Oilers Consider Late Coaching Change, DeBoer in Spotlight

0:00It's March 23rd, from the locker room to your ears. This is NHL News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with the story. The Edmonton Oilers are stumbling with just 11 games left in the regular season, sparking talk of a rare, late coaching change. Peter DeBore, out of an NHL job for the first time in 17 years, stands out as a top candidate to step in for Chris Noblow. The team has dropped four of his last six games and sits outside the top playoff spots in the West. The David's recent comments after a loss highlighted the issue, praising Tampa Bay's organization and rehearse play while noting the Oilers fall short. With playoffs about full weeks away, management faces pressure to act fast, rather than wait for summer changes. Late season firings for contenders are uncommon, but history shows they can work. Back in 2000, the New Jersey Devil swapped coaches with eight games left despite leading their conference and won the Stanley Cup. Last year, other teams made similar moves amid slumps.

1:00DeBore brings strong credentials, including two Stanley Cup finals and conference final runs with three teams in recent years. He coached against Edmonton in last year's playoffs and worked with McDavid on Canada's Olympic staff, giving him fresh insights. If the Oilers pull the trigger, DeBore could spark a turnaround and get them back to contending for the cup.