Edmonton Oilers

[Dennis]

Not unexpectedly Bob Nicholson has confirmed that Ken Hitchcock will not return to coach the Oilers next season.

[lucafen4]

no gm... no coach... Edm going to be busy during the playoffs

[chuckcouples]

Not unexpectedly Bob Nicholson has confirmed that Ken Hitchcock will not return to coach the Oilers next season.

This is not true. Nicholson said that Hitchcock will be with the Oilers next season but it will be up to the new GM to decide on his role.

[Dennis]

This is not true. Nicholson said that Hitchcock will be with the Oilers next season but it will be up to the new GM to decide on his role.

What I said is true by Mark Spektor's tweet

Mark Spector‏ @SportsnetSpec

Hitchcock’s time as coach of the Oilers is over with the season being completed, Nicholson said.

But you're correct, the Oilers official statement so far is merely

Edmonton Oilers@EdmontonOilers

Bob Nicholson says Ken Hitchcock will be with the #Oilers in some fashion moving forward but his future as a coach will be up to the team's new GM.

Neither actually contains a quote of what was specifically said.

[doulos]

It will likely be Keith Gretzky, with Lowe and MacTavish and the boys all hanging around for cigars and drinks every week. McDavid will ask for a trade within the next couple seasons when nothing changes.

[Axeman33]

I'd prefer it not to be Gretzky, but other than his last name, he has nothing to do with the OBC.

[lobo1969]

That's the rub with Keith Gretzky, we could/would be a serious GM candidate anywhere but his last name would loom large over him in Edmonton. He would have to have a mistake free, cup laden career in Edmonton before he is to be taken seriously. I'm not even sure Yzerman, who apparently walks on water and can get any NHL job that he wants, can step into the Oiler's GM role and hope for realistic total success ie win a cup.

[rataylor22]

That's the rub with Keith Gretzky, we could/would be a serious GM candidate anywhere but his last name would loom large over him in Edmonton. He would have to have a mistake free, cup laden career in Edmonton before he is to be taken seriously. I'm not even sure Yzerman, who apparently walks on water and can get any NHL job that he wants, can step into the Oiler's GM role and hope for realistic total success ie win a cup.

But he's not though. Keith Gretzky would not be a serious GM candidate in any other market in the league. Saying he has nothing to do with the OBC is quite the taek.

[lucafen4]

Mike Gillis denied reports on TSN1040 over the weekend he's had any contact with Edm whatsoever.

If they do contact him, I expect him to reject the job.
He wants everyone to be on the same page, be creative, think outside the box and experiment.
He was a very innovative thinker with Vancouver.
He also wants a specific level of autonomy on player decisions.

I'm not sure Edm fits this wish-list at all

Let's face it, until all the 80's Oilers are only seen by their numbers/names hanging from the rafters.... Edm will stay unfixed

[Axeman33]

I'll be surprised if they don't contact him. They're going to throw a pretty wide net.

[doulos]

Mike Gillis denied reports on TSN1040 over the weekend he's had any contact with Edm whatsoever.

If they do contact him, I expect him to reject the job.
He wants everyone to be on the same page, be creative, think outside the box and experiment.
He was a very innovative thinker with Vancouver.
He also wants a specific level of autonomy on player decisions.

I'm not sure Edm fits this wish-list at all

Let's face it, until all the 80's Oilers are only seen by their numbers/names hanging from the rafters.... Edm will stay unfixed

I fail to see why anyone with any self-respect would take any job with the Oilers at this point. Unless there is a wholesale purge of everyone in the organization it's not worth it. And Katz would lose his drinking buddies, so no chance that happens.

[lobo1969]

But he's not though. Keith Gretzky would not be a serious GM candidate in any other market in the league. Saying he has nothing to do with the OBC is quite the taek.

I won't claim that the OBC taint has not touched all levels of OEG, but many 3rd party sources feel that Keith Gretzky has been consistently a step apart from them and might even have his own mind of on to be a GM, assistant or otherwise. At any rate the hiring of someone last name Gretzky will be too bad of an optic to sell to Edmonton fans.

[lobo1969]

Mike Gillis denied reports on TSN1040 over the weekend he's had any contact with Edm whatsoever.

If they do contact him, I expect him to reject the job.
He wants everyone to be on the same page, be creative, think outside the box and experiment.
He was a very innovative thinker with Vancouver.
He also wants a specific level of autonomy on player decisions.

I'm not sure Edm fits this wish-list at all

Let's face it, until all the 80's Oilers are only seen by their numbers/names hanging from the rafters.... Edm will stay unfixed

The name Mike Gillis still prompts many questions from those outside of Vancouver. Could be he is pre-emptingly rejecting a job offer before Oiler's have to admit he never made the shortlist

[lobo1969]

I fail to see why anyone with any self-respect would take any job with the Oilers at this point. Unless there is a wholesale purge of everyone in the organization it's not worth it. And Katz would lose his drinking buddies, so no chance that happens.

I would grab that job in a flash! And so would you and anyone else posting on a fantasy hockey forum...

[ericdaoust]

I would grab that job in a flash! And so would you and anyone else posting on a fantasy hockey forum...

disagree