What the Edmonton Oilers Need in a New General Manager
Finally, the era of “non-sexy” names is over in Edmonton. Chiarelli is gone, and the hunt for a replacement for the Edmonton Oilers is on.
But that begs a serious question, what do the Edmonton Oilers need in a new GM? The easy answer is merely a competent one, but it goes deeper than that. Edmonton needs a serious change; it needs new thinking and new ideas in order to change anything. Edmonton cannot bring in someone who was an NHL GM way back when it needs forward thinking.
What I Mean By That
When Peter Chiarelli got named Edmonton Oilers GM, he was coming off running the Boston Bruins. He had earlier recent success and won a Stanley Cup as Gm of the team in 2011. The logic of bringing him in was sound. However, his philosophy was his undoing in Edmonton. Peter Chiarelli loved to preach heavy hockey.
That was never a secret, Chiarelli made that clear right from his opening press conference.
By the time this press conference happened teams like Boston and L.A, the “heavy hockey” teams were on their way out. In its place teams like Tampa Bay, Chicago, and The New York Rangers were emerging as top-tier teams. Now only the Lightning remain as a top team, but when you look at top NHL teams, there isn’t “heavy” hockey anywhere. The current top 5 in the NHL are the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Calgary Flames, the San Jose Sharks, the Winnipeg Jets, and the New York Islanders.
None of those teams feature prominent heavy players. While there are power forwards present (Blake Wheeler, Evander Kane, etc.), these players are more prominently skilled than they are tough and heavy. The NHL of this era is all about skill, speed, and possession. Not grinding ability, board-work, and the implementation of the trap, those systems were all but dead by 2015. Chiarelli attempted to build a team with an outdated philosophy, and it shows in the remnants of the team today.
Larsson, Lucic, Russell, Gravel, Manning, Petrovic, Brodziak, and Benning are all players whose toughness and grit outweigh their skill with the puck. Teams can succeed with players like this, but if they aren’t insulated with enough talent, they run a significant risk of getting exposed by players with a higher skill level. This is why big changes must happen in Edmonton.
Who to Target
The Edmonton Oilers need a fresh face. Someone new to the GM game that can come in with a brand new perspective. Someone who is on the outside of the current NHL GM circle looking in. Edmonton needs its version of Kyle Dubas or John Chakya. In saying that I don’t mean necessarily a young guy like Dubas. What I mean is someone with no prior experience as an NHL GM. Someone wholly detached from any past way of thinking when it comes to shaping a roster.
We also need a person that’s incredibly good at player assessment and talent evaluation. Looking at those two parameters two people immediately jump out:
Mark Hunter
Hunter stands out in a big way. This man is on the pulse of the future of the game. He was part of the rebuild in Toronto which went very successfully and has an extensive resume as a manager. He boasts four very successful years as assistant GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs, wherein he was in charge of scouting. He made a lot of headlines after it came to light that he stood his ground and ignored Babcock when drafting Mitch Marner, Babcock wanted Noah Hanifin with the pick.
Hunter also was instrumental in the sustained success that the London Knights of the CHL have had since coming to the team in 2000. He turned a team that had a 3-60-3 to a team that’s been Memorial Cup champions in 2005 and 2016, four-time OHL Champions 2004/05, 2011/12, 2012/13, and in 2015/16. They have also registered as the top regular-season record six times.
He has good drafting and evaluating record, was part of one of the most significant rebuilds in recent history, and is not afraid to stand up against other people with different opinions. That last one is huge. A guy that is not controlled by people above him is a big plus for the Edmonton Oilers. I shouldn’t need to explain why.
Kelly McCrimmon
McCrimmon’s resume with the Wheat Kings is extensive, to say the least. Starting with that franchise in 1988, McCrimmon has gone from player to coach, to GM, to sole owner of the team, a title he still holds today. In that time he led the Wheat Kings to:
- 5 Memorial Cup appearances
- 2 WHL championships
- The Eastern Division 10 times
- The conference championship six times.
He boasts an immense sample size of success. Furthermore, he is currently the assistant GM of the Vegas Golden Knights. He was George McPhee’s right-hand man and was instrumental in helping create the inaugurate Golden Knights roster. A roster which, right off the bat led to a surprising appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. McCrimmon is extremely good at evaluating talent. Something Edmonton needs desperately.
Wrap Up
Both McCrimmon and Hunter have two things that have been repeatedly said about them:
- They are both noses to the grindstone, hard-workers
- They are both extremely good at evaluating and finding talent
These are the kind of people Edmonton needs to bring in. Neither of these guys has been given an NHL GM job, meaning they don’t have any attachments to previous NHL team’s philosophies.
Next. Peter Chiarelli's NHL Career Is Over. dark
Finding someone who has something to prove in NHL circles, and who will bring with them a fresh perspective, is, in my opinion, the best way to find the right candidate.
Heaven forbid they do something silly like hire Dean Lombardi or Tim Murray.