Edmonton sportscaster Dustin Nielson named the Oilers’ hiring of Paul McFarland as assistant coach because the staff’s most underrated offseason transfer.
Nielson highlighted the Oilers’ busy offseason, which included shedding cap house, shifting veterans and signing Isaac Howard, whereas noting fan pleasure and ongoing questions on Connor McDavid’s extension and the goaltending scenario.
Nonetheless, he emphasised McFarland’s hiring because the standout transfer. After talking with McFarland, Nielson described him as desirous to work regardless of the group’s fatigue from back-to-back Stanley Cup runs.
Throughout a phase on TSN’s SportsCentre with Jay Onrait on Wednesday, Nielson mentioned:
“This man is the winner of the offseason: Paul McFarland, simply employed as an assistant coach. Had an opportunity to speak with him yesterday morning. He is tremendous excited. It was truly humorous as a result of he mentioned all people else within the group is uninterested in hockey proper now. Again-to-back Cup runs. They simply need to chill for the summer time, and this man is like, I am able to get to work.”
Nielson believes McFarland’s function may restore the Oilers’ energy play, calling the hiring the most effective acquisition within the NHL this summer time.
“He is been handed the keys to an influence play that is been the most effective within the league for over half a decade. So, he may tweak a number of issues right here or there, however I imply, Connor McDavid to Leon Draisaitl on a one-timer, Connor McDavid skating round, discovering Bouchard one-timer, discovering Zach Hyman in entrance of the online. I feel this man sort of low-key ended up with the most effective job of anyone within the league all summer time,” he added.
Paul McFarland was employed by the Edmonton Oilers as an assistant coach on Monday as a part of a training workers overhaul.
He’s anticipated to give attention to working the staff’s energy play, leveraging his expertise from earlier NHL roles with the Florida Panthers (2017-19), Toronto Maple Leafs (2019-20) and Seattle Kraken (2021-24).
Most lately, McFarland served as head coach of the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen within the 2024-25 season, main them to a 45-17-3-3 file.
Analyst makes daring prediction concerning Oilers captain Connor McDavid successful Stanley Cup
Throughout an look on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast on Wednesday, NHL analyst Gene Principe shared his insights on how McDavid is on a path to win the Stanley Cup, just like Wayne Gretzky within the Nineteen Eighties.
“It’s the evolution of a man individuals are evaluating with Wayne Gretzky… I feel we simply had this dream sequence that the Oilers have been going to win and be like ’84, ’85, , they misplaced in ’83. They got here again to win in ’84, in opposition to the identical staff identical to the Oilers did again then,” Principe mentioned.
“I firmly consider, like Wayne, he’s going to win Stanley Cups, as properly.”
Connor McDavid has been with the Edmonton Oilers for a decade. He and the Oilers have confronted back-to-back defeats to the Florida Panthers within the Stanley Cup Finals. They misplaced in seven video games in 2024 and 6 video games in 2025.
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Edited by Abhishek Dilta
