Kris Knoblauch

Knoblauch is from Imperial, Saskatchewan.^[4][1][3] He was a seventh-round pick, 166th overall, of the New York Islanders in the 1997 NHL entry draft,^[3][5] but never played at the NHL level.^[1] Playing in the position of winger,^[5] Knoblauch played parts of four seasons of junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 1995 to 1998 with the Red Deer Rebels, Edmonton Ice and Lethbridge Hurricanes. He then played for five seasons with the University of Alberta Golden Bears from 1999 to 2003, during which time he registered 117 points (38 goals and 79 assists) in 102 games. He was part of the team that won a National Championship during the 1999–00 season.^[3] Knoblauch played professionally with the Austin Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League, before finishing his playing career in France as a member of the Bisons de Neuilly-sur-Marne.^{[citation needed]}

Knoblauch began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL during the 2006–07 season. He became an assistant coach with the Kootenay Ice of the WHL for three seasons from 2007 to 2010,^[3] becoming the Ice's head coach in 2010.^[2]

In his first season with Kootenay during the 2010–11 season, the team posted a 46–21–1–4 record in the regular season, won 16 of 19 WHL playoff games and won the Ed Chynoweth Cup.^[3] Knoblauch continued his success with the Ice the following season, as the team posted a 36–26–5 record, but was swept by the Edmonton Oil Kings in the first round of the WHL playoffs.^[2]

Knoblauch interviewed for the vacant head coaching position with the University of Alberta Golden Bears men's ice hockey team and did so without consulting the Ice.^{[citation needed]} Despite being on the Golden Bears coaching job shortlist, Knoblauch was relieved of his head coaching duties with the Ice on May 24, 2012.^[6]

Knoblauch became the head coach of the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), a position he held from 2012 to 2017.^[2]

During his four full seasons with the Erie Otters, the team had a 204–58–7–3 record (.768 points percentage) and won at least 50 games each season. They were the first team in Canadian Hockey League history to post four consecutive 50-win seasons. Under Knoblauch's leadership, Erie won the OHL Championship in the 2016–17 season. Additionally, the Otters made it to the OHL Championship in the 2014–15 season and won the Hamilton Spectator Trophy in recognition of having the OHL's best regular season record in consecutive seasons in 2015–16 and 2016–17. Knoblauch was the recipient of the Matt Leyden Trophy in 2015–16, making him OHL Coach of the Year that season. He also made OHL's Second All-Star Team in 2013–14.^[3]

Knoblauch was the head coach for Canada-Red at the 2015 World U17 Hockey Challenge and assistant coach with Canada at the 2017 IIHF World U20 Championship, where Canada earned a silver medal.^[3] During his seven total seasons as head coach of the Kootenay Ice and Erie Otters, Knoblauch compiled a record of 298–130–16–13,^[1][2] and coached such players as Connor McDavid, Alex DeBrincat, André Burakovsky,^[1][3] Connor Brown, Erik Černák, Anthony Cirelli, Travis Dermott, Sam Reinhart and Dylan Strome.^[3]

Knoblauch was a Philadelphia Flyers assistant coach during the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons.^[1][2]

The New York Rangers organization announced on July 29, 2019, that Knoblauch had been appointed the head coach of the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers' AHL affiliate team. This marks the first time Knoblauch became a head coach at the professional level. Knoblauch replaced Keith McCambridge, fired after two seasons as Hartford coach.^[1] Knoblauch was the seventh coach in Wolf Pack history.^[2] On March 17, 2021, Knoblauch served as the New York Rangers' head coach when David Quinn and his staff were placed on the COVID-19 protocol list. In Knoblauch's first game as head coach, the Rangers beat the Philadelphia Flyers 9–0 at Madison Square Garden. Quinn was out for six games total, the Rangers won four games and lost two under Knoblauch.

On November 12, 2023, the Edmonton Oilers announced that they had hired Knoblauch as their head coach to replace the recently fired Jay Woodcroft.^[7]

In his first year as Oilers head coach, Knoblauch led the team to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers. After rallying back from a 3–0 series deficit, the Oilers were ultimately defeated in the pivotal seventh game.^[8][9] His second season was just as successful, leading the Oilers to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final—the Oilers' first back-to-back appearances in 40 years, in a rematch against the Panthers. This series saw the Oilers have home-ice advantage for the majority of their games, but they would again experience defeat at the hands of the Panthers, this time in game six.^[10]

On October 3, 2025, the Oilers announced they had agreed to a 3-year extension with Knoblauch, keeping him under contract until the end of the 2028–29 NHL season.^[11]