Kris Knoblauch (born September 24, 1978) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who most recently was the head coach for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He had previously been the head coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).[1][2]
| Kris Knoblauch | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Knoblauch in 2019 | |||
| Born |
September 24, 1978 Imperial, Saskatchewan, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | ||
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for |
Asheville Smoke Austin Ice Bats Bisons de Neuilly-sur-Marne | ||
| Coached for | Edmonton Oilers | ||
| NHL draft |
166th overall, 1997 New York Islanders | ||
| Playing career | 1999–2006 | ||
| Coaching career | 2006–present | ||
He had a total of 13 seasons of coaching experience before joining Hartford,[3] including two seasons as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL and seven years as a head coach in the Canadian junior leagues. He compiled a record of 298–130–16–13 during that time.[1][2] Knoblauch coached the Oilers to appearances in the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and 2025.
Playing career
editKnoblauch is from Imperial, Saskatchewan.[4][1][3] He was a seventh-round pick, 166th overall, of the New York Islanders in the 1997 NHL entry draft,[3][5] but never played at the NHL level.[1] Playing in the position of winger,[5] Knoblauch played parts of four seasons of junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 1995 to 1998 with the Red Deer Rebels, Edmonton Ice and Lethbridge Hurricanes. He then played for five seasons with the University of Alberta Golden Bears from 1999 to 2003, during which time he registered 117 points (38 goals and 79 assists) in 102 games. He was part of the team that won a National Championship during the 1999–00 season.[3] Knoblauch played professionally with the Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League, before finishing his playing career in France as a member of the Bisons de Neuilly-sur-Marne.[citation needed]
Coaching career
editKnoblauch began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL during the 2006–07 season. He became an assistant coach with the Kootenay Ice of the WHL for three seasons from 2007 to 2010,[3] becoming the Ice's head coach in 2010.[2]
Kootenay Ice
editIn his first season with Kootenay during the 2010–11 season, the team posted a 46–21–1–4 record in the regular season, won 16 of 19 WHL playoff games and won the Ed Chynoweth Cup.[3] Knoblauch continued his success with the Ice the following season, as the team posted a 36–26–5 record, but was swept by the Edmonton Oil Kings in the first round of the WHL playoffs.[2]
Knoblauch interviewed for the vacant head coaching position with the University of Alberta Golden Bears men's ice hockey team and did so without consulting the Ice.[citation needed] Despite being on the Golden Bears coaching job shortlist, Knoblauch was relieved of his head coaching duties with the Ice on May 24, 2012.[6]
Erie Otters
editKnoblauch became the head coach of the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), a position he held from 2012 to 2017.[2]
During his four full seasons with the Erie Otters, the team had a 204–58–7–3 record (.768 points percentage) and won at least 50 games each season. They were the first team in Canadian Hockey League history to post four consecutive 50-win seasons. Under Knoblauch's leadership, Erie won the OHL Championship in the 2016–17 season. Additionally, the Otters made it to the OHL Championship in the 2014–15 season and won the Hamilton Spectator Trophy in recognition of having the OHL's best regular season record in consecutive seasons in 2015–16 and 2016–17. Knoblauch was the recipient of the Matt Leyden Trophy in 2015–16, making him OHL Coach of the Year that season. He also made OHL's Second All-Star Team in 2013–14.[3]
Knoblauch was the head coach for Canada-Red at the 2015 World U17 Hockey Challenge and assistant coach with Canada at the 2017 IIHF World U20 Championship, where Canada earned a silver medal.[3] During his seven total seasons as head coach of the Kootenay Ice and Erie Otters, Knoblauch compiled a record of 298–130–16–13,[1][2] and coached such players as Connor McDavid, Alex DeBrincat, André Burakovsky,[1][3] Connor Brown, Erik Černák, Anthony Cirelli, Travis Dermott, Sam Reinhart and Dylan Strome.[3]
Philadelphia Flyers
editKnoblauch was an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons.[1][2]
Hartford Wolf Pack
editThe New York Rangers organization announced on July 29, 2019, that Knoblauch had been appointed the head coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers' AHL affiliate team. This marked the first time Knoblauch became a head coach at the professional level. Knoblauch replaced Keith McCambridge, fired after two seasons as Hartford coach.[1] Knoblauch was the seventh coach in Wolf Pack history.[2] On March 17, 2021, Knoblauch served as the New York Rangers' head coach when David Quinn and his staff were placed on the COVID-19 protocol list. In Knoblauch's first game as head coach, the Rangers beat the Philadelphia Flyers 9–0 at Madison Square Garden. Quinn was out for six games total, the Rangers won four games and lost two under Knoblauch.
Edmonton Oilers
editOn November 12, 2023, the Edmonton Oilers announced that they had hired Knoblauch as their head coach to replace the recently fired Jay Woodcroft.[7] In his first year as Oilers head coach, Knoblauch led the team to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers. After rallying back from a 3–0 series deficit, the Oilers were ultimately defeated in the pivotal seventh game.[8][9]
General manager Ken Holland left at the expiration of his contract and was replaced in that capacity by Stan Bowman. Nonetheless, Knoblauch's second season was just as successful, leading the Oilers to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final—the Oilers' first back-to-back appearances in 40 years, in a rematch against the Panthers. This series saw the Oilers have home-ice advantage for the majority of their games, but they would again experience defeat at the hands of the Panthers, this time in six games.[10]
On October 3, 2025, the Oilers announced they had agreed to a three-year extension with Knoblauch, keeping him under contract until the end of the 2028–29 NHL season.[11] However, at the conclusion of the season, Knoblauch was fired after losing to the Anaheim Ducks in six games in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.[12] His release garnered mixed criticism from local news outlets, with some finding the move to be poorly handled and others believing that the firing was necessary.[13][14]
Career statistics
editPlaying career
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1995–96 | Red Deer Rebels | WHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Red Deer Rebels | WHL | 43 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 29 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | Edmonton Ice | WHL | 24 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 73 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | Edmonton Ice | WHL | 72 | 18 | 23 | 41 | 193 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Kootenay Ice | WHL | 21 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Lethbridge Hurricanes | WHL | 52 | 20 | 22 | 42 | 102 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | ||
| 1998–99 | Asheville Smoke | UHL | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Alberta Golden Bears | CWUAA | 47 | 25 | 26 | 51 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Alberta Golden Bears | CWUAA | 42 | 31 | 34 | 65 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Alberta Golden Bears | CWUAA | 35 | 13 | 30 | 43 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Alberta Golden Bears | CWUAA | 31 | 11 | 24 | 35 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Alberta Golden Bears | CWUAA | 36 | 14 | 25 | 39 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Austin Ice Bats | CHL | 60 | 18 | 22 | 40 | 76 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Bisons de Neuilly-sur-Marne | Division 1 | 28 | 29 | 17 | 46 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
Head coaching record
editNHL
edit| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | OTL | Pts | Finish | W | L | Win % | Result | ||
| EDM | 2023–24* | 69 | 46 | 18 | 5 | (97) | 2nd in Pacific | 15 | 10 | .600 | Lost in Stanley Cup Final (FLA) |
| EDM | 2024–25 | 82 | 48 | 29 | 5 | 101 | 3rd in Pacific | 14 | 8 | .636 | Lost in Stanley Cup Final (FLA) |
| EDM | 2025–26 | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | 2nd in Pacific | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost in first round (ANA) |
| Total | 233 | 135 | 77 | 21 | 31 | 22 | .585 | 3 playoff appearances | |||
* – Mid-season replacement
Other leagues
edit| Team | Year | League | Regular season | Postseason | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | OTL | Pts | Finish | Result | |||
| KOO | 2010–11 | WHL | 72 | 46 | 21 | 5 | 97 | 3rd in Central | Won Ed Chynoweth Cup (POR) |
| KOO | 2011–12 | WHL | 72 | 36 | 26 | 10 | 82 | 4th in Central | Lost in first round (EDM) |
| ERI | 2012–13 | OHL | 29 | 12 | 25 | 4 | 28 | 5th in Midwest | Did not qualify |
| ERI | 2013–14 | OHL | 68 | 52 | 14 | 2 | 106 | 2nd in Midwest | Lost in third round (GUE) |
| ERI | 2014–15 | OHL | 68 | 50 | 14 | 4 | 104 | 1st in Midwest | Lost in J. Ross Robertson Cup Finals (OSH) |
| ERI | 2015–16 | OHL | 68 | 52 | 15 | 1 | 105 | 1st in Midwest | Lost in third round (LDN) |
| ERI | 2016–17 | OHL | 68 | 50 | 15 | 3 | 103 | 1st in Midwest | Won J. Ross Robertson Cup (MSA) |
| HFD | 2019–20 | AHL | 62 | 31 | 20 | 11 | 73 | 4th in Atlantic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| HFD | 2020–21 | AHL | 24 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 29 | 2nd in Atlantic | No playoffs due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| HFD | 2021–22 | AHL | 72 | 32 | 32 | 8 | 72 | 7th in Atlantic | Missed playoffs |
| HFD | 2022–23 | AHL | 72 | 35 | 26 | 11 | 81 | 5th in Atlantic | Lost in third round (HER) |
| WHL total | 144 | 82 | 47 | 15 | 179 | 2 playoffs appearances | |||
| OHL total | 301 | 216 | 83 | 14 | 446 | 4 playoffs appearances | |||
| AHL total | 230 | 112 | 87 | 31 | 255 | 1 playoff appearance | |||
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Stephenson, Colin (July 29, 2019). "Rangers hire Kris Knoblauch to coach their AHL team in Hartford". Newsday. Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Mercogliano, Vincent Z. (July 29, 2019). "New York Rangers hire Kris Knoblauch as head coach for AHL Hartford". The Journal News. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Kris Knoblauch Named Head Coach of the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack". National Hockey League. July 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ↑ Bamford, Allison (June 6, 2024). "'Everybody's cheering': Why this small Sask. town is throwing its support behind the Edmonton Oilers". Sports. CTV News. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
- 1 2 "Kris Knoblauch". Hockeydb.com. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ↑ Daum, Evan (May 25, 2012). "Kootenay head coach Kris Knoblauch fired". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
- ↑ "Woodcroft fired as Oilers coach, replaced by Knoblauch". NHL.com. November 12, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ↑ Moddejonge, Gerry (June 4, 2024). "Knoblauch's unexpected journey lands in Stanley Cup Final with Oilers". edmontonjournal. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ↑ Barnes, Dan (June 25, 2024). "'It's devastating': Oilers Game 7 loss is neither Cup nor bust". edmontonjournal. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ↑ "Kris Knoblauch hoping experience helps himself, Oilers in second straight Stanley Cup Final". TSN.ca. June 2, 2025. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ↑ "RELEASE: Coach Knoblauch signs three-year extension". NHL.com. Edmonton Oilers. October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
- ↑ "RELEASE: Oilers relieve Knoblauch & Stuart of coaching duties". Edmonton Oilers. May 14, 2026. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
- ↑ Tychkowski, Robert (May 14, 2026). "Edmonton Oilers ham-handed soap opera ends with Kris Knoblauch firing". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on May 17, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
- ↑ Leavins, Kurt (May 16, 2026). "A lot of the criticism of the Edmonton Oilers over the Kris Knoblauch firing is over the top". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on May 17, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database