For the third consecutive season, the Edmonton Oilers have dug themselves out of a deep early-season hole, and once again, head coach Kris Knoblauch is at the centre of the remarkable recovery. After a brutal 25-game start to the 2025-26 campaign, the team has caught fire, winning consistently over a 19-game stretch and reigniting their playoff hopes.
The Pattern of Slump and Revival
The Oilers' troubling trend of slow starts is now a well-established pattern. In the 2023-24 season, a wretched 13-game slump cost former coach Jay Woodcroft his job on November 12th. His replacement, Kris Knoblauch, promptly steered the team to a dramatic improvement. The following year, after a trip to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, Edmonton stumbled through its first 14 games, but Knoblauch retained his position and guided another correction.
This season presented the steepest challenge yet: a debilitating 25-game slump that tested the organization's patience. The turning point came after a demoralizing 8-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. Since that low point, the Oilers have played at an elite level for 19 games, matching the high-performance standard Knoblauch set when he first took over the bench.
Knoblauch's Proven Formula for Success
So, how has Knoblauch conjured another rescue act? His method this time mirrors the "secret sauce" he applied in 2023-24. The core components remain a strategic goaltending change, a significant reduction in pairing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on the same line at even strength, and a consequent explosion in offensive production.
The statistical evidence is striking. During the recent 19-game surge, the Oilers' attack has been relentless, generating 16.4 Grade A scoring chances and 8.2 five-alarm shots per game. This marks a substantial jump from the first 25 games, where they managed only 13.7 Grade A chances and 6.0 high-danger shots per contest.
Offensive Numbers Tell the Story
Unsurprisingly, the scoring has followed. Edmonton is now averaging 3.8 goals per game during their hot streak, up from a meagre 3.1 goals per game in the season's disastrous opening segment.
This offensive resurgence is a direct echo of Knoblauch's initial impact. When he replaced Woodcroft in 2023-24, the team's output leapt from 2.9 goals per game to 3.7, fueled by increases in both Grade A chances (from 13.8 to 16.2) and five-alarm shots (from 6.3 to 7.6). The parallel is undeniable: Knoblauch's systems, particularly his deployment of superstar talent, unlock the team's attacking potential.
By once again limiting the overlap of McDavid and Draisaitl's even-strength minutes, Knoblauch has created two dominant scoring lines instead of one, forcing opponents to pick their poison. This tactical shift, combined with improved defensive structure and timely saves, has provided the blueprint for survival and success.
The 2025-26 season narrative has shifted from speculation about Knoblauch's job security to admiration for his repeatable process. In Edmonton, history has repeated itself not as a farce, but as a hard-earned comeback, solidifying the coach's role as the architect of the Oilers' resilience.
