Oilers expected to make major coaching change according to multiple sources

This has not been made official by the Edmonton Oilers.

The wording around this story is the story. As of publication time, Mark Spector reported Knoblauch had not been fired, while still pointing toward it likely happening by day's end.

The Oilers Daily post pushed it even harder, saying Knoblauch was expected to be relieved of his coaching duties by the end of the day.

The timing is what makes this feel so strange. Edmonton are not dealing with a quiet May evaluation anymore. This has spilled into the open before the club has announced anything.

Edmonton went 41-30-11 this season, good for 93 points, but that only tells part of it.

The bigger issue is control. When a coach's status becomes public before the team acts, the bench loses oxygen fast.

Stan Bowman now owns the next move. If Knoblauch is out today, this is not just about one playoff disappointment. It is about management deciding the room needs a different voice.

The Oilers still had a +13 goal differential, so this was not a broken roster on paper. That makes the expected decision sharper.

This is also a Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl pressure point. A team built around those two cannot afford a drifting bench, mixed messaging, or a slow summer.

Knoblauch's run may end with a strange final image: not a formal goodbye, but a morning of reports saying the decision is coming.

Until the Oilers announce it, he has not officially been fired. But the expectation around the league is clear now.