Coaching staff 2010-2011

I was just reading how Kelly Buchbuger and Wayne Fleming contracts were up at the end of the year. I'd like to see a coaching staff of Pat Quinn, Tom Renney and wait for it, Jason Smith, with Rob Daum holding court in OKC.

Pat Quinn - I would want him to be in charge of the players as a whole. Kind of a human resources type officer, make sure they stay aggressive and stay sharp. Rub his own attitude on how the game of hockey should be played. Pat Quinn is an even keel kind of guy and I would like to have him excude that attitude on the players. He has a wealth of knowledge and the Oilers brass can benefit from that.

Tom Renney - Would like to have him be the x's and o's guy. Running both the PP and PK as well as running the forward lines. Tom Renney, in the past, has shown some good special teams systems and I would like the Oilers to benefit from this. I didn't like the fact Tom Renney was running the defense this year. I don't think it used him to his strengths, which is x's and o's type play.

Jason Smith - Would like to be in charge of the defense. Teach how to play positionally, as well as use the individual strengths of each and every player. If a player is a waterbug, teach him how to read and react, when to jump in a play, when not to. Teach stay at home Dmen how to use their reach and size to their advantage. The Oilers need to get back to basic 101 type teaching for the Dmen as it has had quite the turnover recently. Most important as a defenseman, learning how to pass and read the play is vital. Defenseman are like QBs in football, they set up the breakout play.

Pat Quinn had a quote early in his tenure that stuck with me. He said that he didn't want his coaching staff to "get too fat", meaning he didn't want a large coaching staff. I think getting back to the generic 3 coaches with "an eye in the sky" type would help this team going forward. Just from sheer heresay, it sounded at times that their were too many chefs in the kitchen. I think this would go a long way to helping that problem.