Inside Edmonton’s Early Season: Kris Knoblauch Joins 100% Hockey

Kris Knoblauch, head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, joins John Shannon and Daren Millard on 100% Hockey to talk about the team’s start to the season and the challenges that come with change. Despite holding their best record through this point in three years, the Oilers have struggled to close out games, and Knoblauch explains why — from blown leads and turnovers to stretches of lost focus.

He discusses the process of integrating seven new forwards into the lineup, finding chemistry through line adjustments, and maintaining patience while defining roles. Knoblauch also talks about the ongoing debate around pairing Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, balancing that temptation against the need for a deeper, more sustainable team structure. The conversation rounds out with his take on early-season trends across the NHL and how the salary cap continues to shape roster building league-wide.