The Coaches Room is a regular feature throughout the 2025-26 season by former NHL coaches and assistants who turn their critical gaze to the game and explain it through the lens of a teacher.

In this edition, Craig Johnson, a former assistant with the Anaheim Ducks and Ontario of the American Hockey League, and development coach with the Los Angeles Kings, writes about some reasons he is seeing for the Edmonton Oilers' early season struggles.

The Edmonton Oilers (6-6-4) are off to another slow start. They did this in the previous two seasons too, but obviously it did not hurt them as they reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and again last season.

It's easy to look at it and just say starting slow is the Oilers' M.O., but they'll be fine, they'll get it turned around.

I think they wil

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