Maurice Reveals Why He Didn't Want Knoblauch
Paul Maurice told the media on Friday why he didn't hire current Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch.
Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports - Maurice Reveals Why He Didn't Want KnoblauchEDMONTON -- When one door closes, another opens.
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This platitude could perfectly describe Kris Knoblauch's journey from OHL head coach to helming the Edmonton Oilers to a Stanley Cup Final. The Oilers first Cup Final appearance in 18 years to boot.
His journey found him up for a couple of assistant coaching positions before making his way to Alberta's capital. To be more specific, he was in consideration to be on Paul Maurice's coaching staff when he was with the Winnipeg Jets many years ago.
While Knoblauch revealed that he (obviously) didn't get the position, we didn't know why. Now because of Maurice's scrum on Friday, we do.
Maurice revealed that Knoblauch was one of 17 candidates that Maurice interviewed for the position. Before Knoblauch left the interview, he had made his decision. Maurice lays out his thought process, "he was a young guy at the time. Sit down and 10 minutes in you're going, 'this guy's a head coach.'"
"He's just wired for it. [He's] very clear, very concise. He was very open with what he did, what he wanted to do. I didn't hire him because I didn't want that for him."
Instead of Knoblauch becoming an assistant coach, Maurice envisioned a different route to becoming an NHL head coach, "the best thing for him was to stay a head coach, because he was."
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Knoblauch has had an incredibly successful rookie season as an NHL head coach. He partially has Maurice to thank, for believing that he could do it many years before he would get his opportunity.
The two coaches will go head to head tonight at 6 PM Mountain time for Game one of the Stanley Cup Final.
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