The Edmonton Oilers have fired head coach Kris Knoblauch, as numerous insiders confirmed he has been relieved of his duties.
TSN’s Ryan Rishaug was the first to report that the Oilers have fired Knoblauch after nearly three seasons behind the bench in Edmonton. Rumors that the Oilers were about to fire Knoblauch swirled around social media on Wednesday, and a day later, the news broke out that it happened.
“The Oilers have relieved Kris Knoblauch of his coaching duties,” Rishaug wrote on X.
Sportsnet’s Mark Spector added that Knoblauch was fired on Wednesday night, though news of his dismissal came out on Thursday morning.
“Oilers fire Kris Knoblauch. Relieved of duties last night,” added Spector on X.
Kris Knoblauch Fired by Oilers
Knoblauch’s tenure in Edmonton after three up-and-down seasons with the Oilers. The 47-year-old Canadian head coach was hired by the Oilers during the 2023-24 season and went to the Stanley Cup Finals in his first year behind the team’s bench, though they lost to the Florida Panthers. The next season, Knoblauch once again guided the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Finals, though they lost to the Panthers for the second straight season.
This year, the Oilers lost in the first round to the Anaheim Ducks in an upset, and you knew that trouble was brewing for Knoblauch because the team couldn’t get over the hump. In the aftermath of a failed season, Oilers superstar Conor McGregor said that his team simply wasn’t good enough to win. Evidently, GM Stan Bowman agreed with his star player, and the Oilers’ brass felt that getting rid of Knoblauch and starting over with a new coach was the right move.
The Oilers were Knoblauch’s first head coaching gig in the NHL. Although the team ultimately failed to win the Stanley Cup, the fact that he was able to guide the team to two finals appearances and three playoff seeds is certainly a feather in his cap. If he wants to coach again in the league, he would likely get another job offer. However, Knoblauch is in no rush because the Oilers are still on the hook for paying him for three more years as a result of his signing a contract extension through the 2028-29 season. That money is fully guaranteed, so Knoblauch will be paid it regardless. But if another team hires him, whatever money he makes with his new team would be deducted from what Edmonton owes him.
Oilers Linked to Bruce Cassidy
The Oilers have not yet announced who their next head coach is, but there are strong rumors linking them to Bruce Cassidy, the former Vegas Golden Knights head coach who is considered one of the most respected head coaches in hockey.
However, up to this point, the Golden Knights have blocked Edmonton’s attempts to interview their former coach, who is still technically under contract with the team. We’ll see if Vegas eventually agrees to let Edmonton talk to Cassidy, but for now, there are roadblocks in place. Still, he is the favorite to take over behind the Oilers’ bench going forward.
Oilers Fire Head Coach Kris Knoblauch