Edmonton Oilers will interview Craig Berube for head coach job: report
Another candidate has entered the Edmonton Oilers head coaching search.
Last week, it seemed like a forgone conclusion that the Oilers would hire Bruce Cassidy to be their next coach. Reports had them reaching out to the Vegas Golden Knights for permission, which caused a firestorm that eventually led to the team firing Kris Knoblauch.
However, as of Monday morning, it doesn’t appear Edmonton has been granted permission to interview Cassidy. That could throw a wrench into the Oilers’ plans if they cannot formally interview their top target, and backup plans are required.
It appears that one of their fallback options could be former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube, who was fired last week. According to TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, Edmonton has already been granted permission to talk to Berube and a formal interview is expected between the two sides.
He certainly fits the bill of an experienced coach with a Stanley Cup pedigree.
“Hearing a formal interview with Berube is expected after some initial conversation between he and Bowman,” Rishaug reported. Permission to speak with Bruce Cassidy had still not been granted as of Sunday night.”
Hearing a formal interview with Berube is expected after some initial conversation between he and Bowman. Permission to speak with Bruce Cassidy had still not been granted as of Sunday night.
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) May 18, 2026
The 60-year-old Berube has been coaching in the NHL for about 20 years now, having started out as an assistant with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2006-07 before being promoted to head coach between 2013 and 2015. He then went to coach the St. Louis Blues, where he led the team to a miraculous Stanley Cup championship in 2019.
Berube has been coaching the Leafs for the past two seasons and is coming off a very disappointing 2025-26 campaign that saw Toronto’s nearly decade-long playoff streak come to an end.
Edmonton has reportedly been searching for a coach that kinda fits Berube’s profile, but there are some questions around how he runs a team, and if it would fit the Oilers’ playstyle. Things didn’t work out for the Leafs, who are also a high-octane offensive team with defensive issues.
Cassidy still feels like the ideal man, but NHL insider Pierre LeBrun says permission hasn’t been given as of Monday morning.
“As of this minute, Vegas still hasn’t given permission to any teams to speak with Bruce Cassidy, who has another year left on his Golden Knights contract,” LeBrun reported.
As of this minute, Vegas still hasn’t given permission to any teams to speak with Bruce Cassidy, who has another year left on his Golden Knights contract. https://t.co/KQWTChlRV9
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 18, 2026
Oilers fans should probably expect a few more candidates to surface if Edmonton struggles to gain permission for Cassidy. While Berube makes sense with the internal expectations for the team’s next coach, there are bound to be more interviews over the next little while.
If not Cassidy, it gets a lot harder to predict the next Oilers head coach.