The Edmonton Oilers have brought in Peter Aubry as their new goalie coach, hoping he can be the missing piece to their Stanley Cup puzzle. Replacing Dustin Schwartz after 11 seasons, Aubry joins the team with a fresh perspective and a track record of developing goaltenders. The Oilers, who have reached the Stanley Cup Final the past two seasons, are in "win-now mode" and are counting on Aubry to elevate the performance of Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard.
Aubry's Background and Philosophy
Peter Aubry's journey to the Oilers includes eight seasons (2015-2023) within the Chicago Blackhawks organization, where he served as a developmental goalie coach and the goalie coach for their AHL affiliate in Rockford. Most recently, he was an associate coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Those who have worked with Aubry describe him as open-minded and adaptable, suggesting he tailors his approach to the individual goalie rather than imposing a rigid system.
In a recent interview, Aubry acknowledged the pressure and responsibility that come with joining a team with Stanley Cup aspirations. He understands the need to make "that incremental improvement to win the Stanley Cup". Aubry also had a brief stint with the Blackhawks NHL team during the 2021-22 season, filling in as a goalie coach and working with Marc-Andre Fleury and Kevin Lankinen.
The Goaltending Situation in Edmonton
The Oilers' goaltending has been a subject of much discussion. While Skinner and Pickard have demonstrated the ability to win, their save percentages have been below .900 in recent playoff runs. Coach Kris Knoblauch has expressed a desire to see more consistency from his netminders, stating that Aubry was hired to "push those guys and bring a different perspective to elevate them to play at their best more often".
One of Aubry's primary tasks will be to work with Stuart Skinner. Skinner has shown flashes of brilliance but has also struggled at times. He started 50 of Knoblauch's 69 games and was top eight in save percentage, goals-against average, and saves above expected. However, some observers believe Skinner's performance dipped in his third year. The challenge for Aubry is that Skinner has had limited full summers of training due to the Oilers' deep playoff runs. It's been suggested that Aubry might visit Skinner in Kelowna this summer to observe his training with Adam Francilia.
Can Aubry Make a Difference?
The question remains whether Peter Aubry can truly make a difference for the Oilers' goalies. Some analysts point out that previous goalies under the Oilers' previous goalie coach, Dustin Schwartz, showed decline after their second season with the team. Others believe that a fresh voice and new ideas could be beneficial for Skinner and Pickard.
Ultimately, Aubry's success will depend on his ability to connect with Skinner and Pickard, identify areas for improvement, and implement strategies that lead to more consistent performance. He's joining a team with high expectations and a strong desire to win a Stanley Cup. While the pressure will be on, Aubry seems ready to embrace the challenge and contribute to the Oilers' quest for hockey's ultimate prize.
