Oilers Make Several Coaching Changes, Hire Former Calgary Coach

The Edmonton Oilers will have a new look behind the bench heading into the 2025-26 season. It is expected that head coach Kris Knoblauch will get an extension, but gone are Glen Gulutzan and likely Paul Coffey. David Pelletier is also leaving, and a new assistant coach has been hired. The Oilers are also replacing their goalie coach, Dustin Schwartz.

The Dallas Stars hired Gulutzan to be their new head coach. He’ll leave as one of Knoblauch’s assistants and was largely responsible for running the Oilers’ power play.

Pelletier joins Gulutzan in Dallas. He had been with the Oilers since 2014.

Schwartz was not re-signed as the Oilers are looking for a new voice to guide their goaltending. Much of the inconsistencies in net have been blamed on Schwartz, who has been with the team for years and gone through several goalie combinations in Edmonton.

Jason Gregor of Sports 1440 reports, “I’m hearing unlikely Coffey returns to bench.” Coffey is an icon in Edmonton, but he had said publicly that he never really wanted to be a coach. He was doing it as a favor to owner Darryl Katz, and because he loved the team so much. The Oilers took a big step under his guidance.

He also adds, “[Mark] Stuart will be retained.” Stuart was and is largely responsible for the team’s penalty kill.

That’s two new assistants, a new goalie coach, and a skating/skills coach that will all be joining the organization this season.

Oilers Hire Former Calgary Hitmen Coach

According to Jeff Marek, “Sounds like Paul McFarland will be named assistant coach of the Edmonton Oilers. McFarland had been coaching the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL.”

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