Oilers Fire Head Coach Kris Knoblauch, and Asst. Mark Stuart

The Edmonton Oilers have relieved head coach Kris Knoblauch of his coaching duties. Following a Wednesday when it was believed a firing was imminent, the team pulled the trigger on Thursday morning, with reporters like Darren Dreger and Ryan Rishaug confirming. Assistant coach Mark Stuart has also been fired.

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The Oilers released a statement Thursday morning:

“Following a thorough review of this past season, we believe these changes are needed. We are grateful for the contributions both Kris and Mark have made to our organization and we wish them the best moving forward,” said Stan Bowman, Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and General Manager.

The move comes after a disappointing first-round playoff exit in the 2025-26 season and intense speculation following reports that the team sought permission to interview Bruce Cassidy while Knoblauch was still under contract.

Once that news broke, even if Cassidy wasn’t hired, the belief was that it would be next to impossible to bring Knoblauch back. Despite all that Knoblauch had done for the team during his tenure as coach, knowing that the organization was looking to upgrade and hire someone else, how would that relationship continue?

Knoblauch led the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals appearances but ultimately paid the price for failing to deliver a championship. He had a three-year extension that was set to begin next season.

The Oilers are now actively searching for their next head coach, with Cassidy widely viewed as a top candidate.

More updates to follow as the organization makes it official.

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