Oilers Destroyed All Over NHL For Their Handling of Cassidy/Knoblauch Affair

Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch

Kris Knoblauch has been left twisting in the wind after the news leaked this week that the Edmonton Oilers asked for—but were denied—permission to speak to Bruce Cassidy about their head coaching job. The thing is, Knoblauch still holds that job (as of Wednesday evening). In fact, he has a three-year extension that doesn't even kick in until next season.

The Oilers are now getting dragged through the mud for their handling of the situation.

Jason Gregor wrote in OilersNation that an NHL coach texted him the following, under the condition he remain anonymous:

In the off-season, I have told teams I wouldn’t talk to them about their coaching job unless it was vacant. During the season is a bit different because there is the urgency of games, but when the season is over, I didn’t want to be in a position to take a guy’s job before he was let go. I’d hope other coaches would do the same.

——Anonymous NHL head coach

"(Cassidy) has a very good resume," added Gregor. "It makes sense that teams would be interested in hiring him, and if they were, just fire your coach and interview him."

Oilers move to try to talk to Cassidy while Knoblauch still their coach called 'Classless'

On TSN Overdrive (h/t Jackson Weber), Jeff O'Neill called the Oilers' move to go behind Knoblauch's back, "Classless."

"It's classless." - O-Dog 👀

The guys discuss the reports around the Oilers seeking to hire Bruce Cassidy without clarification on Kris Knoblauch. #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/MZ3IHo5h1w
— OverDrive (@OverDrive1050) May 12, 2026

I think it’s classless, man. I think it’s classless... Why would you not—if you’re going to do that—fire Kris Knoblauch? The guy took your team to two Finals and turned it around, and you do that to him? I get it, this is a cutthroat business, and sometimes there’s a guy you want, and there’s a guy you need, and some things happen. But how classless is it? If you’re going to do that, have some class and fire the guy. That’s disgusting.

Insider Frank Seravalli, who leaked the Oilers' request to the Vegas Golden Knights to speak with Cassidy, says that Knoblauch "has been a dead man walking" for weeks now, insinuating that he's probably aware of his fate. The Oilers, after all, made an embarrassing exit in the first round this season after back-to-back Finals runs. Then superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl came out and criticized a lot about the way the team has been run.

It's a mess right now in Edmonton, and they'll have to clean up this Oil spill quickly.