Two Stanley Cup Finals. Two losses to the same team. Most coaches would be questioning everything. But Kris Knoblauch isn’t most coaches. Despite watching the Florida Panthers celebrate on Edmonton ice in back-to-back years, the Oilers’ head coach believes 2025-26 will be different. The question is: what makes him so sure?
Why Is Kris Knoblauch So Confident About 2025-26?
The numbers back up Knoblauch’s belief. Since becoming the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers in November 2023, he has racked up more combined regular-season and playoff wins than any other NHL coach, totaling 123 victories. That matches the record of the Panthers’ head coach, Paul Maurice.
However, Maurice holds one crucial edge. He defeated Knoblauch and Edmonton in both the 2024 and 2025 Finals. But with just 151 games under his belt, Knoblauch thinks he’ll flip the script in the upcoming season.
Appearing on the “Jason Gregor Show,” Knoblauch outlined his changed philosophy for 2025-26. “The penalty kill is where we will have the biggest adjustments,” he told host Jason Gregor. The coach believes the Oilers need a total personality change to finally break through.
When it comes to five-on-five play, Knoblauch plans a different approach. “As for a five-on-five play, we’re always looking at how we can get better, but overall, I think we’re going to have pretty much the same systems,” he explained. Instead, he wants more emphasis on skill development to enhance their execution.
How Will Knoblauch Change the Oilers’ Development Approach?
Knoblauch also outlined his staffing changes for the new season. “We reduced one coach (three on the bench instead of four), but we added more of a traditional skills coach. We will have a bit more focus on player development,” he said. The coach is also excited about the new prospects joining the organization, specifically mentioning Ike Howard and Matt Savoie.
But Knoblauch doesn’t want to focus solely on the young players. “We want to help those guys, but also help the veteran players. They’re always looking to improve their game,” he explained. His vision centers on skill enhancement that benefits the entire roster.
The implementation will reshape how Edmonton practices. “We will have that, and we’ll probably break up our traditional practices with skill developments, maybe at the beginning of practice or at the end to break it up,” Knoblauch said. He has high hopes for the new skills coach, Connor Allen.
Additionally, Knoblauch believes the team’s facilities will provide an advantage. With two ice sheets available, the Oilers can maximize their practice sessions and skill development work.
Looking back, Knoblauch acknowledges where the team fell short. “The Oilers have been missing out on the skill work, but he will move to a better pattern moving forward. It is a great plan right now, and hopefully, we can execute it during the season,” Knoblauch said. If he can repeat his regular-season success and finally capture the Stanley Cup, it will be a sight to see.
