The Edmonton Oilers fired head coach Kris Knoblauch on Thursday, ending his tenure after guiding the team to consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2024 and 2025.

Knoblauch was dismissed following the team's first-round playoff exit this season, a disappointing result after reaching hockey's championship series in back-to-back years. The coaching change comes despite the significant success he achieved during his time with the organization.

The 42-year-old coach took over as Edmonton's head coach in November 2023 as a midseason replacement after the team fired Jay Woodcroft following a poor start to that season. Under Knoblauch's leadership, the Oilers made the playoffs in all three seasons he coached the team.

Knoblauch's firing represents a notable decision by the organization to make a coaching change despite recent postseason success. The team reached the Stanley Cup Finals in both 2024 and 2025 under his guidance, marking the franchise's most successful stretch in recent years.

The Oilers have not announced a replacement for Knoblauch. The coaching change signals the organization's expectations for playoff performance beyond just reaching the Finals, particularly after experiencing early elimination this season following two consecutive championship round appearances.