Wolf Pack’s Kris Knoblauch gets his NHL chance, called to Edmonton; Steve Smith takes over in Hartford
In his years in Hartford, Kris Knoblauch has been tasked with developing young hockey players and teaching them how to win games as part of their skill set.
You might say, he has done a whale of a job.
The NHL’s Edmonton Oilers thought so, and plucked Knoblauch off the Wolf Pack bench, naming him their head coach on Sunday, after firing Jay Woodcroft in a surprising, early-season move.
“It’s been a crazy 24 hours,” Knoblauch told reporters in Edmonton Sunday. “Last night I was on the bench in Hartford, and then this morning I’m on a plane to get here. This is an unbelievable opportunity. There is such a strong hockey culture and history and passionate fans, to be here as a head coach is a little but of a dream for me.”
Knoblauch, 45, had been in Hartford since 2019, when the Rangers hired him to coach their AHL affiliate. He has helped develop several of New York’s top prospects during a rebuilding cycle and, last season, led the Wolf Pack on a late-season surge and deep into the playoffs. Hartford is 7-3-1 this season, after losing to Providence, 2-0, at the XL Center on Saturday.
The Rangers named Steve Smith, 60, who was Knoblauch’s assistant, to be Hartford’s interim head coach. Smith was an NHL assistant with several teams between 1997 and 2021.
Knoblauch was mentioned as a candidate to become the Rangers head coach after last season, but the organization focused on more experienced coaches and hired Peter Laviolette, who has them off to a 10-2-1 start, first place in the Metropolitan Division.
“I want to thank the New York Rangers for allowing me this opportunity,” Knoblauch said. “A lot of teams would not have allowed their head coach in the American League to go out (in midseason).”
The Oilers, meanwhile, are 3-9-1, seventh among eight teams in the Pacific Division, and though it’s early in the season and they won their most recent game, beating Seattle, 4-1, they determined it was time for a change after losing to last place San Jose during the week.
“We’re in the win-now mode,” GM Ken Holland said. “The time is now to try to win… If you wait another 10 games [to fire the coach] and things don’t change, it’s probably too late.”
Knoblauch. who will be the franchise’s 10th coach in 15 seasons, will take over immediately and coach the Oilers against the Islanders on Monday night. Hall of Famer Paul Coffey will be his assistant.
Thank you, Coach. #NYR | @WolfPackAHL pic.twitter.com/oQ6dfpzqZp
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 12, 2023
“When you come in midseason, you can only do so much in changing the system or the lines,” Knoblauch said. “Players need stability. You can only change so many areas. I want to reach out and talk to players, veterans, young players, get their perspective, let them know what I expect. … I see a very talented team that’s underperforming, that’s why I’m here.”
Knoblauch is from Western Canada, and played at the University of Alberta. Before coming to Hartford, Knoblauch was an NHL assistant coach with the Flyers. Before that, he coached the Erie Otters to the Ontario Hockey League championship in 2016-17. While there, he coached Connor McDavid, three time Hart Trophy winner, now the Oilers captain, and two other current Edmonton players, Connor Brown and Warren Foegele. Holland made clear he did not consult players on firing Woodcroft or hiring Knoblauch.
Woodcroft was a first-time head coach when he replaced former Whaler Dave Tippett in 2022, and led the team deep into the playoffs each of the last two years..
Holland, then with Detroit, nearly hired Knoblauch to coach his Grand Rapids affiliate in 2015.
“I was aware in 2015 that Kris was one of the real top young coaches out there,” Holland said. “I have followed his career from afar, and he’s won everywhere he’s gone. One of the bright young coaches in the NHL.”
New #LetsGoOilers head coach Kris Knoblauch coached current Oilers Connor McDavid, Connor Brown and Warren Foegele with the Erie Otters (OHL). pic.twitter.com/aFrZXey0dP
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) November 12, 2023