The upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs have brought together two coaches with a long-standing history. Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice and Edmonton Oilers interim coach Kris Knoblauch have a shared past that dates back to their time in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
Maurice, who has been coaching in the NHL for over 20 years, first crossed paths with Knoblauch in the 2006-2007 season when he was the head coach of the Toronto Marlies and Knoblauch was an assistant coach for the Kitchener Rangers. The two teams faced off in the OHL finals, with the Marlies ultimately winning the series.
Despite being on opposing sides, Maurice was impressed by Knoblauch’s coaching abilities and the two formed a mutual respect for each other. Maurice even went as far as to say that he was “very high” on Knoblauch and knew he would have a successful career in coaching.
Their paths crossed again in the 2014-2015 season when Knoblauch was the head coach of the Erie Otters and Maurice was coaching the Winnipeg Jets. The two teams met in the OHL finals once again, with the Otters coming out on top this time.
After the series, Maurice reached out to Knoblauch to congratulate him on his team’s victory and the two coaches stayed in touch over the years. When Knoblauch was named the interim coach for the Oilers in March, Maurice was one of the first people to reach out and offer his support.
Now, as the two coaches prepare to face each other in the first round of the playoffs, they both acknowledge the unique situation they are in. Maurice has praised Knoblauch’s coaching abilities and Knoblauch has expressed his gratitude for the support and guidance he has received from Maurice over the years.
It’s clear that these two coaches have a strong bond and a shared history that adds an interesting dynamic to the upcoming playoff series. As they lead their teams into battle, it will be a testament to their coaching skills and the respect they have for each other.
