Are the Oilers getting intel on two of their biggest rivals?
The Edmonton Oilers made a really intriguing coaching decision last week, which appears to have gone virtually unnoticed.
The Oilers declared that they had engaged Misha Donskov as a coaching consultant, which was a very cunning move. Although Donskov is not a name that the majority of people are familiar with, he has solidified his position in the hockey community, most recently being appointed as the vice president of hockey operations for Hockey Canada and the head coach of their men’s national squad almost a year ago.
Donskov’s experience in the National Hockey League, however, may be more crucial for the Oilers. Donskov has previously collaborated very closely with some of Edmonton’s greatest opponents in the Western Conference, even though he did not work with an NHL team this past season (probably because of his significant responsibilities with Hockey Canada). Prior to this, Donskov worked as the director of hockey operations for the Vegas Golden Knights. He was also an assistant coach behind the Vegas bench when the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023.
As they prevented Bruce Cassidy from speaking with the Oilers, we all witnessed firsthand how much Vegas wants to keep their coaches away from rival teams, even if they have no power over the Oilers’ ability to recruit Donskov.
The Dallas Stars, a Western Conference power, also had Donskov behind the bench for the 2023–24 and 2024–25 seasons. This may be a low-key move that adds significant value to the Oilers this season, even though Donskov will only be available on a few occasions due to his commitments to Hockey Canada.
