The Edmonton Oilers’ top priority is to sign Connor McDavid to a contract extension, but they can’t forget about head coach Kris Knoblauch’s next deal.

Knoblauch is entering the third and final year of a contract he signed when he was initially hired by the Oilers midway through the 2023-24 NHL season. It was his first gig acting as a head coach in the league, and he helped lead the team to two consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances.

It’s been a whirlwind for the 46-year-old, and he hopes to continue it in Edmonton beyond this upcoming season. In his first media availability of the new season on Wednesday morning, Knoblauch gave a brief comment on his contract status.

“I’d be surprised if anyone knew that I was going into my last year of my contract because of everything else that’s

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