Ranking the 5 Best Oilers Coaches in Team History

Throughout their history, the Edmonton Oilers have had some superb coaches pulling the strings behind the bench. 

Here are the top five, including the team’s best coach, who was in charge for four of their five championships:

Who Are the 5 Best Edmonton Oilers Coaches?

5. Jay Woodcroft (2022-2023)

Say what you will about Jay Woodcroft, but hockey, like any professional sport, is a results-driven business. He was the bench boss for 133 games, securing the best points percentage (.643) of any head coach in franchise history. 

Of course, much of his success was thanks to the dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Still, Woodcroft deserves credit for steering the team to the Western Conference final after taking over from Dave Tippett in the latter stages of the 2021-22 season. 

It was the first time they had reached the semifinals since 2006, restoring the Oilers’ place among the Stanley Cup odds favourites at the BetMGM sportsbook. 

4. Craig MacTavish (2000-2009)

The former Oilers player coached the team for 10 seasons and improbably spearheaded a 2006 run to the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes. 

Only the legendary Glen Sather coached more games for the Oilers, with Craig MacTavish in charge for 656 games. He secured a .537 points percentage, an admirable output considering the average roster he worked with. 

3. Kris Knoblauch (2023-2026)

Kris Knoblauch picked the Oilers up when they were at a low point, inspiring the team to within a goal of their first Stanley Cup since 1990. 

In his almost three seasons in charge, Knoblauch led the Oilers to consecutive Stanley Cup Finals against the Florida Panthers before a first-round defeat to the Anaheim Ducks. 

While the loss to the Ducks cost him his job, personnel issues were the primary cause of the team’s demise. 

2. John Muckler (1989-1991)

John Muckler won a Stanley Cup in his first season as Edmonton’s head coach. And he did so without the help of Wayne Gretzky, who had departed for the Los Angeles Kings. 

He also took the team to the conference final in the 1990-91 season, where the Oilers lost to the Minnesota North Stars. 

1. Glen Sather (1976-1989)

Sather stands on his own as the Oilers’ best coach. During his stewardship, the Oilers won four Stanley Cups in five seasons. He also took the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final in 1983, the season before their championship run commenced.

During his 13 years as the team’s head coach, Sather held multiple other senior roles, including general manager, president, and vice president of hockey operations.

He holds the record for most games in charge of the Oilers, coaching 842 NHL games as the team’s bench boss.