{"id":797498,"date":"2026-05-15T05:44:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T05:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/797498\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T05:44:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T05:44:16","slug":"evening-notes-oilers-wild-blue-jackets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/797498\/","title":{"rendered":"Evening Notes: Oilers, Wild, Blue Jackets"},"content":{"rendered":"

Set to embark on their third head coaching search in the past four years after this morning\u2019s news<\/a>, the Edmonton Oilers don\u2019t yet have their replacement lined up, and they\u2019ll interview several candidates, reported by TSN\u2019s Pierre LeBrun<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Former Vegas bench boss Bruce Cassidy<\/b><\/a> has been immediately linked to Edmonton, but even if such becomes the case, there\u2019s other figures to consider first given the weight of decisions from here. Few teams have the pressure that\u2019s rising in Oil-land after their first round flop.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If they wish to go all out on trying to find a spark with the clock ticking on the Connor McDavid<\/b><\/a> era, Peter Laviolette<\/strong><\/a> is always worth a thought. The 61-year-old last served as head coach of the Rangers, leading them to a Presidents\u2019 Trophy in year one. He was out of a job a year later, but New York has by no means found greener pastures without him yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Craig Berube<\/b><\/a>, fired yesterday by Toronto<\/a>, also has a Stanley Cup to his name. Patrick Roy<\/b><\/a> and Dean Evason<\/b><\/a>, both of whom had their moments on Long Island and in Columbus, are worthy candidates to make the rounds in interviews from prospective teams this summer. Finally, a longshot who will probably warrant a look, assistant Paul Coffey<\/b><\/a>, <\/b>if they went the internal route.<\/p>\n

Offering a roster which needs work, but still featuring two of the premier players in the NHL, Edmonton would assumingly be on the top of Cassidy\u2019s list as a top job for the widely considered #1 available coach. Still, the Oilers have a two year window with McDavid under contract, and they must get it right. The next coach to come to town will be his sixth, and Leon Draisaitl<\/b><\/a>\u2019s eighth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Elsewhere across the league:<\/p>\n