Oilers Facing Coaching Questions Amid Skid, Leafs Eye Trade Options, Panarin Opens Up on Move to Kings
As the NHL hits pause for the Olympic break, the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Los Angeles Kings find themselves at pivotal crossroads - each dealing with pressure, potential moves, or fresh starts. Let’s break down what’s happening in three of the league’s most talked-about markets.
Oilers Coaching Situation: Smoke, But Is There Fire?
The Edmonton Oilers are once again under the microscope, and this time the focus is behind the bench. After back-to-back losses to the Maple Leafs and Flames, frustration is mounting - and not just in the stands.
Leon Draisaitl didn’t mince words postgame, calling out the team’s defensive lapses, goaltending inconsistencies, and special teams breakdowns. That kind of honesty from a franchise cornerstone doesn’t happen unless the locker room is feeling the heat.
So what does this mean for head coach Kris Knoblauch?
On paper, Knoblauch has the résumé to back up his position - two straight Stanley Cup Final appearances don’t happen by accident. But in this league, even success has an expiration date if the present doesn’t match the past. While there’s no indication that a coaching change is imminent, the Olympic break gives the front office a natural window to reassess.
And reassess they might.
Veteran coach Peter DeBoer’s name has already surfaced as a potential replacement if things escalate. DeBoer, currently not behind an NHL bench but set to serve as an assistant for Team Canada at the Winter Games, brings experience and a steady hand - the kind of profile that appeals to a team looking to stabilize.
But perhaps more realistically, the Oilers could be looking to tweak the staff rather than overhaul it. One name to watch? Paul Coffey.
Coffey has already had a stint behind the Oilers’ bench, stepping in previously at the request of team owner Darryl Katz. While he didn’t exactly jump at the opportunity back then, he did help shore up Edmonton’s defensive structure, drawing improved two-way play from key blueliners like Evan Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, and Darnell Nurse. If he returns in a role focused on managing the defense, it could be the kind of internal adjustment that avoids a full reset while still addressing the issues Draisaitl and others have pointed out.
Maple Leafs Kicking Tires on Travis Konecny?
Meanwhile in Toronto, the Maple Leafs are using the Olympic break to evaluate their roster - and possibly prepare for a significant move. With the team sitting outside the playoff picture, general manager Brad Treliving has some tough decisions to make. Is this a team that should buy, sell, or try to do a bit of both?
One name that’s surfaced in trade chatter: Travis Konecny.
While there’s no confirmation of active talks between the Leafs and Flyers, the dots are easy to connect. Konecny is having a strong season - 54 points in 55 games - and he’s in the first year of a hefty eight-year, $70 million extension. That kind of production, paired with term, makes him an intriguing trade chip for a team like Toronto that’s looking for more scoring punch and long-term stability.
The Flyers, for their part, aren’t openly shopping Konecny, but according to reports, they’re willing to consider bold moves - if not now, then certainly in the offseason. Alongside Konecny, forward Owen Tippett has also been mentioned as a potential trade piece should Philadelphia decide to shake things up.
The Leafs have also been linked to a possible Bobby McMann deal, which could be part of a broader reshuffling. But Konecny is the kind of player who could instantly elevate Toronto’s top six, and if the Flyers are listening, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Treliving at least make the call.
Panarin Opens Up After Trade to Kings
Artemi Panarin is officially a Los Angeles King - and he’s not holding back about how he got there.
After signing a two-year, $22 million deal with LA, Panarin addressed the media and offered a candid look at his departure from the New York Rangers. According to the star winger, contract talks with New York never gained much traction, and he walked away from the table unsure how committed the Rangers were to keeping him. That uncertainty ultimately pushed him to explore other opportunities.
The Kings were at the top of his list - and, as it turns out, the only team on it.
“I was not ready to pick a team where I didn’t want to go,” Panarin said, making it clear that LA was his destination of choice from the jump. Conversations with Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov helped seal the deal, and the fit made sense for both sides.
There’s no animosity toward the Rangers, Panarin emphasized. He simply wanted a situation where he felt valued and had a clear role moving forward.
For the Kings, adding a proven offensive weapon like Panarin - even on a short-term deal - is a calculated move. They’re betting that his elite playmaking and scoring touch can be the missing piece in a playoff push.
What’s Next?
For Edmonton, the break offers a chance to regroup and potentially retool the coaching staff - but how far they go remains to be seen. In Toronto, the front office is weighing whether to double down on this season or take a longer view. And in LA, the Kings just added a marquee name who’s motivated and ready to prove he’s still one of the NHL’s best.
Plenty of questions still to be answered, but one thing’s for sure: the NHL’s Olympic break might be quiet on the ice, but off it, the action is just getting started.