Oilers fire Kris Knoblauch amid Bruce Cassidy rumors

The Edmonton Oilers had won the Western Conference in consecutive seasons, but fell to the Anaheim Ducks in the first round in 2026. After that elimination, reports surfaced that they were trying to talk to Bruce Cassidy about becoming the next coach of the team. Now, days later, the Oilers have fired head coach Kris Knoblauch after three seasons with the club. 

“The Oilers have relieved Kris Knoblauch of his coaching duties,” Ryan Rishaug of TSN reported.

Knoblauch took over for Jay Woodcroft early in the 2023-24 season, picking up 46 wins in 69 regular-season games. They made it to the Stanley Cup Final that year, losing to the Florida Panthers in seven games. They went all the way back to the Cup Final in Knoblauch’s second year, losing to Florida in six games. But with the Panthers not in the postseason this year, they could not get out of the first round.

The issues with the Oilers are more than just the postseason. They had only 93 points this season, the fewest in Knoblauch’s tenure. With serious goaltending issues not fixed by a trade for Tristan Jarry, it would be easy to blame the front office for the poor finish. But Knoblauch gets the blame, and Connor McDavid needs a new coach.

McDavid signed a two-year extension with the Oilers before the 2025-26 season. That deal starts on July 1, and could have the best player in the world hitting the open market in 2028. Stan Bowman and the rest of the Oilers front office have to get the goaltending situation figured out. That is the only way for them to win a championship, which is the only thing McDavid is missing.

The Oilers may try to court Cassidy again, but the Golden Knights seem to be stern in their denial. Who will be the next Edmonton coach?

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