Edmonton Oilers fire coach Knoblauch but they still owe him a lot of money
Kris Knoblauch’s time with the Edmonton Oilers has come to an end. The 47-year-old head coach was fired by the Oilers, according to multiple reports.
The Oilers have relieved Kris Knoblauch of his coaching duties.
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) May 14, 2026
The news comes just two days after we learned the Oilers had requested to meet with Bruce Cassidy, but had not been granted permission by the Vegas Golden Knights.
That appeared to seal Knoblauch’s fate in Edmonton. How could the Oilers bring him back after openly looking to replace him?
Hired early in the 2023-24 season, Knoblauch took the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals. Edmonton had a 46-18-5 record under him in 2023-24 and a 48-29-5 record in 2024-25.
That earned Knoblauch a three-year contract extension, which he signed in October.
What a difference a season makes.
The Oilers took a big step back during the regular season (41-30-11) and suffered a first-round playoff loss to the Anaheim Ducks. After the season, Connor McDavid accurately characterized the Oilers as an “average” team, while Leon Draisaitl expressed urgency with this group.
Average won’t cut it, as the Oilers head into what could be McDavid’s final season in Edmonton. And for that to happen, they’ll need more than just a new coach.
Remarkably, Knoblauch was fired before his contract extension was due to kick in next season. The Oilers will have to pay his salary regardless (reportedly worth between $7.5- and $8-million total), unless he gets hired by another team.
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