Kris Knoblauch: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

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Seemingly nobody was surprised to see the Edmonton Oilers to fire Kris Knoblauch shortly after their 2025-26 season came to an end. Despite leading the team to the Stanley Cup Final in each of his first two seasons with the organization, things felt stale for some time last year, and it was clear players were getting frustrated.

Edmonton Oilers News / Oilersnation / September 18

Did Kris Knoblauch lose the Oilers’ room last year?

A lot more was going on with the Edmonton Oilers last season than we were led to believe. The team fired head coach Kris Knoblauch and assistant Mark Stuart on May 14, and it was GM Stan Bowman who announced the firing: “Following a thorough review of this past season, we believe these changes are needed,” said Bowman.

Edmonton Oilers News / NHL Trade Talk / September 11

Overdrive Calls Out Oilers’ Country Club Culture — And Their Cup Chances

The Edmonton Oilers didn’t just tweak around the edges this offseason — they detonated the coaching staff. Firing Kris Knoblauch, fresh off a three‑year extension, and replacing him with Mike Babcock was easily the most polarizing move they’ve made in years.

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Edmonton Oilers News / Oilersnation / September 8

Beyond Accountability: What Mike Babcock could change behind the Oilers’ bench

We’ve heard it time and again this summer: the Edmonton Oilers were looking for a different type of coach when they brought in Mike Babcock. The word that has resurfaced in articles and interviews has been accountability; the team’s leadership felt they needed more of this from their coach to get over the finish line.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The biggest draft bust for every NHL team

People love a good mid-round draft pick that pans out, and in the NHL you used to see those fairly often, but that’s obviously partially luck. If the Red Wings thought Nicklas Lidstrom was going to become a top-five defenseman in history, they wouldn’t have waited until the 53rd pick to take him.

Edmonton Oilers News / NHL Trade Talk / July 23

Kris Knoblauch Is Taking a Coaching Break: Smart or Silly?

Kris Knoblauch is officially done in Edmonton (for now), and honestly, it feels like the Oilers didn’t waste any time once the 2025-26 season ended. He got fired on May 14, 2026, after that first-round playoff exit to the Anaheim Ducks.

Edmonton Oilers News / The Hockey Writers / July 11

Oilers’ Vasily Podkolzin on Knoblauch’s Exit, Babcock’s Demands, and Future Goals

The Edmonton Oilers are pivoting into a new era with winger Vasily Podkolzin gearing up for a major role. The 25-year-old forward is coming off a breakout 2025-26 campaign where he skated in all 82 regular-season games, netting a career-high 19 goals and 37 points.

Edmonton Oilers News / NHL Trade Talk / June 7

The Oilers Shot Themselves in the Foot Yet Again

At some point, every NHL front office learns the hard way: hockey plans rarely go as cleanly as they look on paper. The Oilers felt this sting. They gave Kris Knoblauch the boot on May 14 after a messy early playoff exit, even with those recent Finals runs.

Edmonton Oilers News / Oilersnation / June 6

Oilers coaching search most dramatic since 1994

Kris Knoblauch was relieved of his duties as Edmonton Oilers coach on May 14, and the organization is three weeks and counting into a search for the next bench boss.

NHL News / The Hockey Writers / June 2

Avalanche Would Be Foolish to Move on From Jared Bednar

The Colorado Avalanche, definitive favorites to win the Stanley Cup at the beginning of the playoffs, have been shown the door. It is easily one of the most painful, disappointing losses in Avalanche playoff history and it has some wondering if it might be time to move on from head coach Jared Bednar.

NHL News / Ball Exclusives / May 29

Bruce Cassidy speaks out against Golden Knights over blocked interviews

The Vegas Golden Knights fired head coach Bruce Cassidy on March 29, and teams around the league have since requested to interview Cassidy for a coaching position.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The defining figure for every NHL franchise

People will talk about the “Mount Rushmore” for a franchise, which is to say the four people, usually four players, that most define the franchise. Not always the four-best players, but the four that evoke the essence of the franchise.

Edmonton Oilers News / Daily Faceoff / May 28

Oilers announce multiple promotions within hockey operations

The Edmonton Oilers may have fired head coach Kris Knoblauch after falling to the Anaheim Ducks in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but they’ve just decided that a number of others in their hockey operations are worthy of a promotion.

Edmonton Oilers News / The Hockey Writers / May 27

Oilers News & Rumours: Tortorella, McDavid Window, Next Steps for Knoblauch

The Edmonton Oilers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Anaheim Ducks in what was a shocking upset, but now their focus has shifted to the offseason.

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Edmonton Oilers News / Oilersnation / May 24

Oilers Letters to the Editor: Coaching and roster debates

It’s time to dig into this week’s Letters to the Editor. Want to join in the fun? Details about how to reach out are at the bottom of the article. It has occurred to me that the team and fans are overreacting to last season’s failure.

Edmonton Oilers News / NHL Trade Talk / May 21

The Risk and Reward of Knoblauch Sitting Out vs Jumping Back In

Kris Knoblauch’s in that weird limbo. The Oilers let him go before his shiny three‑year deal even kicked in, so he’s technically still on the payroll but not coaching.

NHL News / The Hockey Writers / May 19

Oilers insider gives blunt response to potential Craig Berube hiring

The Edmonton Oilers decided to relieve both Kris Knoblauch and Mark Stuart of their duties as head coach and assistant coach, and while many fans believe Bruce Cassidy is their primary target to become their new bench boss, another name recently came out as someone they are interested in.

Edmonton Oilers News / NHL Trade Talk / May 18

Analyst pitches the idea of a new GM in Edmonton

This could be an offseason of major changes for the Edmonton Oilers, and it already started with the dismissal of head coach Kris Knoblauch before his new extension had even kicked in.

Edmonton Oilers News / NHL Trade Talk / May 16

Oilers’ Daryl Katz Reportedly Furious After Disappointing Season

The Edmonton Oilers entered the 2025-26 season with Stanley Cup expectations after reaching back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals under Kris Knoblauch. Instead, they spent most of the year looking inconsistent, disconnected, and far from the dominant contender many expected them to become.

Edmonton Oilers News / NHL Trade Talk / May 16

Oilers Want Next Coach to Be Harder on Their Players

With Kris Knoblauch’s time behind the bench of the Edmonton Oilers now over, the focus has fully shifted to who GM Stan Bowman and company are going to hire as his replacement.

Edmonton Oilers News / Oilersnation / May 15

Daryl Katz was ‘driving force’ behind Oilers decision to fire Knoblauch: Report

As the dust settles on what has been nothing short of a chaotic week in Edmonton, word has started to trickle about what led to the demise of Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch.

Edmonton Oilers News / Daily Faceoff / May 14

Oilers move on from Kris Knoblauch amidst uncertainty on and off the ice

There may be no position in the world with shakier job security than NHL head coach, as the Edmonton Oilers showed once again by firing Kris Knoblauch on Thursday.

Edmonton Oilers News / Daily Faceoff / May 14

Oilers fire head coach Kris Knoblauch

A massive change behind the bench in Northern Alberta. On Thursday, TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reported that the Edmonton Oilers have fired Kris Knoblauch as head coach.

NHL News / NHL Trade Talk / May 13

Could Kris Knoblauch Suddenly Become Candidate for HC of the Maple Leafs?

The NHL coaching carousel has been spinning this week, and that continued on Wednesday with the Toronto Maple Leafs firing Craig Berube after just two seasons on the job.

Edmonton Oilers News / The Hockey Writers / May 4

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.

Edmonton Oilers News / Oilersnation / May 3

Oilers’ coach Kris Knoblauch on whether he’s worried about his job: ‘It is what it is’

This was the first season for the Edmonton Oilers under coach Kris Knoblauch that they didn’t go to the Stanley Cup Final. But a first-round playoff loss, considering the team’s expectations, and their inconsistent play all season, has many wondering whether Knoblauch will get another opportunity.

Edmonton Oilers News / NHL Trade Talk / April 9

Paul Coffey comments on Kris Knoblauch relationship rumors

Oilers' Paul Coffey comments on rocky Kris Knoblauch relationship rumors

Edmonton Oilers assistant coach Paul Coffey is speaking out about rumors that he doesn’t have the greatest relationship with head coach Kris Knoblauch.

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Edmonton Oilers News / Daily Faceoff / March 25

Oilers HC Kris Knoblauch may be on the hot seat in Edmonton

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Edmonton Oilers News / The Hockey Writers / March 21

Kris Knoblauch’s Demeanour Is a Problem for the Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers had another disappointing home loss, losing 4-0 to the Florida Panthers. This was another game that the Oilers didn’t show up for. They were playing the team that defeated them in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, but this felt like a preseason game.

Edmonton Oilers News / Daily Faceoff / March 20