Kris Knoblauch is the most well-known coach available right now, but he might not be applying for jobs this hiring season, according to TSN’s Ryan Rishaug.
On Wednesday, Rishaug mentioned that Knoblauch could be a candidate for any job open at the moment, including a new position in Vancouver, but he doesn’t intend to apply for a while.
The reason behind this is clear. Knoblauch’s family just moved to Edmonton, and since he has a three-year contract, he can take his time.
This changes the situation for all the coaching searches happening in the league. The top available coach just said he’s not interested in looking for a new job right now.
This decision comes after a tough couple of seasons. The Oilers had a record of 41 wins, 30 losses, and 11 overtime losses, totaling 93 points and placing them 14th in the league. They also got eliminated from the playoffs in six games against Anaheim.
Going through such a tough period can leave a lasting impact. Spending spring answering questions about strategies, team lineups, and pressure can exhaust anyone, even with a contract in hand.
What Knoblauch’s choice means for teams still looking for a coach
The Canucks just let go of Adam Foote and his coaching team this week. Stan Bowman is actively searching for a coach in Edmonton. Other teams are paying close attention.
Each of those teams had Knoblauch as a potential candidate on their lists. By lunchtime, that list got shorter.
Bruce Cassidy was already seen as the best head coach not currently coaching in the NHL, according to Bob Stauffer’s report earlier this week.
Now he has become the only clear top choice available for coaching a Cup-contending team.
This puts Cassidy in a strong position and creates a challenge for the other candidates. Hiring teams that wanted to have two strong candidates to compare now only have one option.
Vancouver is facing a tough challenge. Ryan Johnson needs to persuade an experienced coach to take control of a team that ended with a record of 25 wins, 49 losses, and 8 ties and allowed 316 goals.
In Edmonton, Bowman is looking at a chance with Connor McDavid that is slipping away quickly. Being patient and having a long list of potential coaches is not easy under this kind of stress.
So, which team will be the first to get a yes? The team that hires the coach that everyone thinks is unavailable will have a head start in the offseason before the draft even begins.
Knoblauch might wait. But now, everyone around him is feeling more pressure.
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