Oilers News & Rumours: Knoblauch, Stuart, Cassidy, Berube & More

As the Edmonton Oilers prepare to have a stronger 2026-27 campaign, they have made some changes behind their bench, and all of the speculation remains as to how different the entire team will look next season.

In this edition of Oilers News and Rumours, we take a look at the firing of Kris Knoblauch and Mark Stuart, and the connection to Bruce Cassidy that has come from it. As well, we look at how an insider has name-dropped Craig Berube as a potential target as their new head coach.

Oilers Fire Kris Knoblauch & Mark Stuart

After days of speculation, the Oilers announced that they had relieved Kris Knoblauch of his duties as head coach, as well as Mark Stuart of his duties as the assistant coach.

The #Oilers have relieved head coach Kris Knoblauch & assistant coach Mark Stuart of their duties. https://t.co/K3GQq5GshP

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) May 14, 2026

Knoblauch finishes his tenure with the Oilers with 233 games as their head coach, with a record of 135-77-21, and a winning percentage of .624%.

In a statement, general manager Stan Bowman said, “Following a thorough review of this past season, we believe these changes are needed. We are grateful for the contributions both Kris and Mark have made to our organization, and we wish them the best moving forward.”

All Signs Point to Bruce Cassidy

The Oilers seem prepared to do a thorough search before making a decision on who their new bench boss will be, but all signs seem to be pointing to Bruce Cassidy, according to Elliotte Friedman.

"To me, it just seems like this whole thing is because of Cassidy."@FriedgeHNIC joins @Mattymar89 and @FutaMichael to discuss Kris Knoblauch's dismissal and the likelihood of the Oilers pursuing Bruce Cassidy. pic.twitter.com/wx8LxpQzjJ

— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) May 14, 2026

While announcements weren’t immediately put out to name a replacement, the expectation is that the Oilers will try to target Cassidy as the replacement for Knoblauch.

With other teams expected to check in with Cassidy, including the Los Angeles Kings and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Oilers will have to work quickly if they want to land their guy.

Craig Berube’s Name Out There as Potential Candidate

TSN Insider Darren Dreger suggested Craig Berube, who was recently fired by the Maple Leafs, could also be an option for the Oilers, if they miss out on Cassidy.

Given Berube’s experience and resume, while also being known as a coach who holds all of his players accountable, it seems logical that the Oilers could turn to Berube as a fallback option.

Knoblauch Could Earn Interview From Maple Leafs

In the same segment from Dreger, he suggested that Knoblauch could earn an interview from the Maple Leafs, and wouldn’t be surprised if he earned interest from them, considering their plans to cast a wide search as they search for their new bench boss.

Knoblauch’s only NHL experience has been with the Oilers, where he went to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals, so his resume is promising for any team looking for a new coach, and it’s very possible he earns a new job for the 2026-27 season.

No Updates on Pending Free Agents

The Oilers have several key pending free agents, including Kasperi Kapanen, Connor Murphy, and Jason Dickinson, but there are no updates on any potential extensions for any of them.

As of this moment, it seems the interest remains mutual between Kapanen, Murphy, Dickinson, and the Oilers, for them to work out new deals for next season, and potentially beyond.

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