Darren Dreger and a few other analysts went on to do a panel at the GM meetings. They gave us a preliminary list of candidates for the Edmonton Oilers. Surprise! It’s a list of familiar names and faces.
Per @DarrenDreger, #Oilers potential GM list has narrowed to "around 10 names" and includes Kelly McCrimmon, Dave Nonis, Mark Hunter, Mike Futa, Sean Burke & Keith Gretzky.
— Brennan Klak (@nhlupdate) March 5, 2019
Edmonton Oilers: McCrimmon and Hunter are listed which are two role names I explained in an earlier article. Some of the other names listed however are the stuff of nightmares. Dave Nonis? Sean Burke?
Maybe it’s a good thing Brian Burke is working for Sportsnet right now or may he’d get a call from Bob Nicholson. Also Keith Gretzky? Do you mean the interim guy? The guy who has been with the Edmonton Oilers since Chiarelli and was part of all the moves that got us here?
Time is the Flattest Circle
Why is it that NHL coaches and GM’s constantly get recycled?
Seriously though? I can’t even imagine how difficult it is to break into the NHL world when it’s such an old boys club. Let’s just look at the coaches and GM’s who were fired this season and who replaced them.
Coaches
- Randy Carlyle– Replaced by Ducks GM Bob Murray on an interim basis. Feb 10, 2019
- Dave Hakstol- Replaced by the coach of Flyers AHL affiliate, Scott Gordon on an interim basis. Dec 17, 2018
- Todd Mclellan- Replaced by Ken Hitchcock for the remainder of the season, Nov 20, 2018
- Mike Yeo- Replaced by Craig Berube on an interim basis. Nov 19, 2018
- John Quenneville– Replaced by Jeremy Colliton on an interim basis. Nov 6, 2018
- John Stevens– Replaced by Willie Desjardins on an interim basis. Nov 4, 2018
Willie Desjardins, Craig Berube, Ken Hitchcock, and Scott Gordon all have seasons worth of head coaching experience elsewhere. Hitchcock I shouldn’t need to explain, the guy is a walking legend. Desjardins had three years of coaching with Vancouver, Berube had two years with the Flyers, and Gordon had three years with the Islanders.
The whole Bob Murray situation is weird, and I don’t remember the last time a GM did this. Craig MacTavish did for a few games after Dallas Eakins was fired, but let Todd Nelson take over soon after.
Wow… It’s almost like NHL exec’s are scared to give guys that are outside of the established circle a shot. Well except for Colliton. I got to go on a quick tangent because I love this guy’s story.