For the first time since 2021, the Edmonton Oilers failed to move past the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That season, they were eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs by the Winnipeg Jets. This year, it was the Anaheim Ducks.
The Oilers, who had their dreams of reaching the Stanley Cup Final for a third straight year dashed by the Ducks, are now heading back to the drawing board and are reportedly considering major changes as they work to maximize the upcoming two-year window in the contract of superstar captain Connor McDavid.
On Wednesday, it was announced by the Toronto Maple Leafs that they terminated head coach Craig Berube. And according to a noted NHL Insider, it might not be long until the Oilers make a similar announcement.
NHL Insider Leaks Timeline For A Potentially Major Edmonton Oilers Leadership Change
Following Edmonton’s opening round loss in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to the Anaheim Ducks, there has been rampant speculation regarding the future of head coach Kris Knoblauch.
Despite leading the Oilers to two straight Stanley Cup Final appearances after replacing the fired Jay Woodcroft in 2023, Knoblauch has been facing increased criticism and heat from fans. In a cruel twist of irony, it was Woodcroft, who is now an assistant coach with the Ducks, who dealt the latest blow to Edmonton.
According to NHL Insider Mark Spector of Sportsnet, the Oilers could make a coaching change as soon as later on Wednesday.
“As of this moment — 11:37 a.m. MT — Kris Knoblauch has not been fired by the Edmonton Oilers,” Spector wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We are expecting that to happen however, likely by day’s end.”
So far in his tenure in Edmonton, Knoblauch has accumulated a regular-season record of 135-77-21 and a playoff record of 31-22.
If Knoblauch is let go, expect the Oilers to go after former Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy, whom they’ve already attempted to interview but were denied permission.
Oilers Fans React To Rumored Coaching Change
As soon as Spector’s report hit social media, Oilers fans began chiming in, with some wondering if the club’s issues are really coaching-related.
One fan said, “How many coaches will they go thru too actually realize just maybe its not the coaches? Some of the free agent signings were brutal and handcuffed them from improving the team and a trade or two that was really bad.”
Another fan said, “Six coaches in the McDavid era. Maybe it’s not a coaching issue. Yikes.”
Meanwhile, another fan called out the Oilers for what he thought was a lack of professionalism, saying, “Jesus Christ, the Oilers are so unprofessional. If they are going to move on from Knobs then just make the move and quit screwing around. He will land somewhere, he got them to two straight Cups and I am sure Toronto and Los Angeles would like to interview him if he came available.”
Finally, this fan said, “Loved Knoblauch but the line juggling and always relying on 97&29 was mind numbing. He never got them to play as a team this year.”
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