Everything’s up for debate this time of year in Edmonton. The Oilers crashed out of Round 1 of the 2026 NHL Playoffs, succumbing to the Anaheim Ducks in six games.
That elimination has placed the spotlight squarely on head coach Kris Knoblauch, leaving everyone to ask the same question: Is Knoblauch the right man to lead Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and co. to the Stanley Cup?
Bruce Cassidy Keeping an Eye out as Oilers Ponder Decision on Kris Knoblauch
Bruce Cassidy was fired by the Vegas Golden Knights after an underwhelming season reached a boiling point when the team went just 3-5-2 in 10 games towards the end of March. With a spot in the playoffs there for the taking, Cassidy was let go as Vegas brought John Tortorella in to turn things around.
The Golden Knights have since found a new lease on life, blowing past the Utah Mammoth in Round 1 of the playoffs and racking up a 1-0 lead over the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference semifinals.
Since being fired, Cassidy has been making media appearance and, by his own admission, keeping an eye out on potential job openings in the NHL. Appearing on the Cam and Strick Podcast this week, Cassidy made it clear he has no plans to take a break from coaching.
“I’m a hockey coach and I’m not getting any younger. I sat the playoffs out this year. That’s what you coach for, right, to get a chance at the Cup? I would not wanna do that next year again,” Cassidy said.
“I’ll tell you right out, I have a desire to get back in. We’ll see what opens, if anything. Right now, there’s nothing open, there usually are some. It’s something I wanna do.”
Through nearly four seasons in Sin City, Cassidy’s Golden Knights went 178-99-43. They won the Stanley Cup in 2023 after beating the Florida Panthers in a breezy, five-game series, but failed to carry that momentum forward. They lost in seven to the Dallas Stars in Round 1 in 2024, and were bounced by Connor McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers in five games in the Western Conference semifinals last year.
The Oilers made two Stanley Cup Finals on the bounce over the last two years, but failing to get over the final hurdle, along with a first-round exit this year, has left head coach Kris Knoblauch’s future in limbo.
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Knoblauch’s three-year extension will kick in this summer, which means Edmonton will have to think long and hard about letting him go.
Cassidy has been strongly linked with a move to the Oilers, given his pedigree as a Stanley Cup-winning coach.
Per insider Frank Seravalli, the Oilers will hold an internal review of Knoblauch’s job security this week, with clarity expected on their direction sooner rather than later. If Knoblauch’s gone, Bruce Cassidy will undoubtedly be the frontrunner to take over.
