NHL insider shares what he's hearing about possible coaching changes in Edmonton involving Kris Knoblauch
Photo credit: Edit from Daily Faceoff
NHL insider David Pagnotta has brought up the topic of a coaching change in Edmonton, and he said he doesn't expect Kris Knoblauch to go anytime soon.
It's been a rough opening stretch for the Edmonton Oilers in 2025-26. For the third year in a row, they talked big all summer about avoiding another slow start, only to stumble out of the gate once more.
Edmonton sits around .500, a shade worse than last season's opening month and only marginally better than their 2023-24 slide. It's that maddening "mushy middle" they've been stuck in previously.
How the Oilers committed long-term to Kris Knoblauch
This is a struggle that comes just weeks after the organization committed to Kris Knoblauch with a three-year extension running through 2027-28.
With expectations set firmly at "Stanley Cup or bust," the shaky start has sparked predictable questions about his long-term security behind the bench.
But according to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, there's no indication the Oilers are considering making a change right now.
"I know a lot of people in Alberta are going nuts as well for something, but you just signed Knoblauch to a three-year extension," he said on Wednesday's edition of The DFO Rundown, after talking about how the Toronto Maple Leafs aren't likely to make a coaching change. "The Flames just signed (Ryan) Huska to a two-year extension.
"You're probably not signing these guys and then making a coaching change two months later. I get it that everyone's going nuts about this, losing their minds, but maybe it's the roster construction that's not up to snuff for some of these teams.
"Maybe the realism is Toronto's not deep enough, Edmonton's not deep enough right now. The Flames aren't that good right now. So you have to take all of that into consideration So no, I don't expect a coaching change in Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary anytime soon."
"You're probably not signing these guys and then making a coaching change two months later. I get it that everyone's going nuts about this, losing their minds, but maybe it's the roster construction that's not up to snuff for some of these teams.
"Maybe the realism is Toronto's not deep enough, Edmonton's not deep enough right now. The Flames aren't that good right now. So you have to take all of that into consideration So no, I don't expect a coaching change in Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary anytime soon."
Why the Oilers want to avoid repeating their recent history with coaches
They've cycled through coaches at a rapid rate in the Connor McDavid era, with Knoblauch being the seventh since 2015. They fired Jay Woodcroft a single season into his extension. Dave Tippett was let go in the final season of his three-year deal.
Todd McLellan was let go despite having a full year on his contract. Very seldom has stability behind the bench lasted long.
It's a lesson Edmonton has shown in recent years: early-season struggles ultimately don't sink them. They rebound and make playoff runs despite rocky starts.
But if history repeats itself, and they can't recover, something might greatly need to change behind the bench or with a roster-shaking trade. That means patience remains, for now.
Previously on HockeyLatest
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 21 | 192 ANSWERS NHL insider shares what he's hearing about possible coaching changes in Edmonton involving Kris Knoblauch Do the Oilers need to make a coaching change, whether it be Kris Knoblauch or one of the assistants? | ||
| Yes - Kris Knoblauch | 81 | 42.2 % |
| Yes - Assistants | 54 | 28.1 % |
| No | 57 | 29.7 % |
| List of polls | ||