Insider believes Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch is still on the hot seat even after recent success

After Jay Woodcroft was fired midway through the 2023/24 season, the Edmonton Oilers made the surprise call to turn to Kris Knoblauch, who was unproven at the National Hockey League level.

Since then, the team have reached two straight Stanley Cup Finals, and with captain Connor McDavid re-signing on an incredibly team friendly two-year deal, the pressure has mounted on them to take the final step towards glory at some point over the next few years.

While the Oilers have been slow starters in recent years, 2025/26 has raised even more questions with the team going 9-9-5 through their first 23 games, with some questioning whether or not they can be genuine contenders.

Now, NHL Insider Frank Seravalli has speculated on the future of the team and their bench boss, stating that even with the team finding some momentum recently, Knoblauch may still be on the hot seat.

It's unclear whether or not the Oilers front office could look to make a change throughout the regular season, but with the team's expectations being Stanley Cup or bust, if they fall short of that goal once again in 2025/26, there's always a chance that the front office looks to shake things up as they aim to capitalize on McDavid's extension.