Oilers' Management Decisions
Oilers' Stan Bowman Criticized for Coaching Delay, Key Roster and Goalie Issues Emerge
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Edmonton Oilers general manager Stan Bowman is under fire for what critics call a costly waiting game. Bowman reportedly wants Bruce Cassidy — currently under contract with the Vegas Golden Knights — as the team's next head coach, offering a five-year deal worth $30 million, according to Daily Hive. But Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon has refused to grant Edmonton permission to interview Cassidy, leaving the Oilers without a coach as the June 28 NHL Draft approaches.
The standoff follows Bowman firing Kris Knoblauch on May 14, 2026, just days after reports leaked that Edmonton had already reached out to Vegas while Knoblauch was still employed. Edmonton Journal columnist Kurt Leavins asked this week whether the Cassidy pursuit has become a "bridge too far" — and whether the Oilers need to move on.
How the Cassidy Standoff Reached This Point
Bowman fired Knoblauch on May 14 after the Oilers lost in the first round to the Anaheim Ducks. The team finished the regular season with just 93 points — their lowest total since 2018-19, per OilersNation. Within days, it emerged that Edmonton had already contacted Vegas about Cassidy before Knoblauch was even let go. TSN's Bryan Hayes called the move "classless" and "disrespectful."
McCrimmon has not budged. He has reportedly withheld interview permission as a form of leverage between Pacific Division rivals. Edmonton Journal noted that Elliotte Friedman recently signaled the Oilers may pivot to other candidates — including Craig Berube or Peter Laviolette — if the standoff continues much longer.
Darnell Nurse's Contract Is Becoming an Anchor
Darnell Nurse is owed $9.25 million per year through 2030. That number is hard to justify given his recent decline. His hit total dropped from 196 in 2021-22 to just 137 in 2025-26, according to Edmonton Journal. Critics now call the deal an "anvil" dragging down the roster.
Trading Nurse is seen as one path to freeing up cap space. But he carries a no-movement clause, making a trade "disastrously difficult," per analysts. Some writers, including David Staples at Cult of Hockey, argue Nurse is still a strong skater who could thrive under a coach with a better defensive system.
Tristan Jarry's Injury Left Oilers Scrambling in Goal
Edmonton acquired goaltender Tristan Jarry from Pittsburgh on December 12, 2025, giving up Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak, per Daily Faceoff. Just six days later, Jarry suffered a serious lower-body injury in his third game with the team. His $5.375 million cap hit sat mostly idle for the rest of the season.
A buyout appears unlikely. The Oilers believe Jarry's struggles were injury-related — not a permanent decline — and are committed to "fixing" him, according to Edmonton Journal. Still, the team must decide what to do differently in net before next season starts.
Roster Moves Needed Beyond the Coaching Search
Analysts say the Oilers do not need both Adam Henrique and Curtis Lazar on the roster. Henrique is a smart player, but his footspeed has become a liability. Lazar is seen as a cheaper, more effective fourth-line option. Carrying both is viewed as a waste of cap space the team cannot afford.
The death of hockey executive Cliff Fletcher on June 5 at age 90 also cast a shadow over the week, per NHL.com. Fletcher, a Hall of Fame builder who guided the Calgary Flames to the 1989 Stanley Cup, was remembered across the league. For the Oilers, the offseason clock keeps ticking — with or without a head coach in place.
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