The Edmonton Oilers officially parted ways with head coach Kris Knoblauch and assistant coach Mark Stuart following the team’s disappointing first-round playoff exit against the Anaheim Ducks.
Now, Oilers GM Stan Bowman is facing questions about reports linking Edmonton to former Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy even before Knoblauch was fired.
Oilers GM Addresses Bruce Cassidy Rumors
Just two days before Knoblauch’s dismissal, reports from NHL insider Frank Seravalli revealed that the Oilers had contacted Vegas seeking permission to interview Cassidy.
However, the Golden Knights reportedly withheld permission on the request, with many around the league viewing it as “gamesmanship” between division rivals. The situation quickly became awkward for Edmonton, as the reports surfaced while Knoblauch was still under contract as the team’s head coach.
After officially making the coaching change, Bowman was asked directly about the Cassidy rumors but declined to discuss specific candidates. “I’m not going to comment on media reports about other candidates, that’s not appropriate to be doing that,” Bowman said.
Bowman also rejected the idea that the Oilers acted too quickly, saying the organization went through a detailed evaluation process before deciding a coaching change was needed.
“It was more of a logistical thing, you know, that it took until late last night before Kris and I were able to actually sit down and talk it through. So, that’s unfortunate, but there was certainly no disrespect. We did a long review, and we didn’t come to this decision until very recently,” Bowman added.
There were mitigating factors to how the Oilers regressed (in Leon Draisaitl’s own words) this season. Their power play took a nosedive, their defensive structure was lackluster, and the desperate gamble to trade for Tristan Jarry (who was just on waivers a year ago) backfired big time.
The Oilers also battled through the playoffs with Jason Dickinson, Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, and Adam Henrique all nursing injuries. That said, the Oilers didn’t have a clear identity all season long, and definitely weren’t their best selves in what turned into a “pillow fight” (in McDavid’s own words) in the Pacific.
With Vegas currently blocking access to Cassidy, the Oilers now find themselves in a difficult position as they search for their next bench boss. Other names could emerge in the coming weeks, though speculation about Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper remains highly unlikely unless his situation changes unexpectedly.
At the same time, many Oilers fans have begun wondering whether coaching was really the main problem, with more criticism now being directed at Bowman’s roster decisions, something the GM himself acknowledged by saying, “I think we (management) are part to blame for where we are at today.”
The pressure surrounding Edmonton’s next hire is enormous, especially with only two years remaining on Connor McDavid’s contract. Whoever takes over will become the sixth head coach of the McDavid era.
For now, it remains unclear who the Oilers will ultimately turn to as they attempt to reset after another disappointing playoff ending.
