As the Edmonton Oilers gear up for their much-anticipated Stanley Cup Final matchup against the Florida Panthers, head coach Kris Knoblauch took to the podium to address the media.
Knoblauch discussed the challenge of facing a different opponent after their recent series win against the Dallas Stars. “Florida is a bit of a different opponent than the one you just faced,” he acknowledged. He emphasized the delicate balance between maintaining a winning lineup and making adjustments to counter the strengths of a new adversary.
“As a coaching staff, you’ve always got that decisions to make on what your team needs,” Knoblauch explained. “If you’re playing a physical team, you often match them and you want to become more physical. If you’re playing a faster team, you want players on your team that can skate better, but you also run the risk of, you know, if you become more physical, you probably get a little bit slower. If they’re a physical team, you want to probably play a faster game. So it’s kind of a balancing act on, you know, do you want to counter what they have, play to their strengths, or do you want to play to your strengths? So I think the biggest thing right now is who’s playing our best hockey and inserting those guys rather than trying to counter what they have.”
Physicality is expected to be a significant factor in the series against the Panthers. Knoblauch noted, “I think we’ve handled it well. You look at the hit totals after every game and you think about the team that has more hits is more physical. I think about some of the games in the Dallas where we were very high on that hit total, higher than we usually are, and sometimes that says you don’t have the puck enough. We want to be a physical team. We want to hit. I think we’ve had some physical series, some more than others. I think we were more physical in the Dallas series on the finished checks. But as for what we’ve seen so far for the physicality, the series against Vancouver was probably our most physical series or opponent. Now, as physical as Vancouver was, I expect it to be even more against Florida.”
A crucial part of the discussion revolved around the status of Evander Kane. When asked about Kane’s availability for the start of the series, Knoblauch was optimistic. “I do believe he’ll skate tomorrow. I think he’ll be on the ice Friday and playing on Saturday.” He also noted that the physical nature of the series could suit Kane’s style of play well, highlighting his potential impact.
Addressing how the team plans to handle the Panthers’ pesky playing style, Knoblauch stated, “We’re going to avoid that. We’re going to just play hockey between the whistles and play our best.” This disciplined approach is aimed at ensuring that the Oilers focus on their game plan without getting drawn into post-whistle altercations.
Knoblauch shared an interesting anecdote about his relationship with Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice. “I actually interviewed for a position with him in 2015 in Winnipeg,” he recalled. Though he didn’t get the job, Maurice left a lasting impression, offering to mentor Knoblauch and later providing advice when Knoblauch considered career moves.
The addition of veteran Corey Perry has been a significant boost for the Oilers, both on and off the ice. “Cory’s been a great addition to our team,” Knoblauch said, praising Perry’s leadership and the respect he commands in the locker room. “When he speaks, guys listen just because of his resume,” he added, emphasizing Perry’s role even when he was not playing.
Knoblauch addressed the unique pressure that comes with being a Canadian team in the Stanley Cup Final. “I think with a team, it’s all about accomplishing something for the guys in the room,” he said. He highlighted the strong bond among the players and their desire to win for each other and for the city of Edmonton. “They want to win it for each other in that room,” he stressed.
With the Oilers making their first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 2006, the experience of players who have been in this situation before is invaluable. “The more guys, the better,” Knoblauch remarked, acknowledging the heightened media attention and potential distractions. He stressed the importance of keeping the focus on playing the game and controlling the controllables.
Knoblauch concluded by discussing the team’s preparation strategy. He emphasized the importance of not overwhelming players with too much information. “If we give too much information to the players, there’s paralysis by analysis,” he warned. The focus will be on understanding Florida’s identity and playing to their strengths without getting bogged down by excessive details.
As the Oilers prepare to face the Panthers, Knoblauch’s measured approach and the team’s preparation will be critical in their quest to bring the Stanley Cup back to Edmonton. With the support of a city and nation behind them, the Oilers are poised to give their best against the Florida Panthers. As an Edmontonian, the hope is to see the Stanley Cup return to Edmonton, bringing joy and pride to a city that lives and breathes hockey. Go Oilers!