The case for Jason Botterill as next Oilers GM

Admittedly it's only tentative, but we're edging every close to this Friday's deadline for CEO Jeff Jackosn naming the Edmonton Oilers' next general manager. Still though, there is seemingly no clear-cut favourite for the role.

This is good from the perspective of the Oilers though, in that at least no important information is being leaked from anyone inside the organisation. Not that the well is completely dry.

As per David Staples of the Edmonton Journal, Bob Stauffer of Oilers Now asked Frank Servalli which teams the Oilers might have approached, to ask for permission to speak to someone in their organisation? One team Servalli mentioned was the Seattle Kraken, with regards to Jason Botterill.

Botterill is an interesting potential candidate, with him having been an assistant general manager for the Kraken since Jan. 2021. The Kraken has played three NHL seasons thus far, compiling a 107-112-27 regular season record and making one trip to the playoffs in 2022-23, when they advanced to the second round.

An Edmonton native

Of note, Botterill was born in Edmonton. While it won't matter in the grand scheme of things, this -- at least theoretically -- gives him more of an appreciation and understanding than most, of what the Oilers mean to the area.

Much was expected of Botterill as a player, after being selected 20th overall in the 1994 entry draft. However, things didn't pan out as planned, with him only going on to make 88 NHL appearances before retiring.

Still, the former winger's love of the game was still there, with him going on to spend time working for the NHL and subsequently one season as a scout for the Dallas Stars, who had drafted him. Then came his major stepping stone, by being hired as director of hockey administration for the Pittsburgh Penguins in July 2007.

Botterill gets his chance in Buffalo

Of more relevance to the Oilers, Botterill would go on to hold different versions of a general manager role with the Penguins, including assistant, interim and associate. He helped the organisation win two Stanley Cups in his various general manager positions, leading to him getting the main gig with the Buffalo Sabres in May. 2017.

However, the reality is the 48-year-old didn't do the best of jobs in his first go around as a main general manager in the NHL, with him only lasting three seasons before being fired. If nothing else though, at least the experience gave him a better understanding of the demands and pressures which come with such an esteemed position.

In all honesty, of the different candidates we've considered during the month of July, Botterill is probably nearer to the bottom of those we'd like to see become the Oilers' next general manager. At the same time however, we have complete faith in Jackson -- and appreciate he's just that 'little' bit more qualified to make an educated decision -- so if he ends up going with Botterill, we'll trust his judgement.

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