The Edmonton Oilers fired head coach Kris Knoblauch on May 14, 2026, two days after the team was eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Vancouver Canucks in the second round. The decision was announced by general manager Stan Bowman.
Knoblauch, 47, had been head coach since November 2023, when he replaced Jay Woodcroft. He led the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024, where they lost to the Florida Panthers in seven games. In 2025, the team was eliminated in the first round by the Los Angeles Kings.
Under Knoblauch, the Oilers posted a regular-season record of 118-55-17. The team's core, including Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, remains intact. Bowman stated that a search for a new head coach will begin immediately.
