3 Oilers’ Head Coaching Targets if Knoblauch Is Fired

After back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances, the Edmonton Oilers lost their first-round series to the Anaheim Ducks in six games this year, and much of the blame belongs to head coach Kris Knoblauch. The Oilers inked Knoblauch to a three-year contract extension in October that begins next season. Despite that, he should be fired before he coaches a game under his new deal. He made too many questionable decisions throughout the season and in the playoffs that cannot be overlooked.

He relies heavily on his top players, which is understandable. However, he doesn’t play his fourth line enough, making it hard for the team’s depth players to develop an identity. He doesn’t hold his veteran players accountable, and he’s constantly shuffling his lines. That also makes it difficult for his players to develop chemistry, leading to inconsistent play, as we saw all season.

The Oilers are desperate to win now, and to do that, a coaching change is necessary. Knoblauch won’t get them over the hump, but here are three potential head coaching targets who might.

Bruce Cassidy

Bruce Cassidy is the realistic option. The Vegas Golden Knights fired Cassidy on March 29 after a tough stretch. He won a Stanley Cup with Vegas in 2023 and coached the Boston Bruins from 2017 to 2022, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2019.

His coaching style would mesh well with what the Oilers need. He emphasizes defensive structure and positioning while still giving his players the offensive freedom to be creative and make plays. The Oilers need to be much better defensively, but without compromising their elite offensive game. The team needs balance, and that’s why Cassidy would be a better fit than Knoblauch.

Cassidy will hold his skilled players accountable, which is why his coaching style has a shelf life – it’s probably why he lost the room in Vegas. However, the Oilers have a two-year window, and Cassidy is the type of coach to get the most out of his players in the short term.

Misha Donskov

Misha Donskov would be a thinking-outside-of-the-box option. Donskov was on Cassidy’s staff when the Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023. He was an assistant coach with Vegas from 2020 to 2023 and with the Dallas Stars from 2023 to 2025. He has never been a head coach in the NHL.

However, Donskov has taken on a large role with Hockey Canada and has been named the head coach for three marquee events this year, including the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Switzerland and the 2027 World Junior Hockey Championship in Edmonton and Red Deer. Would he be willing to pass that up for his first NHL head coaching job?

As an unproven head coach, this would be a risky hire given that the Oilers’ Stanley Cup window is open now. However, he’s a young, forward-thinking, and detail-oriented coach, which is what the Oilers need. The team is lacking detail in their game, and Donskov would provide that, and he would be a good fit in the room.

Jon Cooper

If the Tampa Bay Lightning part ways with Jon Cooper this offseason, he should be Edmonton’s top choice. Cooper is the longest tenured head coach in the league, leading the Lightning’s bench since 2013. He has two Stanley Cup championships with Tampa Bay and three consecutive Final appearances between 2020 and 2022. He has reached the pinnacle with that organization, so what’s left to do?