The 2025-26 NHL season has been a brutal one for head coaches. With six bench bosses shown the door so far, the question on every fan's mind is: were these firings justified? Let's break down the biggest changes behind the bench and what led to each team's decision.
The most recent casualty is Kris Knoblauch, who was let go by the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday morning. Just one day earlier, the Toronto Maple Leafs parted ways with Craig Berube. Two firings in as many days sent shockwaves through the league.
Knoblauch's tenure in Edmonton was a rollercoaster. Over parts of three seasons, he compiled a solid 135-77-21 regular-season record and an impressive 31-22 playoff mark. In his first two full campaigns, he led the Oilers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances—a feat that most coaches never achieve. However, both trips ended in heartbreak against the Florida Panthers. What ultimately sealed his fate was a disappointing regular season followed by a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks. In a market like Edmonton, where expectations are sky-high, consistent playoff success is non-negotiable.
Across the border in Toronto, Craig Berube's firing was less surprising given the team's downward spiral. Under new front-office leadership—GM John Chayka and senior executive advisor Mats Sundin—the Maple Leafs needed a fresh start. Berube posted the worst full-season record of his coaching career, going 32-36-14 with a .476 points percentage. That left Toronto dead last in the Atlantic Division. Over two seasons, his overall record was 84-62-18, with just one playoff appearance that ended in a 7-6 series loss. When a team with this much talent finishes at the bottom of its division, a coaching change feels inevitable.
Perhaps the most shocking firing came on Easter Sunday, when the New York Islanders dismissed Patrick Roy with just four games remaining in the regular season. The Hall of Fame goaltender-turned-coach brought passion and pedigree to Long Island, but the results simply weren't there. The Islanders struggled to find consistency under his leadership, and the organization decided to make a dramatic move rather than wait until the offseason.
Looking at the broader picture, the 2025-26 season has proven that patience is thin in today's NHL. Teams are demanding immediate results, and even coaches with impressive resumes—like Knoblauch's back-to-back finals appearances—aren't immune to the axe when expectations aren't met. For fans and players alike, these changes signal that every game matters, and no job is truly safe.