EDMONTON, Alberta — Edmonton Oilers management dismissed head coach Kris Knoblauch on Thursday following the team’s early playoff elimination that came after he had led the franchise to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances.
Since replacing Jay Woodcroft as a mid-season hire when the previous coach was let go after a poor November 2023 start, Knoblauch guided Edmonton to three playoff berths. Under his leadership, the team posted 166 victories in 286 games, giving him a .623 regular-season points percentage that places him sixth among current NHL head coaches.
This marks the sixth coaching change for Edmonton since Connor McDavid joined the NHL in 2015 and established himself as the league’s top player, playing alongside fellow MVP Leon Draisaitl. The duo remains without a championship as they enter their 12th campaign together.
The coaching dismissal follows reports from earlier this week that Edmonton had requested and been refused permission by the Vegas Golden Knights to interview Bruce Cassidy, whom they had released as coach in late March while he remains under contract. Organizations typically wait for open positions before pursuing potential coaching candidates during the offseason.
General manager Stan Bowman’s authority to make this decision suggests he will retain his position, as will president of hockey operations Jeff Jackson, who came aboard in August 2023. Jackson assumed control of hockey operations after the team’s initial final appearance in 2024 and brought in Bowman as general manager that summer. Assistant coach Mark Stuart was also dismissed.
“Following a thorough review of this past season, we believe these changes are needed,” Bowman said. “We are grateful for the contributions both Kris and Mark have made to our organization and we wish them the best moving forward.”
The Oilers trailed 3-0 in their initial championship series against Florida before forcing the Panthers to a decisive Game 7 and falling by one goal. They returned the next year with home-ice advantage but appeared to take a step backward in a six-game series loss attributed to defensive struggles and poor goaltending.
These issues persisted throughout this season, both before and after Bowman executed a goaltender trade to acquire Tristan Jarry while sending Stuart Skinner to Pittsburgh. The move backfired, as Edmonton finished 29th among 32 league teams with an .883 save percentage.
McDavid offered significant praise for Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper late in the season after the Lightning defeated the Oilers 5-2. While not necessarily intended as a critique of Knoblauch, the comments were notable from a player who typically focuses on accepting accountability for defeats.
Edmonton was ousted by the less-experienced Anaheim Ducks, as Knoblauch couldn’t solve the goaltending crisis between Jarry and backup-turned-starter Connor Ingram. Their combined .880 save percentage ranked worst in the playoffs, while the Oilers’ 4.33 goals allowed also finished last.
The three-year contract extension Edmonton gave Knoblauch in October begins next season and extends through 2028-29. The organization must continue paying him until another team employs him and would cover any salary difference during that period.
