Oilers dismiss Knoblauch after two Cup Final runs

The Edmonton Oilers have dismissed head coach Kris Knoblauch, a development confirmed by a source to ESPN on Thursday. The decision marks a sudden end to a tenure that saw the franchise reach the Stanley Cup Final in consecutive years, 2024 and 2025, despite an average performance throughout the 2025-26 regular season.

Knoblauch’s departure comes despite a three-year contract extension signed in October, which was scheduled to commence with the 2026-27 season and run through 2028-29. The Oilers, who entered the season with preseason title expectations, struggled to maintain consistency, finishing second in the Pacific Division before being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Anaheim Ducks in six games.

Tensions appeared to surface earlier in the year when captain Connor McDavid publicly expressed admiration for Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper in March. McDavid, who played under Cooper at the 4 Nations Faceoff and the Olympic Games in Milan, drew attention for his comments, which were widely interpreted as a lack of confidence in Knoblauch. McDavid later clarified that he was "not taking shots," but the sentiment contributed to the growing pressure on the coaching staff.

The Oilers regrouped to finish the regular season with a 12-6-3 record in March and April, securing their playoff berth. However, the first-round exit proved to be the tipping point for the franchise’s leadership. TSN was the first outlet to report on the firing, with ESPN subsequently confirming the move via a source.

Knoblauch was appointed in November 2023, replacing Jay Woodcroft after a poor start to that season. Previously the head coach of the American Hockey League’s Hartford Wolfpack, Knoblauch was viewed as a stabilising force who guided the Oilers from the bottom of the standings to the Stanley Cup Final in his first NHL head coaching role. The team lost the Final in both 2024 and 2025 to the Florida Panthers.