The Edmonton Oilers ultimately flattered to deceive in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and it appears Kris Knoblauch will have to bear the brunt of it. After a quick and unceremonious end to their season, the Oilers made the decision to part ways with their head coach despite his three-year extension kicking in this summer.
Attention now turns to the offseason, and what that might bring. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl remain in the middle of their championship window, and management now faces urgency to stabilize a roster that regressed badly on defense.
But that will start with a coach capable of handling that responsibility.
Elliotte Friedman Explains Why Craig Berube Remains Secondary Option for Edmonton Oilers
In the East, the Toronto Maple Leafs fired Craig Berube a day before Edmonton let Knoblauch go, adding another experienced coach to the carousel.
As Edmonton weighs proven options, one NHL insider addressed where Berube fits into the Oilers’ coaching search and why another veteran name still appears to be leading the race.
Berube officially became available after Toronto dismissed him following a disastrous 2025-26 campaign that saw the Maple Leafs miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
The organization’s collapse included a 30-point decline in the standings, defensive breakdowns across the roster, and major struggles on special teams. New general manager John Chayka later described the coaching change as part of a broader organizational reset rather than a direct indictment of Berube’s coaching resume.
Despite the disappointing end in Toronto, Berube’s name immediately surfaced in Edmonton because of his Stanley Cup pedigree and reputation for demanding structure and accountability. The veteran coach still finished half of his 4-year Leafs contract with an 84-62-18 record and previously guided the St. Louis Blues to the Cup in 2019.
However, during a recent episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman indicated that Edmonton’s top focus still appears centered on former Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy.
“As far as I’m concerned, Edmonton has no choice but to drop bags of money on him and make sure they get their man,” Friedman said while discussing Cassidy. He added that everything he heard surrounding the Oilers’ decision to fire Knoblauch “just screams Bruce Cassidy.”
Friedman did acknowledge that Edmonton could still explore other experienced names if the Cassidy pursuit stalls. “Could they talk to Peter Laviolette? Yes, I think they could. Could they talk to Craig Berube? I think they could. They want people like that,” Friedman explained.
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This distinction remains important because the Oilers are facing a difficult situation with Vegas reportedly refusing to grant Edmonton immediate permission to interview Cassidy. Since Cassidy remains under contract with the Golden Knights for another season, Vegas still controls access to those conversations.
If that roadblock continues, Berube could become a more realistic fallback option. Edmonton’s management clearly wants a veteran coach capable of handling playoff expectations and maximizing the remaining prime years of McDavid and Draisaitl.
Berube checks several of those boxes with his championship background and experience coaching veteran-heavy rosters.
Still, stylistic concerns remain part of the discussion. Berube’s grinding, defense-first system differs sharply from Edmonton’s transition-heavy offensive identity. This contrast could ultimately determine whether the Oilers seriously pursue him or continue prioritizing Cassidy above every other candidate on the market.
