Oilers fans call for goalie coaching change, analyst has suggested replacement
The Edmonton Oilers have had a longtime affliction of very average goaltending, and now that weak play from Stuart Skinner is sounding alarm bells, fans are again calling for the firing of goalie coach Dustin Schwartz.
The Oilers goaltending coach has now been with the team for over 10 years, and over that time frame, the Oilers goaltending has never been a strong suit - in fact, it's arguably got worse.
Edmonton Oilers call for coach firing after goaltending problem raises again
After the Edmonton Oilers dropped their last game before the 4 Nations Faceoff break due to some brutal goaltending from Stuart Skinner, plenty of Oilers fans took to social media to lament the work of Schwartz.
There's two real concerns for Stuart Skinner that should've been closely addressed from Dustin Schwartz: Heading into this season, Skinner was ranked last for side to side movement in the NHL, and he's been struggling mightily against top 10 teams.
The lack of development on Skinner's side to side movement is disappointing to see after working with the same goalie coach for most of his career.
However, it's also a pattern with Schwartz. The Oilers goalie coach also mentors Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry, who has been sent down to the AHL for having being unplayable this season.
It would be tough for the Oilers to make a goalie coach change, especially with a tenured employee like Schwartz. Coach Knoblauch and Dustin Schwartz were both teammates going back to the University of Alberta between 2001-2004. Maybe it takes an outsider like Stan Bowman to ask for a change.
Earlier this season, Oilers analyst Bruce Curlock suggested Mike Smith as a possible candidate to replace Dustin Schwartz. That would be certainly a different look, but at this point, any change is needed.
After another year where their starting goalie's save percentage has declined from the year before, perhaps the Oilers finally reconsider Dustin Schwartz at the goalie coach position. GM Stan Bowman will certainly feel the pressure from fans to do so.
