The Edmonton Oilers officially fired head coach Kris Knoblauch on Thursday, May 14, following an eyebrow-raising first-round playoff exit against the Anaheim Ducks.
After a move many saw coming, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman shared new details about how frustrated billionaire Oilers owner Daryl Katz became during the team’s failed playoff run and the role that frustration played in the decision to make a coaching change.
Insider Shares Oilers Owner Daryl Katz’s Frustration
The Oilers struggled to find consistency throughout the season, finishing second in the Pacific Division with a 41-30-11 record and 93 points. While that was enough to secure a playoff spot competing in a ‘pillow fight’ of a division, that same tally likely would not have secured a postseason spot in the East.
Still, Edmonton entered its first-round matchup against Anaheim as the heavy favorite with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl ready to take charge. Instead, the Oilers were bounced in six games, a result that ultimately led to Knoblauch’s dismissal despite still having three years remaining on the extension he signed last season.
According to Friedman, owner Daryl Katz played a significant role in the decision. “Here’s a couple of things I can tell you that I think were part of the decision-making process. Number one is the owner. I think Daryl Katz is really unhappy. I think he’s angry at the result this year. I think he’s angry at the way they played this year. And I think he made his displeasure clear,” Friedman said.
Friedman also pointed out that firing Knoblauch was not a small financial decision. Reports suggested the coach was still owed between $7.5 million and potentially as much as $9-10 million as part of his contract extension, money that ownership will now have to absorb.
In Friedman’s view, that kind of move does not happen unless ownership strongly supports it, and he believes Katz pushed hard for major changes after the disappointing playoff exit.
“There is great organizational pressure to win now for a lot of reasons, including the fact that Conor McDavid is only under contract for two more years. So I think the owner’s feelings were a very, very big part of this,” he added.
Whoever replaces Knoblauch will become the sixth head coach of the McDavid era, adding even more pressure to Edmonton’s next hire.
For now, the Oilers have not named a replacement, but Bruce Cassidy is believed to be high on their list despite Vegas denying permission to interview him.
The Maple Leafs and Kings have also been linked to Cassidy, which could create strong competition for the veteran coach.
While the Vegas Golden Knights still haven’t permitted Edmonton’s brass to interview Cassidy, he himself is hopeful they come to an agreement sooner, rather than later, especially with Vegas bouncing the Anaheim Ducks out of the playoffs on the back of Mitch Marner’s razzle-dazzle.
If the Oilers fail to land Cassidy, a few more names in the mix could include Peter Laviolette, a potential (although far-fetched) return for Jay Woodcroft, Craig Berube, or an even more far-fetched target, Lindy Ruff, whose contract with the Buffalo Sabres expires this summer.
