One NHL expert thinks that the Oilers coach might not keep his job for much longer.
The Edmonton Oilers are about to come back from the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics the following week, and if you’re caught up in Olympic excitement, you might not know that they aren’t doing very well.
The team lost three games in a row right before the break, and fans are unhappy and want the coach, Kris Knoblauch, out. Even Leon Draisaitl, a star player for the Oilers, pointed fingers at the coaching staff and said that the “responsibility starts with the coaches” in his interview after a game before the break.
This feeling seems to be shared by some insiders and analysts in the NHL. For example, Sportsnet insider Nick Kypreos suggested on a recent episode of Real Kyper and Bourne that Knoblauch might not stay as the Oilers’ head coach for very long.
According to Kypreos, “I can’t imagine a scenario where Knoblauch stays in this role. ” He mentioned Draisaitl’s comments, Paul Coffey returning to help coach, and the need to win the Stanley Cup as reasons for this belief.
“When your player [Draisaitl] criticizes you, and then you’re told to bring Paul Coffey back to help coach, it’s clear you need to turn this season into a winning one, or I doubt Knoblauch will still be around. ” This statement comes from a respected NHL insider, and he probably wouldn’t say it lightly. However, it’s still just his opinion.
There’s a common story that Kypreos mentions, suggesting that Knoblauch didn’t want Coffey back on the coaching staff and that there was some disagreement between them last season, which led to Coffey being moved to a higher position.
Next: 4 Oilers players who haven’t impressed during the 2025-26 season
Oilers have had a tough time this season.
Leave a Reply