Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid has two years left on his contract, and Priority No. 1 for the organization is cashing in on a Stanley Cup championship while No. 97 is still on the books.
The Edmonton brass is on the hunt for a new bench boss after firing Kris Knoblauch on Thursday, May 14, and Stanley Cup and Jack Adams winner Bruce Cassidy (+100) is the frontrunner in the Oilers next head coach odds.
Bruce Boudreau (+300) and Peter Laviolette (+400) are also top candidates to take over coaching duties, while David Carle (+600) is widely considered the most progressive coaching mind and voice outside the NHL.
Next Oilers head coach odds (2026)
| Coaching candidate |  |
|---|---|
| Bruce Cassidy | +100 |
| Bruce Boudreau | +300 |
| Peter Laviolette | +400 |
| Gerard Gallant | +500 |
| David Carle | +600 |
| Patrick Roy | +700 |
| Dean Evason | +1000 |
| Todd McLellan | +1200 |
| Jim Hiller | +1400 |
| Mark Letestu | +7500 |
| Manny Malholtra | +1800 |
| Jay Woodcroft | +5000 |
| Mark Messier | +7500 |
| Jari Kurri | +7500 |
| Paul Coffey | +7500 |
| Wayne Gretzky | +10000 |
Odds via Bet99 as of Thursday, May 14.
The Edmonton Oilers exited stage right in the opening round of the playoffs this year after consecutive unsuccessful trips to the Stanley Cup Finals, and an inability to keep the puck out of their net was on full display during their six-game series against the Anaheim Ducks.
Edmonton allowed 3.5 goals per game with 3.71 expected goals against per 60 minutes, and the Oil also posted a postseason-low 50.0 penalty-kill percentage.
The Oilers will begin the 2026-27 season with a new voice behind the bench, and a number of roster moves are likely coming, as the championship window might be closing quicker than expected in the Connor McDavid-Leon Draisaitl era.
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Who'll coach McDavid, Draisaitl?
While I think the best candidate for the job is David Carle, Edmonton went with a first-time head coach when they hired Kris Knoblauch, so I’m expecting them to bring in a proven head coach with championship pedigree. The Oilers have already requested permission from the Vegas Golden Knights to interview Bruce Cassidy.
Bruce Cassidy (+100)
While Cassidy’s disciplined 200-foot defensive system could be an answer to the Edmonton defensive woes, there is also definitely competition around the league for his services. Though the Golden Knights reportedly denied the Oilers permission to speak with Cassidy, the coash has noted it would be “cool to coach in Canada,” and the Toronto Maple Leafs are also expected to formally ask for permission to speak with Cassidy about their own coaching vacancy.
Let’s not forget Cassidy still has a year remaining on his contract with the Golden Knights that’s worth $4.5 million guaranteed, and the Vegas brain trust have been hesitant to grant interview permission to other teams until they’re guaranteed the hiring team will absorb Cassidy’s entire salary for the 2026-2027 season.
I’m hesitant to recommend a Cassidy bet right now because this process is going to draw on, and the +100 odds Cassidy is the next Oilers head coach carry a 50% implied probability, which is far too short given all the balls in the air.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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