Dead man walking? Cassidy report seems to seal Knoblauch's fate with Edmonton Oilers
It certainly sounds like Kris Knoblauch’s time with the Edmonton Oilers will be coming to an end shortly.
The 47-year-old Oilers head coach has not been fired and is set to start a three-year contract next season, but it appears the writing is on the wall for Knoblauch. Despite leading Edmonton to two straight Stanley Cup Final appearances, the Oilers are reportedly already searching for his new replacement.
News broke on Tuesday morning that Edmonton has sought out permission to interview Bruce Cassidy for the head coaching position. The Vegas Golden Knights have not granted that permission yet, but that shouldn’t matter much when it comes to Knoblauch’s fate within the organization.
This news has created a firestorm that will make it very difficult for Knoblauch to return as the Oilers’ head coach next season.
Even if the Oilers are ultimately unsuccessful in hiring Cassidy, think about what this news says about the head coaching spot in Edmonton. It clearly shows a lack of confidence in Knoblauch’s ability from upper management, which, in turn, will affect how the players view him in the dressing room.
If management does not respect the head coach, why should the players? This has effectively made Knoblauch a dead man walking.
The head coach has had more success behind the Oilers bench than anybody else over the last 30 years, and although he didn’t ultimately win a Stanley Cup, he got Edmonton as close as they could possibly get. Love him or hate him, he deserves a lot of credit for his work done in the Alberta capital, and he likely deserves a better end than being left hanging while the Oilers actively search for his successor.
The Oilers are, however, wholly justified in looking for a new coach. The team is coming off a disappointing season where both Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl criticized the coaching at different junctions. Something needed to change this summer, and replacing the coach is the easiest thing to do, especially with a guy like Cassidy available.
Heading into the summer, it felt likely that the Oilers would fire Knoblauch, but there was always a chance that he could come back if they couldn’t find the right guy.
Now it feels like a foregone conclusion.