Oilers Expected to Move On From Kris Knoblauch Amid Coaching Shakeup Rumours

The Edmonton Oilers appear to be heading toward a major offseason change behind the bench.

According to Sportsnet’s Mark Spector, Kris Knoblauch had not officially been fired as of late Wednesday morning, but reports indicate a coaching change is expected before the end of the day. After entering the season with Stanley Cup expectations once again, the Oilers’ early playoff exit and inconsistent regular season have clearly forced management into evaluating everything.

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For a team that reached back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in previous years, this season felt like a massive step backward.

The Oilers Took a Noticeable Step Back

From the beginning of the season, Edmonton never looked like the dominant contender many expected them to be. While the roster still featured Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl playing at elite levels, the team itself lacked consistency almost all year long.

As of this moment — 11:37 a.m. MT — Kris Knoblauch has not been fired by the Edmonton Oilers.
We are expecting that to happen however, likely by day's end.

— Mark Spector🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@SportsnetSpec) May 13, 2026

One of the biggest concerns was their inability to build momentum. The Oilers struggled to string wins together for much of the season and did not record a three-game winning streak until the later months of the year — something almost unheard of for a team considered a Stanley Cup favourite.

There were stretches where Edmonton looked completely average. Defensive breakdowns became common, special teams were inconsistent, and the team often looked lost structurally. Even when they won games, it rarely felt convincing.

That naturally puts pressure on the coaching staff.

Knoblauch deserves credit for helping guide Edmonton to back-to-back Final appearances previously, but this year felt different. It was the first season where he truly had full influence over his coaching staff, including selecting his own assistants, and the results simply did not follow.

The Oilers looked disorganized at times and failed to adjust throughout difficult stretches of the season. Multiple players struggled to find consistency in their roles, and Edmonton’s overall identity seemed unclear compared to previous years.

For a team in a championship window, that becomes difficult to ignore.

Bruce Cassidy Emerging as the Favorite

If the Oilers officially move on from Knoblauch, Bruce Cassidy immediately becomes the obvious name to watch.

Cassidy is widely viewed as one of the NHL’s best coaches and has built a reputation for demanding structure, accountability, and defensive commitment — areas Edmonton badly lacked this season. He also brings championship pedigree after winning the Stanley Cup with Vegas.

More importantly, Cassidy feels like the type of coach who could maximize Edmonton’s current core while bringing a stronger identity to the roster.

The expectation would also be that Cassidy brings in his own assistant coaches rather than inheriting pieces of the current staff. If Edmonton is making a coaching change of this magnitude, it likely signals a full reset behind the bench rather than a minor adjustment.

The Oilers are running out of time to capitalize on the prime years of McDavid and Draisaitl. After another disappointing ending to a season that never truly found consistency, management appears ready to make a bold move.

Now the focus shifts toward whether Bruce Cassidy ultimately becomes the next coach tasked with getting Edmonton over the hump.

Next: Analyst Rips Oilers for Handling of Bruce Cassidy-Kris Knoblauch Situation