The Edmonton Oilers officially fired head coach Kris Knoblauch on Thursday, May 14, following the team’s disappointing first-round playoff exit against the Anaheim Ducks. The move came shortly after reports surfaced that the Oilers had requested permission to speak with former Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy, only for permission to be withheld.
Now, former Tampa Bay Lightning GM Brian Lawton has weighed in on the messy situation surrounding Knoblauch and Cassidy.
Ex-Tampa Bay GM Questions Oilers’ Kris Knoblauch Handling
Before officially firing Knoblauch, reports surfaced that the Oilers had already contacted Vegas for permission to speak with Bruce Cassidy. That development quickly sparked controversy, especially since Knoblauch was still technically the Oilers’ head coach.
Many around the league questioned whether Edmonton handled the situation appropriately, and Lawton admitted the optics were far from ideal.
Lawton first explained that teams sometimes delay permission requests during the playoffs. “It’s not uncommon for clubs when you ask and they’re in the playoffs to say, Hey, look, can you wait a hot second? We’re still playing. That’s our main focus. We’re not saying yes. We’re not saying no. We’re just asking you if you can wait,” Lawton said.
“So, to me, that seems like the most likely thing that may have happened, but I don’t know that it’s only speculation. So in terms of Kris Knoblauch… it’s not an ideal situation,” he added.
Knoblauch signed a three-year extension through the 2028-29 season after leading Edmonton to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances, though both ended in losses to the Florida Panthers.
This season, however, ended very differently. Edmonton was eliminated by the Ducks in six games in the opening round, prompting management to make a coaching change.
During his tenure behind the Oilers bench, Knoblauch posted an impressive 135-77-21 regular-season record and guided Edmonton to a 31-22 mark in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after taking over for Jay Woodcroft in November 2023. Despite that success, Edmonton’s early playoff exit this season led to a coaching change, with assistant coach Mark Stuart also being dismissed.
The Oilers have not yet named a replacement, but Cassidy is believed to be high on their wishlist. At the same time, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Los Angeles Kings have also been linked to the veteran coach, potentially setting up a major bidding war for one of the NHL’s most respected bench bosses.
