It’s always a little noisy this time of year in Edmonton. This year, however, that noise may just reach fever pitch, given the fact that Connor McDavid has essentially put the Edmonton Oilers on the clock when it comes to his chase for the holy grail of hockey: the Stanley Cup.
McDavid gave the Oilers a hefty, hefty discount when he signed his two-year, $25 million extension. And while we’re only two games into their first-round playoffs matchup against the Anaheim Ducks, the pressure is already on Kris Knoblauch to ensure they lift the Cup this year after falling short at the final hurdle two years in a row.
Oilers Rumors: Kris Knoblauch’s Job Hangs in the Balance
Speculation around Kris Knoblauch’s future in Edmonton has not died down even a little this season. We’ve seen teams around the league fire their head coaches on a whim this year, starting with the Vegas Golden Knights and the New York Islanders.
But that doesn’t mean the Oilers won’t have options if they choose to let Knoblauch go before his contract extension even kicks in. Speaking on The Sheet, insider Jeff Marek ramped up the pressure on Knoblauch to deliver the goods and ensure that the third time’s the charm, or else he won’t have the privilege of coaching Connor McDavid much longer.
“The expectation is Conference Final for this team. Or there’s going to be real questions and bodies leaving,” Marek said on the show. “His new contract kicks in next year. I don’t think that matters.”
ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski was in agreement, saying, “I think Knoblauch’s gone even if they make the second round and lose. There’s gonna have to be somebody paying the price.”
The Oilers did relatively well at the trade deadline, fortifying their roster by bringing in Jason Dickinson, Connor Murphy, and Colton Dach. They also managed to ship out Andrew Mangiapane’s contract, but had to attach a first-round pick to get that done.
In any case, this year’s roster appears better equipped to handle the rigors of a long playoff run. Edmonton also has a relatively smoother path to the Conference Final, if they should go so far.
With all that in mind, Knoblauch will essentially be coaching for his job in these Stanley Cup Playoffs. One man who could potentially take over from him is former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy, who was let go earlier this month.
While Cassidy comes with his own flaws, it’s difficult to see the Oilers sticking with Knoblauch if another year bites the dust, especially with Connor McDavid on that contract.
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