The club’s management announced the coach’s dismissal on Thursday, with assistant Mark Stuart also leaving the team. It is not yet clear who will replace Knoblauch on the bench.
Knoblauch had a successful start to his tenure in Edmonton. Taking over the team in November 2023 after Jay Woodcroft was let go, he led the Oilers to the playoffs three consecutive times.
Out of 286 games as the Oilers’ coach, he celebrated 166 wins, but this year the team suffered a surprising early exit in the opening round against the Anaheim Ducks.
Knoblauch was set to begin a new three-year contract this fall, which he had signed before the season. Instead, he has become the sixth coach to lose his job this season.