3 reasons why Kris Knoblauch's Oilers job could be on the line

Last season, coach Kris Knoblauch led the Edmonton Oilers all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals. Although the team had their best season since 2006, the Oilers have since struggled to start the 2024-25 season. Up until Tuesday's clash with the Philadelphia Flyers, the team was winless.

At the same time, Connor McDavid has been held scoreless through the team's first four games, a staggering stat considering he has consistently been a 30+ goal-per-season scorer since joining the team. While Knoblauch is only in his second year as the team's coach, it's no secret that the franchise has its sights set on a Stanley Cup win.

3 reasons why Kris Knoblauch's Oilers job could be on the line

#1: Another slow start to the season

So far this year, the Edmonton Oilers have won just one of their first four games, much like last season, where they started the year 2-9-1 before finally stringing together back-to-back wins. This then came back to bite them in the Stanley Cup Finals, where they wound up as the road team to the Florida Panthers.

Had the team not started off the season slow, they would have had home-ice advantage for the series, which could have been a game-changer.

#2: Implications for Connor McDavid's future

The extension signed by Leon Draisaitl this offseason likely means that Connor McDavid may stay with the Oilers. However, if the team regresses this season, McDavid could decide to search for a new home.

If the team's struggles continue throughout the season and rumors begin to swirl about McDavid's future with the franchise, the Oilers may respond by putting Kris Knoblauch on the hot seat.

#3: Kris Knoblauch only has one more year left on his contract

While his first year with the team was a massive success, if the team regresses this year and struggles to find its rhythm, Kris Knoblauch could wind up on the hot seat simply because he only has one more year left on his contract.

Knoblauch, whose contract lasts till the 2025-26 season, will need to replicate some of the same success as last season, or at least show that the 2023-24 season wasn't an outlier.