Edmonton Oilers add Hitmen bench boss McFarland to coaching staff

Calgary Hitmen Head Coach Paul McFarland is heading up the QEII to join the Edmonton Oilers as an assistant coach, the NHL club announced Monday.

The 39-year-old is coming off a tremendous season with the Hitmen, which saw the club go 45-17-3-3 to finish second in the Central Division and third in the overall standings.

Calgary scored the fourth-most goals of any WHL team while allowing the second-fewest goals, marking the squad’s most successful regular season campaign in more than a decade.

📰 NEW COACHES‼️

The #Oilers have added Paul McFarland (assistant), Peter Aubry (goaltending) & Conor Allen (skills) to their coaching staff.https://t.co/XmAqHluQWD

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) July 14, 2025

McFarland returns to the NHL after a one-season break.

He previously served as an assistant coach for the Seattle Kraken from 2021-24, including a breakout 2022-23 that saw Seattle eliminate the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs.

McFarland broke into the NHL as an assistant coach for the Florida Panthers from 2017-2019 before a one-season stop with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He made a return to the OHL as the General Manager and Head Coach of the Kingston Frontenacs in 2020-21 before heading to the Pacific Northwest with Seattle.

As a player, the Richmond Hill, Ont. product played four seasons with the Kitchener Rangers and Windsor Spitfires.

He helped the Rangers capture the OHL Championship and Memorial Cup as a rookie in 2002-03.

Bolstered by stars like WHL graduates Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the Oilers continue to chase hockey glory after two consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Final.

McFarland joins Oilers Head Coach and fellow WHL alumnus Kris Knoblauch, who suited up for more than 200 WHL games with the Red Deer Rebels, Edmonton/Kootenay ICE and Lethbridge Hurricanes as a gritty forward before returning to the league for a seven-season sojourn as a coach with the Prince Albert Raiders and 2011 WHL Champion Kootenay ICE.