager. The company wanted to create a Pride line and wanted Ambrose, who CCM Hockey describes as "a force who's transforming her sport," to be the face of it. Year 1 was about creating the basics, but Year 2 of the line takes it a step further. "With the 2025 Erin Ambrose 23 collection, we wanted to bring hockey into a space where it hasn't traditionally had a strong presence," said Marrouane Nabih, CCM Hockey's CEO. "It goes beyond the rink, showcasing authenticity, style and a sense of belonging." A life-changing fan interaction The league launched at a time when the NHL moved away from wearing custom jerseys for Pride and other causes, and for a brief time, barred players from using Pride tape in warmups. But the PWHL is different. A significant number of players in the league are part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Some, like Ambrose, Boston Fleet forward Jamie Lee Rattray and Ottawa Charge forward Emily Clark, have used their platforms to advocate for the community they are part of. It's created a different atmosphere at PWHL games. Last year, a fan drove from New York to Montreal for that team's Pride game. They dressed in a full rainbow onesie, which caught Ambrose's eye. She gave them a puck and tracked them down after the game to give them a stick, too. That fan later wrote Ambrose a letter to say how much that night changed their life. "It was such a little moment, but I was like, no, this is actually way bigger than just one fan making the drive because I know they're not the only person that would feel more comfortable coming to a PWHL game than an NHL game," she said. When a teenaged Ambrose was rising through the hockey ranks and struggling with her own sexuality, she couldn't have imagined her favourite player wearing Pride gear. As she progressed in hockey, she's been around more teammates who are out and open. She thinks about how much of a difference that might have made for players years ago. She can't go back in time, but she knows she has an ability and a platform now to help other people feel more comfortable or even just develop more understanding.

Edmonton Journal

3 hours ago

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These are the players Edmonton Oilers General Manager Stan Bowman should keep...and kick

Article content It is decision time. While the Edmonton players and their fans spend time dealing with the emotions of consecutive losses in The Stanley Cup Finals, the Oilers General Manager's job is instead to forge ahead immediately. Article content Stan Bowman has already signaled that his job is to keep this club in the running for Lord Stanley's mug and has suggested some areas where he will focus. It will mean retaining many players, but replacing others. So, who will he kick and who will he be compelled to keep? Article content Yes, there are automatics where you may go 'Duh, Leavins'! And yes, some of these guys have time left on their contracts, no move clauses, and other such things. But as I like to say: There is more than one way to skin a cat. You may be one of those who think the whole thing should be blown up. That is your prerogative. But I contend that a team that gets to the final in back-to-back years does not require major surgery. Parameters: We will rate any player still in the Edmonton organization from this regular season and/or playoffs that played a single game or more. That is thirty-four players, both skaters and goalies. The list is in order of regular season games played. Ready? Set? Go! Kick or Keep EVAN BOUCHARD. Keep. If you are one of the people who think Bouchard will not be worth the money he is sure to get in an extension or that he should be shipped out of town, all I can say is…give your head a shake. Article content CONNOR BROWN. Kick. Brown played his best hockey in five years. But he can get more elsewhere for what the Oilers should spend on a fourth liner. I would not hold that against him. BRETT KULAK. Keep. Hometown guy has contributed three consecutive seasons of excellent post-season performances plus his best regular season ever. VASILY PODKOLZIN. Keep. Value contract. Hard-to-play-against, younger player with a defensive conscience and good wheels. COREY PERRY. Keep. 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ZACH HYMAN. Keep. As Joni Mitchell famously wrote, 'you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.' JEFF SKINNER. Kick. Perhaps if the entire year had gone the way the back half did. But it did not. LEON DRAISAITL. Keep. Franchise player. Signed long-term. CONNOR MCDAVID. Keep. Franchise player. If you can, sign him long-term, too. Article content VIKTOR ARVIDSSON. Kick. Not without attributes but it has clearly not worked out for either side. TROY STECHER. Keep. Signed for another year on an impossibly cheap contract for his worth. MATTIAS EKHOLM. Keep. Until I see a 100% healthy Ekholm struggle like he did at the end of the Florida series, I will still believe he is a Top four D-man all day. KASPERI KAPANEN. Kick. Useful player like his tools. But let's be honest. You can find these guys in October for the league minimum. STUART SKINNER. Keep. So, you want to toss out a twenty-six-year-old home-grown goalie with fifty games of postseason experience and two cup appearances? 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Twice an Oiler, good pro, but time for someone a decade younger. MATTHEW SAVOIE. Keep. This team needs a youth infusion. Savoie looks NHL-ready. If he is not, then trade him. CAM DINEEN. Keep. A good, cheap pro for a team that desperately needed veteran d in Bakersfield. Article content OLIVIER RODRIGUE. Kick. If he has not made it by now… QUINN HUTSON. Keep. Organization is tragically short of young offensive prospects. TRENT FREDERIC. Keep. His type of player is rare. Do your best to see beyond the high ankle strain. Although I do worry about term for his player type. EVANDER KANE. So, can you replace what a healthy Kane brings for less? I get that some want to spend his $5.125m salary elsewhere. And injuries have become a concern at his age. But 1) I think it will cost a lot to trade Evander Kane and 2) You need more guys like him in the post-season, not fewer. I will relent and say Kick…but I reserve the right to repeat 1) and 2) if they ultimately choose to Keep him. In the weeks to come, I will be producing a series of articles where I dig deeper into some of these…particularly the ones I believe need to leave town. Stay tuned. Now on Bluesky @ Also, find me on Threads @kleavins, Twitter @KurtLeavins, Instagram at LeavinsOnHockey, and Mastodon at KurtLeavins@ This article is not AI generated. Recently, at The Cult… In memory of Bruce McCurdy, 1955-2025. Article content Latest National Stories

National Post

5 hours ago

• National Post

10 Thoughts: Top takeaways from the Roughriders win in Toronto

For a third straight game, the Saskatchewan Roughriders sealed a victory in the final minute. Article content While it was the Green and White's defence securing wins in the first two weeks of the season, on Friday in Week 3 of the CFL season it was Mario Alford and the special teams unit helping Saskatchewan improve to 3-0. Article content Article content After the Toronto Argonauts tied the game 32-32 with a touchdown in the final minute, Alford returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards to clinch the victory. It was the highlight of the game, which featured plenty of good and bad for the Green and White. Article content 10 Thoughts Article content 1. This game was destined for overtime until Alford's kickoff return sealed the victory for the Roughriders. We highlighted Alford last week after his strong performance against Hamilton and he had another strong game on Friday, highlighted by his game-winning return. Earlier in the game, he also had a 35-yard return which he cut back inside to gain a few more yards instead of going out of bounds like he started doing last year. The league's top special teams player in 2022 has silenced any and all doubters at this point. Article content 2. Either the Roughriders defence wasn't ready to play or the Argonauts dialed up the perfect play calls on their opening drive. Nick Arbuckle was six-for-six and threw a touchdown pass to Dejon Brissett on the opening drive of the game to give the home team a 7-0 lead. Bend and break. However, Saskatchewan's defence rebounded nicely with three straight two-and-outs before forcing a turnover on downs on the next drive. But then the group couldn't get a stop in the final minute like they did in the previous two weeks. They're still one of the best groups in the league. Article content Article content 3. Speaking of that turnover on downs, it came at the end of a 17-play, 76-yard drive. There aren't too many 17-play drives that end in zero points. There aren't many 17-play drives in general. Article content Article content 4. A.J. Ouellette is back to his all-star form. Following a 96-yard performance last week against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Ouellette had 91 rushing yards and a touchdown against the Argos. He also pulled off a near identical touchdown run this week as he rumbled 25 yards into the end zone off the right side of the offensive line. He's looking like a patient runner this year and you have to wonder if the weight he dropped this off-season is also helping his game. Article content 5. It was Samuel Emilus leading the way in Week 1 and KeeSean Johnson in Week 2. On Friday night, it was Dohnte Meyers' turn as he had a team high 125 receiving yards and two touchdowns for the Riders. With Emilus and Kian Schaffer-Baker on the injured list, the rest of Saskatchewan's receivers are stepping up, including Meyers and veteran Mitch Picton, who had a highlight-reel 33-yard catch in the game.