logo
OilersNation has no direct affiliation to the Edmonton Oilers, Oilers Entertainment Group, NHL, or NHLPA
Oilers Notebook: McDavid clarifies coaching comments, Jarry will start soon
Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid
Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Michael Menzies
Mar 23, 2026, 19:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 23, 2026, 18:55 EDT
Comments
Connor McDavid briefly took part in Edmonton Oilers practice on Monday, but left the ice after a few minutes. No need to hold your breath, though. 
It was largely a maintenance day for the captain, but he still wanted to touch the ice. McDavid said it was “Just hips and groin stuff. It’s all good.” 
The captain was asked if he wanted to clarify his comments post-game from Saturday, which were complimentary to Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper after a 5-2 loss. 
Some felt he was taking a shot at Kris Knoblauch. McDavid said he was surprised his comments were interpreted that way. 
“No, I’m not taking shots. It’s just everybody can be better, myself included. Everybody can be better,” he told reporters. “It was more just complimentary of a great team in this league that came in and played a good game. Nothing more than that.” 
In a followup, Knoblauch was asked how recent mentions about the coaching staff from Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid resonated with him. 
“When you are losing and not playing well, you want to do things better. Coaches are no different. Coaches are always wanting more of the players. Or players want more of the coaches,” said Knoblauch. 
“When things are going well, there’s usually very little criticism. When there’s losing being had, and you’re not having the success that you anticipated, then everyone needs to look in the mirror and look at how you can make the team better.” 

Jarry will start this week

Tristan Jarry will get back in the net soon. 
After declaring Connor Ingram the starting goalie, the first-year Oiler has started the last five games. However, Knoblauch said Jarry will get one of the starts on the Oilers’ upcoming road trip in Utah and Vegas. 
“Unfortunately, with the injury, he took a step back, and he hasn’t been able to regain his game as much as it was before when he joined our team. Then  it’s confidence, and he hasn’t been playing,” said Knoblauch. 
“So hopefully this has been a reset for him. Sometime during this road trip, he has a game. Hopefully, it’s a good one, and we can continue putting him back in the net.” 
He said they are still deciding which game Jarry will start. The last time he played was against the Dallas Stars on March 12, where he allowed seven goals on 27 shots. 
“Obviously, my game hasn’t been where I want it,” Jarry told reporters on Monday. “So I’ve just working on my game throughout practice, morning skate, and then just being prepared if I have to go in. Connor’s [Ingram] done a great job, and he’s given the guys a chance to win every night, and that’s all you can ask for. So for me, it’s just being prepared and ready.”
He also talked about getting back to the right mental headspace for a start. 
“When you’re feeling it, you’re feeling it, you’re not really thinking too much about anything. So I think it’s just getting back to that mindset where you just playing freely, just doing your thing. I think it comes naturally.” 
Another note: Curtis Lazar again skated at practice. Knoblauch said his return is aimed for next week, which is around the original timeline for his return. 
The Oilers will face the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday night.
Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and has been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, he also collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.

ARTICLE PRESENTED BY bet365

Team News

Featured

MORE NEWS. IN YOUR INBOX.
CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Breaking News