Oilers Secure Kris Knoblauch with Three-Year Extension After Finals Runs

The Edmonton Oilers have announced a three-year contract extension for head coach Kris Knoblauch, ensuring his leadership through the 2028-29 season. This decision follows a successful tenure in which Knoblauch led the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup finals, demonstrating his impact since taking the reins from Jay Woodcroft on November 12, 2023.

Under Knoblauch’s guidance, the Oilers rebounded from a challenging start to the 2023-24 season, where they recorded a dismal 3-9-1 record. The team then surged to an impressive 48-16-5 finish, ultimately competing in the Stanley Cup final but falling to the Florida Panthers in a tightly contested seven-game series.

In his first full season, 2024-25, Knoblauch continued to build on that momentum. The Oilers finished the regular season with a record of 48-29-5 and advanced to the playoffs, where they achieved a 12-4 record across three rounds. However, they faced the Panthers once again in the finals, losing in six games.

Knoblauch, a 47-year-old native of Imperial, Saskatchewan, had been in his fifth season as head coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack, the AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers, before joining the Oilers. He also brings experience as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2017 to 2019 and has previously coached Oilers captain Connor McDavid during their time with the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters. His hockey roots run deep, having played junior hockey for the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Ice and spending five years at the University of Alberta.

The extension reflects the Oilers’ confidence in Knoblauch’s ability to lead the team to future success. As the franchise looks to capitalize on recent playoff appearances, the leadership continuity may prove crucial in their quest for a championship.

This report by The Canadian Press was initially published on October 3, 2025.