The Edmonton Oilers have named Kris Knoblauch of Imperial, Saskatchewan their new head coach. In an announcement made on Sunday according to Mark Spector of Rogers Sportsnet.
Knoblauch has spent a significant amount of time coaching in the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, American Hockey League, and National Hockey League. He was the head coach of the Kootenay Ice (2010 to 2012), the Erie Otters (2012 to 2017). and the Hartford Wolf Pack (2019 to 2023). Knoblauch was also an assistant coach with the Prince Albert Raiders (2006 to 2007), the Kootenay Ice (2007 to 2010). and the Philadelphia Flyers (2017 to 2019). Along the way, he won a WHL Championship with the Ice in 2011 and an OHL Championship with the Otters in 2017.
As a player, Knobaluch was a winger. He was drafted in the seventh round, 166th overall by the New York Islanders in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. Ironically, it was the Islanders who the Oilers played in Knoblauch’s NHL head coaching debut, as Edmonton won 4-1. Knoblauch also played four seasons in the Western Hockey League with the Red Deer Rebels, Edmonton Ice, Kootenay Ice and Lethbridge Hurricanes. He also spent five memorable seasons with the University of Alberta Golden Bears in USport. Knoblauch won a University Cup championship with the Golden Bears in 2000.
