Edmonton Oilers announce multiple big and positive front office changes

The Edmonton Oilers announced major changes to their front office structure on Thursday. The club made multiple promotions within their hockey operations department from the Oilers down to the Western Hockey League's Edmonton Oil Kings.

Both clubs are owned by Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG), which is owned and operated by Darryl Katz.

Although some fans may be disappointed that one of these moves did not include firing general manager Stan Bowman, there seems to have been a major shift within their hockey ops to hopefully better support the man at the helm as he tries to navigate this offseason.

Oilers make major front office changes

In the Oilers' press release, Stan Bowman said that these moves represent ",continued efforts over the past number of months to improve our scouting, player development, hockey analytics and player services departments." As a result, the Oilers made the following promotions:

- Michael Parkatti: Senior Director, Data & Analytics to Vice President, Analytics and Technology
- Kalle Larsson: Senior Director, Player Development to Assistant GM, Player Development and Innovation
- Justin Mahe: Director, Hockey Analysis to Director, Hockey Operations and Player Experience
- Toby Salmelainen: Development Coach to Assistant GM, European Operations
- Andreas Karlsson: Development Coach to Director, Player Development

These moves help to further insulate Bowman and his staff. Parkatti moving up from the analytics department into an even more senior role within the front office structure as a vice president, in theory, gives him further legitimacy and decision making power within the organization.

Larsson moving up from just the director level up to an assistant general manager role puts him into an even more senior position and Mahe was moved around to what seems like an expanded role from analysis to hockey operations and player experience.

Salmelainen as well received a promotion, moving up from a development coach role to become an assistant general manager, taking over the European operations. According to the release, this is expected to be quite an expansive task calling it ",a newly formed group responsible for all European operations including amateur and pro scouting, free agent recruiting and player procurement. He will also lend his expertise and experience to European player development."

Karlsson sees a promotion from a development coach to the director of player development, taking over for Kalle Larsson as he moves up too.

In addition to these promotions, the club also added a new person into their front office.

- Kirt Hill: Assistant GM, Player Procurement

Kirt Hill gets a promotion from the Oil Kings after spending eight seasons as their director of hockey operations and general manager. He takes on a new role as assistant general manager in charge of player procurement. The release defines this as "Kirt will lead the player procurement group which includes pro and amateur scouting as well as undrafted free agents." An important part of the Oilers plans as they will need to find ways to acquire depth talent.

Then, the Oil Kings made a few important promotions as well that were announced. Michael Chan takes over for Hill and becomes officially "President, GM and WHL Alternate Governor, Edmonton Oil Kings". Jamie Jackson steps in as Director of scouting for the Oil Kings as well.

Positive steps for the organization

The Oilers front office and brain trust as a whole has taken a hit recently with some of the decisions and moves. Namely, the clubs taking a step back this season, the whole Bruce Cassidy debacle, forcing them to fire Knoblauch and more. As well, their behind the scenes trade deadline video did not do them any favours in the eyes of fans.

This move, combined with recent hires to their analytics department represent positive changes within the organization. Of course, the work still needs to be done and the Oilers need to listen to the smart people they have put in these roles but from the outside, things are trending well. Whether the team uses these to supplement their current core or to help out a potential rebuild if captain Connor McDavid opts to leave.

Even Oilers insider Bob Stauffer sees these as positive and 'progressive' changes.

There still needs to be change and the organization still needs to get things right but full marks for these moves, at least so far.

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