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September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Sports Desk • Hockey

Kris Knoblauch

Kris Knoblauch is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player who has served as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers since November 2023.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Kris Knoblauch is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. He has been head coach of the Edmonton Oilers since November 2023 and led them to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances.

Early life and playing career

Knoblauch was born in Imperial, Saskatchewan, and played junior hockey in the Western Hockey League. He later played professionally in the Central Hockey League and in France, and also played university hockey for the University of Alberta, winning a national championship.

Coaching career

After moving into coaching, Knoblauch worked in Canadian junior hockey, including a long stint with Erie in the OHL. He later became an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers and head coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack, the AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers.

Edmonton Oilers head coach

Knoblauch joined the Oilers in November 2023 and led the team to the Stanley Cup Final in both of his first two seasons. Edmonton later signed him to a new three-year contract beginning in the 2026-27 season.

In short

  • Named 18th head coach in Oilers history in Nov 2023
  • Coached Oilers to Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and 2025
  • Previously coached Hartford Wolf Pack and Erie Otters
  • Played junior and professional hockey in Canada and France
Canadian angle

Knoblauch is Canadian-born and developed through Canadian junior, university, and professional hockey systems. He is also notable in Canada for coaching Connor McDavid at Erie and later leading the Edmonton Oilers. [6][13]

Quick questions

Who is Kris Knoblauch?
He is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player, best known as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.
When was Kris Knoblauch born?
He was born on September 24, 1978.
Has Kris Knoblauch reached the Stanley Cup Final?
Yes. He coached the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and 2025.

Sources

  1. NHL.com / Edmonton Oilers — https://www.nhl.com/oilers/team/kris-knoblauch
    Supports: Appointment as Oilers head coach; Hartford Wolf Pack tenure; WHL playing background
  2. NHL.com — https://www.nhl.com/news/kris-knoblauch-signs-3-year-deal-to-remain-edmonton-coach
    Supports: Contract extension, Oilers record, Flyers and Hartford background, Erie tenure
  3. Sportsnet — https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/meet-kris-knoblauch-teacher-by-nature-and-the-18th-coach-in-oilers-history/
    Supports: University of Alberta playing career and national championship; coaching background
  4. Elite Prospects — https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/2447/kris-knoblauch
    Supports: Date and place of birth; nationality
  5. Hockey-Reference — https://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/knoblkr01c.html
    Supports: Coaching record
  6. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org
    Supports: Supplementary playing-career details and coaching chronology