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Daryl Katz was ‘driving force’ behind Oilers decision to fire Knoblauch: Report
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Zach Laing
May 15, 2026, 14:00 EDTUpdated: May 15, 2026, 15:23 EDT
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As the dust settles on what has been nothing short of a chaotic week in Edmonton, word has started to trickle about what led to the demise of Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch.
And according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, it starts all the way at the top of the organization.
Oilers owner Daryl Katz, Friedman said on Friday’s edition of the 32 Thoughts podcast, was a “driving force” behind Knoblauch’s dismissal.
“I think he’s angry at the result this year. I think he’s angry at the way they played this year, and I think he made his displeasure clear,” said Friedman. “I think he was so upset at the way this season ended. I think he was a driving force. I don’t think you can underestimate the role he played in making his feelings clear that significant change needs to happen.
“There is great organizational pressure to win now for a lot of reasons, including the fact that Connor McDavid is only under contract for two more years. So I think the owner’s feelings were a very, very big part of this.”
Katz is known around the league for being one of the league’s most demanding owners, which, in part, could explain the turnover that has occurred behind the bench and in the front office since he bought the team for $200 million in 2008. Whoever replaces Knoblauch will be the 12th head coach, including interims, in the 17 years he’s owned the franchise.
Now, he’ll be on the hook for a significant amount of money to pay Knoblauch not to coach the Oilers, with his three-year extension kicking off in July that carries, according to Friedman, a total amount upwards of $10 million.
When Knoblauch took over as head coach of the Oilers in November 2023, he did so under almost immediate scrutiny. Paul Coffey, a senior advisor who reported directly to Katz, was parachuted onto the Oilers bench as an assistant coach, admitting he didn’t even want the job. His impact was immediate, helping maximize the talent on Edmonton’s blue line, and helping the team reach the Stanley Cup Final.
Coffey would return to the bench for a second season, but ahead of this season, would step away from his role, continuing his work as an advisor. His presence was seemingly missed, despite reports last November about Coffey butting heads with other members of the coaching staff. And as the team sputtered into the Olympic break, Coffey would return to the bench coming out of it.
For as much as his leaving the bench could’ve been taken as a vote of confidence for the rest of the coaching staff, his return brought forth plenty of unanswered questions about who made the decision. Was it Kris Knoblauch’s decision? Stan Bowman’s? Jeff Jackson’s? Or did Katz himself demand Coffey’s return? In hindsight, it spelled the beginning of the end of Knoblauch’s tenure as head coach.
Either way, the light is shining bright on Katz’s day-to-day involvement in the organization.
Zach Laing is Oilersnation’s managing editor, and The Nation Network’s news director. He also makes up one-half of the Daily Faceoff DFS Hockey Report. He can be followed on X at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach.laing@bettercollective.com.

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