The Edmonton Oilers HC Kris Knoblauch has been relieved of his head coaching duties. TSN’s Ryan Rishaug broke the news, and it brings the curtain down on his tenure in Oil Country.
Knoblauch took over as Oilers head coach in November 2023 after Jay Woodcroft was fired just 13 games into that season. He inherited a team in crisis and quickly turned it around, guiding Edmonton to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in 2024 and 2025, losing both times to the Florida Panthers. That run earned him a three-year contract extension, set to begin with the 2026–27 season at just north of $$7.5M total.
But the 2025–26 season was a disaster and the team was knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Anaheim Ducks in six games. Captain Connor McDavid publicly called the Oilers “an average team all year,” and Leon Draisaitl echoed that the team was heading in the wrong direction.
Knoblauch finishes with a regularseason record of 135–77–21 and a playoff record of 31–22 across three postseason runs. He won’t be out of work long.
With the coaching seat now empty and a championship window that is very much still open, the Oilers are scrambling to find their next bench boss.
Edmonton needs someone who can walk in the door, install structure, fix a leaky defence and get results immediately. Here are seven candidates they could consider.
1. Bruce Cassidy (The front-runner)
Status: Fired by Vegas Golden Knights (March 2026), currently a free agent pending contract resolution
Cassidy is the name at the top of almost every list. He won the Stanley Cup with Vegas in 2023, led the Boston Bruins to the Final in 2019 and carries a career regularseason points percentage of around .600.
His system is known to be disciplined, defensively responsible and still generates offence, which is what Edmonton’s star-heavy roster needs. Multiple reports suggest he would welcome a move to Edmonton. If the Oilers can get him in the building, he is the obvious first call.
2. Peter Laviolette
Status: Free agent, sat out 2025–26 after being fired by NY Rangers in spring 2025
Laviolette is one of the most experienced coaches in NHL history, seventh all-time with 1,594 games behind an NHL bench and a record of 846–562–186. He won the Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006 and took two other teams, Philadelphia in 2010 and Nashville in 2017, to the Final.
He also coached the Rangers to the Presidents’ Trophy in 2024. He sat out this past season, so he should be rested and hungry. His demanding style can wear thin over time, but for a team that needs results right now, that edge could be exactly what the doctor ordered.
3. Gerard Gallant
Status: Left KHL’s Shanghai Dragons in January 2026
Gallant won the Jack Adams Award in 2018 after taking the Vegas Golden Knights, an expansion team, to the Stanley Cup Final in their very first season. He later took the New York Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final in 2022.
Players consistently love playing for him and he has a knack for getting instant buy-in from a locker room. The one question mark here is his health as he stepped away from his KHL post midseason due to an illness he was battling, so Edmonton would need to confirm where he stands before making any serious move.
4. Dean Evason
Status: Fired by Columbus Blue Jackets in January 2026
Evason doesn’t have the headline resume of some names above, but he is a well-respected veteran with over 800 games of NHL head coaching experience. He was let go by Columbus in his second season.
He’s old-school, demands accountability every single night and knows how to get the most out of a roster. He likely isn’t Edmonton’s first choice, but if the top names don’t work out he is a safe and sensible option.
5. Paul Coffey (Internal option)
Status: Current Oilers assistant coach and special adviser
This one might raise eyebrows, but the Hall of Fame defenceman’s name has genuinely come up internally. Coffey joined the coaching staff in November 2023 and was a key part of the defensive improvements that helped fuel Edmonton’s back-to-back Finals runs.
He returned to the bench in February 2026 when the team was struggling and players have enormous respect for him. He has four Stanley Cup rings as a player and deep roots in the organization. He has never been a head coach at any level, which is a real caveat, but the internal support for him is hard to ignore.
6. David Carle
Status: Head coach, University of Denver (NCAA)
If Edmonton wants to go young and bold, Carle is the most intriguing option available. At just 36 years old, he has spent eight seasons at the University of Denver, posting a record of 208–85–20 and winning two NCAA Championships. His systems are modern and his player development track record is exceptional.
He has been linked to multiple NHL vacancies this offseason. He would be a first-time NHL head coach, which comes with risk, but Carle is a genuinely exciting option.
7. Todd Nelson
Status: AHL head coach, Colorado Eagles
Nelson is perhaps the most overlooked name on this list, but he has earned his shot. He served as Edmonton’s interim head coach for 46 games back in the 2014–15 season and has been waiting for a full-time NHL opportunity ever since. In the AHL he has been outstanding with three Calder Cups since 2017 and currently leading the Colorado Eagles deep into the 2026 playoffs.
He knows the Oilers organization, he knows several of the players and he has a long track record of winning. If Edmonton wants a coach with genuine Oilers history and a proven ability to develop and motivate players, Nelson is the name to watch.
