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NHL Coach Is Not a Very Secure Job. Kris Knoblauch of the Oilers Found that Out
TL;DR
Kris Knoblauch was fired as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers after leading the team to the Stanley Cup Final in his first two seasons. His dismissal highlights the instability of coaching positions in the NHL.
Key points
- Kris Knoblauch was fired by the Edmonton Oilers.
- He coached the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final in his first two seasons.
- Knoblauch reached the playoffs in his third season.
- His dismissal reflects the instability of NHL coaching jobs.
- Bruce Cassidy was also recently fired from the Golden Knights.
Mentioned in this story
Kris KnoblauchBruce Cassidy
Edmonton OilersVegas Golden Knights
Kris Knoblauch is behind the bench for Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final in Sunrise on June 17. // Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Kris Knoblauch coached the Edmonton Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final in his first two seasons behind their bench and took them to the playoffs in his third — only he will not get a fourth.
Knoblauch was the latest NHL coach to find his way to the unemployment line after being fired by the Oilers on Thursday.
This came a few days after it was learned the Oilers were trying to talk to Bruce Cassidy, who happened to be fired himself a few weeks before the Vegas Golden Knights were to return to the playoffs.
Cassidy has been fired twice; once by the Boston Bruins after leading them to the playoffs in five of his six seasons — including a berth in the 2019 Stanley Cup Final.
He was replaced by John Tortorella at the end of March with eight games despite coaching the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup title over the Panthers in 2023.
The Golden Knights had initially refused Edmonton’s request — leading to word getting out that GM Stan Bowman was looking around.
That, basically, was it for Knoblauch.
“We just felt that we needed a different voice to lead us to where we want to get to,’’ Bowman said on Thursday.
Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice, whose team beat Knoblauch’s Oilers in the past two Stanley Cup Finals, is no stranger to getting the boot from a team.
Maurice has been fired so many times he often jokes about it.
Finding the right situation, Maurice said a few years back, makes all the difference.
Q&A
Why was Kris Knoblauch fired as the Oilers' coach?
Kris Knoblauch was fired after leading the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final and playoffs in his first three seasons, indicating a lack of job security in the NHL.
What are the recent coaching changes in the NHL?
Recent coaching changes include Kris Knoblauch's firing from the Oilers and Bruce Cassidy's dismissal from the Golden Knights.
How successful was Kris Knoblauch with the Edmonton Oilers?
Kris Knoblauch coached the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final in his first two seasons and reached the playoffs in his third season.
What does Kris Knoblauch's firing say about NHL coaching stability?
Kris Knoblauch's firing underscores the precarious nature of coaching jobs in the NHL, where even successful coaches can be let go.