Big thanks to Darnell Nurse, you provided some interesting times in Edmonton, good luck next season on your next team.
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‘Change the coach, ideally the GM too’: Oilers fans react to earliest playoff elimination since 2021
Photo credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
For the first time since 2020, the Edmonton Oilers will not be playing hockey in May. A new champion of the Western Conference will be crowned this season.
Fans will have plenty of words to describe this season. Some will say it was fatigue, lack of effort, or even laziness. As the Anaheim Ducks put the sword to the Oilers’ season with a 5-2 win Thursday night, fans had much to say online as the Ducks advanced to the second round and the Oilers bowed out of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
If Kris Knoblauch is employed by the Edmonton Oilers for the 2026-27 season in any capacity, they’re not a serious franchise. Not up for discussion, at this point.
Lowkey the best thing Stan Bowman can do for the city of Edmonton is leave and never come back
The Ducks are gonna get swept next series and that's really gonna say a lot about this Oilers team. Absolutely no indication this team was a cup finalist.
Other than getting healthy I don’t think the Oilers need a huge overhaul. Trade Nurse, find a goalie (impossible). Pieces are still there for the next few years
For many, this was seen coming; for others, they felt the Oilers needed to get some rest, heal up, and make some major changes this off-season. One must realize that making three straight cup finals is a tall task for any franchise, unless you’re a recent team from Florida. But to fall in the first round, that’s a dagger that Oilers fans didn’t anticipate.
Need to hate to lose again. Look at the big dogs on the team, not much emotion with the team after having such a poor performance all series. – Joelstrang via InstagramWelcome to Edmonton, Bruce Cassidy. – KristianCameron_ via InstagramTwo straight final runs with only two months off is a massive tool. This five-month break is exactly what they needed for rest and injuries, just like the Panthers had to do. Let the boys heal up and reset next year. – Jagmann99 via InstagramMy b***ing aside, the Oilers need an early exit to fully recuperate. Two straight years of only three months off, and the most games played by a team in the last 5 years – they need it. Change the coach, ideally the GM too, but spend time to really look into what this team needs, without only a two month window. – Johnnybsky via Instagram
Oh well, heal up. Get a new coach. I dont think players are as emotionally attached to Jarry as Skinner so see if he can be moved. Podzy was an absolute monster this round, excited to see how he builds off this. That line was poppin. – Logan Dobro via FacebookTough pill to swallow, but it’s a blessing in disguise. Long off season to heal up. Oilers win the Cup next year. Book it.- Darryl Lewis via FacebookBack to back scf, 4 nations and Olympics. The boys are tired. My expectations this year were low. Ducks earned it. – Ross Dobson via FacebookGet Rid of Nurse! Get a Goaltender! Nurse is a waste of money him on the payroll! – Travis Ames via Facebook
A younger, faster, healthier and hungrier Anaheim Ducks just wants it more. Tough to watch but this final twenty will cap off a disappointing season for the Oilers. Use the longer offseason to heal up and make the necessary changes for next season.
My take before the playoffs was that the best outcome is (obviously) a cup. But the second-best outcome is a first-round loss. Rather a short playoff exit that gives 97/29 rest and results in a coaching change over another deep run that results in no cup and no meaningful change.
It’s very rare to see a fanbase collectively agree that a first-round exit is the best thing for the team. That seems to be a common sentiment around Oilersnation. Over the past years, this year feels like the one when fans were eager for the season to end early so the organization could bring much-needed change to pursue the Stanley Cup.
Get your popcorn buckets ready because we could be in for a spicy off-season. Who knows what will happen, but the wishlist seems to be a Darnell Nurse trade, a Kris Knoblauch firing, a goalie trade, and possibly a change of general manager.
It’s unlikely all four will occur, but if the Oilers want to regain their status as a Cup contender, major changes will be needed.
It wasn’t a Cup Year, but there’s Next Year.
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