Oilers Part Ways with Coach Knoblauch After Playoff Disappointment

EDMONTON, Alberta — The Edmonton Oilers made a significant move on Thursday, firing coach Chris Knoblauch. This comes after the team managed to reach the Stanley Cup Final two years in a row but was disappointingly eliminated in the first round this season.

Knoblauch took over when the Oilers were struggling, having replaced Jay Woodcroft midseason in November 2023. Since then, he has led the team to the playoffs three times, winning 166 out of 286 games. His regular season winning percentage of .623 is notable, ranking him sixth among active NHL coaches.

In a bit of a historical note, this marks the sixth coach change for the Oilers since Connor McDavid entered the league in 2015. McDavid, often viewed as one of the best players in hockey, along with MVP teammate Leon Draisaitl, is still searching for that elusive championship as they prepare for their 12th season together.

Knoblauch’s dismissal also follows recent reports that Edmonton was denied the chance to interview Bruce Cassidy, who was still under contract after being let go by the Las Vegas Golden Knights earlier this year. This kind of scenario is typical, as teams usually wait for openings before reaching out to potential candidates.

General manager Stan Bowman’s choice to make this change seems to signal that he’ll remain in his position, along with director of hockey operations Jeff Jackson, who joined the organization in August 2023. Jackson took over control of hockey operations after the Oilers reached the finals for the first time in 2024 and subsequently appointed Bowman as GM. Additionally, assistant coach Mark Stewart was also relieved of his duties.

“After a thorough review of this past season, we believe these changes are necessary,” Bowman shared. “We appreciate the contributions that Chris and Mark brought to our organization and wish them the best moving forward.”

This past season, the Oilers fell behind 3-0 in their first finals game against the Florida Panthers but fought hard to extend the series to Game 7, ultimately losing by a narrow margin. Despite gaining home-ice advantage the following year, a string of six consecutive losses highlighted severe issues with defense and goaltending.

The problematic trend continued this season, even after a goaltending trade that sent Stuart Skinner to Pittsburgh while acquiring Tristan Jarry. The Oilers struggled with save percentage, ranking 29th in the league at .883.

McDavid, notably praising Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper after a late-season loss, made comments that stood out—highlighting the struggles without directly criticizing Knoblauch. It’s worth noting that the player’s usual demeanor involves taking responsibility for the team’s shortcomings.

Edmonton’s goaltending situation was problematic, with neither Jarry nor backup-turned-starter Connor Ingram able to effectively manage the crease. Their combined save percentage of .880 was the lowest in the playoffs, and the Oilers also struggled defensively, allowing 4.33 goals against, which was the highest in the postseason.

Interestingly, Knoblauch had signed a three-year contract extension last October that kicks in next season and runs through 2028-29. This means the Oilers are still financially obligated to him unless he is hired by another team, which could lead to further complications regarding his salary during that period.