On Thursday morning, General Manager Stan Bowman announced that the organization has relieved Kris Knoblauch of his duties as head coach.
The #Oilers have relieved head coach Kris Knoblauch & assistant coach Mark Stuart of their duties. https://t.co/K3GQq5GshP
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 14, 2026
The move comes after a stunning exit from the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Despite icing a more experienced roster, the Oilers were eliminated in the opening round by the Anaheim Ducks in six games. It marked the first time since 2021 that Edmonton failed to advance past the first round.
Knoblauch joined the Oilers in November 2023, succeeding Jay Woodcroft. The former Hartford Wolf Pack coach was initially hailed as a savior, leading Edmonton to its first Stanley Cup Final appearance in 18 years in 2024, where they lost a thrilling seven-game series to the Florida Panthers.
History repeated itself in 2024-25, as Knoblauch guided the Oilers back to the Final for a second consecutive year, only to fall to the Panthers again—this time in six games. While these back-to-back Western Conference championships earned Knoblauch a three-year contract extension, that deal—which was set to begin next season—will now be voided.
With reports surfacing that the Oilers are intensely interested in former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy, Bowman and the Oilers’ leadership decided to pivot immediately.
Knoblauch departs Edmonton with a regular-season record of 135-77-21. While his 31-22 postseason mark and 6-3 series record are impressive, the inability to secure a championship and the recent first-round collapse ultimately signaled the end of his tenure.