The Edmonton Oilers find themselves in hot water after reports emerged that the team asked the Vegas Golden Knights for permission to interview former head coach Bruce Cassidy—all while Kris Knoblauch is still on the payroll. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, Edmonton reached out to Vegas after the Golden Knights fired Cassidy in March, but the request was denied. Cue the backlash.

In the high-stakes world of professional hockey, coaching changes are part of the game. But this move has drawn sharp criticism from analysts and former players alike, who say it's a breach of trust and basic respect. Jeff O’Neill, a former NHL forward now with TSN OverDrive, didn't hold back. “I think it’s classless, man,” O’Neill said. “If you’re gonna do that, fire Kris Knoblauch. The guy took your team to two finals and turned it around, and you do that to him?”

O’Neill stressed that while hockey is a cutthroat business, there’s a line. “I get it, this is a cutthroat business, and sometimes there’s a guy you want, and there’s a guy you need, and some things happen, but how classless is it? If you’re gonna do that, have some class and fire the guy. That’s disgusting.” He even painted a vivid picture of Knoblauch at home, scrolling through social media and seeing his own team eyeing a replacement.

The criticism didn’t stop there. Former NHL executive Craig Button weighed in on the Donnie and Dhali podcast, calling the Oilers’ actions “a thin book on human relations.” He added, “You have a coach in place, and you’re asking for permission to go talk to another coach? That’s a piss-poor way to treat people. You’re Kris Knoblauch, and you’re going, ‘What?’”

For fans and observers, this saga raises big questions about loyalty and locker room culture. In a league where chemistry can make or break a season, the Oilers’ reported approach feels like a self-inflicted wound. Whether this leads to a change behind the bench or just a lot of awkward silence, one thing is clear: the hockey world is watching closely.