Edmonton Oilers Fire Coach Kris Knoblauch After Playoff Exit

Edmonton Oilers Fire Head Coach Kris Knoblauch After Disappointing Season

The Edmonton Oilers fired head coach Kris Knoblauch on Thursday, ending his tenure after two Stanley Cup Final appearances and a first-round playoff exit this spring.

Knoblauch, 47, took over in November 2023 following a 3-9-1 start under Jay Woodcroft. He guided the team to the Stanley Cup Final in his first partial season and again the next year, losing both times to the Florida Panthers. This season, however, Edmonton regressed with a 41-30-11 regular-season record, totaling 93 points while finishing second in the Pacific Division. The team allowed more goals than any playoff qualifier, struggled on the penalty kill at 20th in the league and lost in six games to the Anaheim Ducks in the first round, ending April 30.

The Oilers' postseason struggles capped a year marked by inconsistency despite stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Goaltending proved problematic after general manager Stan Bowman traded Stuart Skinner to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Tristan Jarry, a move that did not improve results. After the Ducks series, McDavid described the team as average throughout the year. "We've been searching...