The Edmonton Oilers entered the 2026 offseason knowing major changes were coming after their playoff run ended without a single series win. Kris Knoblauch’s firing immediately cranked up the pressure inside the organization, especially with Connor McDavid’s championship window becoming a growing focus in Edmonton.
As Stan Bowman searches for a veteran voice behind the bench, several high-profile coaching names have started to come up through the rumor mill. Now, the spotlight has shifted toward Colorado, where Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar has unexpectedly emerged as a potential target after his team’s stunning playoff collapse against Vegas.
NHL Voices React as Jared Bednar Emerges in Oilers Coaching Rumors
Bednar became a major talking point after Colorado’s Presidents’ Trophy-winning season ended with a shocking 4-0 sweep against the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. Despite guiding the Avalanche to 121 regular-season points, Bednar’s future has become a discussion point across hockey media following the abrupt postseason exit.
The Oilers’ interest makes sense from a roster perspective. Edmonton is reportedly prioritizing a veteran coach capable of tightening defensive structure while maximizing the remaining years of McDavid’s current contract.
Bednar’s championship background, calm bench presence, and Western Conference experience naturally made him part of the conversation once rumors surfaced.
NHL analyst Christopher Horvat strongly backed the possibility on X, writing, “I’m a little skeptical that Bednar gets canned, but if he does, there’s just no way he doesn’t end up with the Oilers.”
Podcaster Karman Gill also weighed in on the speculation while discussing Edmonton’s coaching search. He posted, “Well, Jared Bednar is probably out. I would still go with Cassidy or Laviolette.” This reaction highlights how fluid the Oilers’ search has become, especially after Vegas denied Edmonton permission to speak with Bruce Cassidy.
Sports analyst Bob Sturm added even more fuel to the speculation while discussing Colorado’s situation publicly. He posted, “They will fire Bednar before the Finals start,” signaling how strongly some league observers believe major changes could arrive quickly after the Avalanche’s early exit.
Meanwhile, some voices around Colorado pushed back hard against the idea of moving on from Bednar. Vic Lombardi firmly defended the Avalanche coach, posting, “Never. Team Bedsy all the way. And I don’t give a crap what anybody thinks.”
Others viewed the situation a little differently. NHL analyst Drew Livingstone argued that coaching changes can sometimes reset a contender’s trajectory. He wrote, “It’s ok to move on from a coach. Sometimes a different/new voice is needed. Look at Vegas, 3 Stanley Cup Finals with 3 diff coaches. Bednar was great and did amazing things in COL but these Avs need a spark and they’ve already played the trade a piece of the core card.”
Despite the growing noise, several major obstacles remain. Bednar, the NHL’s second-longest-tenured coach, is under contract through the 2026-27 season, and Colorado would need to either fire him or allow Edmonton permission to interview him.
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For now, the speculation remains unofficial, but the NHL world is clearly watching closely as Edmonton’s coaching search continues to expand.
