Coming off their deepest playoff run in years, the Edmonton Oilers are making smart moves to get even better. While most teams might overhaul everything after falling short of the Stanley Cup, Edmonton takes a different approach. They’re keeping what worked and fine-tuning what didn’t.
The biggest change? The Oilers’ hiring of Conor Allen as their new skills coach shows just how serious they are about individual player development heading into the 2025-26 season.
Why Did Kris Knoblauch Choose Skills Development Over More Coaches?
Knoblauch isn’t interested in making changes just for the sake of change. In a recent interview with OilersNation, he laid out exactly where the Oilers plan to focus their energy.
“The penalty kill is where we will have the biggest adjustments,” Knoblauch said. “As for five-on-five play, we’re always looking at how we can get better, but overall, I think we’re going to have pretty much the same systems.”
That might sound like they’re staying put, but the Allen hire tells a different story. Instead of adding another voice to an already crowded bench, the Oilers made a calculated trade-off. They cut their bench coaching staff from four to three and redirected that energy toward something more targeted.
“We reduced one coach (three on the bench instead of four), but we added more of a traditional skills coach,” Knoblauch explained. “We will have a bit more focus on player development.”
Kris Knoblauch wants more focus on skill enhancement this year and that led to hiring Conor Allen. Knoblauch discusses his decision.https://t.co/7XE5SHUdLg
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) July 23, 2025
This decision shows Edmonton values quality over quantity when it comes to coaching. Rather than having more bodies behind the bench during games, they want someone dedicated entirely to improving each player’s fundamentals.
How Will Allen’s Background Help Both Rookies and Veterans?
The beauty of this move is how it helps everyone on the roster, not just the young guys. Sure, prospects like Matthew Savoie and Isaac Howard will get dedicated attention as they try to make the jump to the NHL.
Having someone whose only job is helping them refine their skills could be the difference between making the team and spending another year in development.
But veterans stand to gain just as much. In today’s NHL, where games are decided by inches and milliseconds, even established stars need to keep sharpening their tools. Stickhandling, passing accuracy, shooting technique – these aren’t just rookie concerns. They’re the building blocks that separate good teams from championship teams.
Allen brings the perfect background for this role. As a former defenseman with professional experience, he understands what it takes to succeed at the highest level. More importantly, he knows how to communicate those lessons to players still figuring out the league.
The timing makes sense, too. Edmonton already has its systems in place and knows what works. Now, it can focus on the individual pieces that make those systems hum. Instead of teaching players what to do, Allen can help them do it better.
This approach reflects where the NHL is heading. More teams are realizing that generic instruction only goes so far. When everyone knows the same systems and strategies, the edge comes from execution. That’s where specialized skill development becomes the difference maker.
While Knoblauch mentioned that the penalty kill would see the biggest tactical adjustments, the real impact of Allen’s hire might not immediately appear on the scoreboard. It’ll come in practice sessions, individual drills, and one-on-one instruction that gradually make each player more effective at their craft.
Edmonton is betting that its core group is already talented enough to contend. Now they want to make sure every player reaches their ceiling. With Allen focused solely on individual development, the Oilers are positioning themselves to turn good into great through the kind of detailed work that often gets overlooked.
For a team that came so close to the ultimate prize, these small improvements could precisely push them over the top.
