The Edmonton Oilers are entering a crucial offseason, and the decisions made now could directly impact the future of Connor McDavid in Edmonton. Recent reports reveal that the Oilers attempted to interview Bruce Cassidy, but the Vegas Golden Knights denied permission. What makes this particularly eyebrow-raising is that Edmonton already has a head coach—Kris Knoblauch—under contract through 2029. And no, they haven't fired him. Yet.

This situation raises more than a few questions. Were the Oilers planning to speak with a potential replacement before even letting their current coach go? It's an unusual and somewhat shaky approach, but it also signals just how desperate Edmonton has become to get things right.

After back-to-back heartbreaking losses in the Stanley Cup Finals, the Oilers were bounced in the first round of the playoffs this season by the Anaheim Ducks. The clock is ticking louder than ever. Leon Draisaitl has even acknowledged the pressure. With only two years remaining on McDavid's contract—the two he added in a preseason extension—Edmonton is running out of time to build a championship team around the best player in hockey.

That kind of urgency can push a front office toward bold, even controversial moves. Pursuing a coach like Cassidy before making a final call on Knoblauch is a reflection of that pressure. Some might call it unprofessional—Oilers Nation certainly did—but the team is clearly beyond worrying about optics. They've missed their chances to win it all with McDavid, and they can't afford to miss any more.

Whether the right answer is Knoblauch, Cassidy, or someone else entirely, one thing is certain: Edmonton needs to get this decision right. Because if they don't, the end of McDavid's time in Edmonton could come hurtling toward them faster than anyone expected.