Edmonton Oilers can’t find a general manager willing to fix them
Kelly McCrimmon is formally out as a candidate, as the Edmonton Oilers can’t seem to find a general manager willing to come in and fix things.
Over the last 13 seasons, the Edmonton Oilers have made the playoffs once. They even won a series that year (2016-17), but two more bottom-dwelling seasons got general manager Peter Chiarelli fired in January.
With Connor McDavid in place as one of the best players in the NHL, and the face of the Oilers’ franchise, the Oilers’ general manager vacancy should have great appeal. Leon Draisaitl has become a worthy second star as well, coming off a 50-goal season and with three straight 70-plus point seasons.
The Oilers had reportedly asked for permission to interview Vegas Golden Knights assistant general manager Kelly McCrimmon, but it doesn’t seem like the two sides actually met.
On Thursday morning TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported McCrimmon was not in the mix for the Oilers general manager job. A subsequent announcement from the Golden Knights quickly confirmed why.
https://twitter.com/GoldenKnights/status/11239809166349230084
In the wake of being unable to hire McCrimmon away from Vegas, as he may have leveraged them for a promotion, multiple reports point to three top candidates to be the Oilers’ next general manager.
Mark Hunter, and or Sean Burke...and or Keith Gretzky. Maybe all 3 in a GM plus two assistants scenario. https://t.co/PjJ2kasZ29
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 2, 2019
With McCrimmon out, remaining contenders for #Oilers GM job: Hunter, Mahoney, Futa, Gretzky. (?). And despite some protestations to the contrary, I still have Ken Holland on “the list”. Some say Burke. I’m not as convinced.
— Kurt Leavins (@KurtLeavins) May 2, 2019
Keith Gretzky took over as Edmonton’s assistant general manager when Chiarelli was fired, so he may automatically be the No. 1 candidate now. Toronto Maple Leafs assistant GM Mark Hunter remains as a candidate, along with former NHL goaltender and Arizona Coyotes executive Sean Burke. TSN’s Darren Dreger suggested all three could be hired, forming what could be called a “Triangle of Authority” with a general manager and two assistants.
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Whatever direction the Oilers go, the new general manager will have a lot of work to do as they try to undo Chiarelli’s series of bad moves. It would be nice to be picking higher than No. 8 in June’s draft, but another good draft pick to join McDavid at some point is a good place to start the rebuilding process in Edmonton.