The Edmonton Oilers have announced significant changes to their coaching staff under head coach Kris Knoblauch. The shakeup includes the addition of three new coaches and a shift for Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey from the bench to a strategic advisory position.
Paul McFarland has joined the team as a power-play specialist, filling the vacancy left by Glen Gulutzan, who departed to become the head coach of the Dallas Stars. Peter Aubry replaces Dustin Schwartz as the new goaltending coach, and Connor Allen will take on a role focused on skills development.
According to the club`s statement on Monday, Coffey is returning to his previous role as a special adviser to ownership and hockey operations. This move follows his tenure as a hands-on assistant coach primarily responsible for the defensemen.
Assistant coach Mark Stuart`s contract was extended. He will continue to oversee the penalty kill and will now also assume responsibility for coaching the defensemen.
Knoblauch inherited Coffey, Schwartz, and Stuart as his assistants when he took over as head coach for the Oilers on November 12, 2023, succeeding Jay Woodcroft. Coffey, a four-time Stanley Cup champion, had joined the coaching staff when Knoblauch was hired, replacing assistant Dave Manson.
Since these changes, the Oilers have reached the Stanley Cup final in back-to-back seasons. Edmonton was defeated by the Florida Panthers in six games this year and in seven games during the 2024 series.
“First of all, regarding Paul,” Knoblauch commented Monday during a virtual media conference call. “We were very fortunate to work with him for two years. I was pleased to collaborate with him in that first year, and we weren`t certain if he would return for the second, but fortunately for us, he decided to stay.”
“Throughout the year, we had many discussions, we made additions to the coaching staff, and it reached a point where you become unsure when he might step back into a different organizational role or return to what he was doing previously. We arrived at the point where this change became necessary.”
“We will still maintain conversations with Paul, and he will continue to provide his insights on the team`s performance and potential strategies, which will be a significant asset to our coaching staff, particularly with several new members joining.”
Knoblauch, who has one year remaining on his contract, will have two assistant coaches on the bench with him next season, a reduction from three.
Edmonton`s power play, anchored by Leon Draisaitl (who ranks fifth among active NHL players with 399 career power-play goals), was considered the league`s best for several years before its effectiveness saw a decline this past season.
Paul McFarland recently served as the head coach of the WHL`s Calgary Hitmen. Prior to that, he spent three years as an assistant coach with the Seattle Kraken from their expansion year in 2021 through 2024. The 39-year-old also has previous experience as an assistant coach with the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Knoblauch stated about McFarland: “He has led an NHL power play for many years, starting in Florida, then Toronto, and subsequently Seattle. Power-play effectiveness significantly depends on the available personnel. He has done an excellent job maximizing the potential of the players he has worked with, and his success with the strong power plays in Toronto and Florida is particularly noteworthy.”
He added, “He will be able to bring that experience here and build a strong working relationship with our current players.”
In contrast to its crucial role in reaching the 2024 Cup Final, Edmonton`s penalty kill performance was average in 2025.
Knoblauch explained, “During the playoffs, it was underperforming, so discussions about making adjustments have been ongoing for many months, and we will be implementing changes to our system.”
The Oilers` goaltending performance was inconsistent throughout the playoffs. Stuart Skinner started 15 of 24 post-season games this year, but Calvin Pickard played in goal for six consecutive games and nine overall.
Dustin Schwartz had served as Edmonton`s goalie coach for over a decade. However, the Oilers are seeking greater consistency under the guidance of 48-year-old Peter Aubry. Aubry previously spent two seasons as an associate coach at Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA).
He also served eight seasons (2015-16 to 2023-24) as the developmental goaltending coach for the Chicago Blackhawks and as the goaltending coach for their AHL affiliate in Rockford.
Knoblauch stated, “Making this change was a very difficult decision, but as an organization, we are constantly seeking ways to improve.”
“We are looking for methods to challenge our goaltenders and help them develop,” he added. “At times, their performance is exceptional. At other times, we expected more. We hope Peter will challenge them, offer a new perspective, and ultimately help them perform at their highest level more consistently.”
Connor Allen, aged 35, spent the previous season with the United States Under-17 team and recently worked on skill development for the Sioux City Musketeers. The Oilers also confirmed that video coach Noah Segall has received a contract extension.
