Yes, Capt. Obvious, the Edmonton Oilers need to make big changes. Those started Friday with a front-office shakeup and the hiring of Peter Chiarelli. His job: Run the team's hockey operations and make a bad team a winner.
But is it the best first step for a team that is mired in the NHL's lower realms (and we're not talking about Alberta here)? What does Chiarelli's arrival mean in the Oilers' coaching search? And could Bruins coach Claude Julien, a former Oilers farm team coach, follow his old boss to Edmonton?
What we know: Chiarelli is the new president of hockey operations and general manager.
Ahead of an announcement of Chiarelli's hiring, reports flew about the Oilers' adjustments.
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I would think Connor mcdavid just got a little more excited about going to EDM. I know I would. #oilers
— Corey Hirsch (@CoreyHirsch) April 24, 2015So the flow chart. New GM Chiarelli, former GM MacT, ex GM in Columbus Howson, and Lowe, of course, who used to be GM in Edm.
— Jim Matheson (@NHLbyMatty) April 24, 2015Lowe is out as president of hockey operations in part because his team continues to struggle despite having three consecutive first-overall picks in the NHL Draft and a slew of other high selections. The Oilers seldom sees the rarified air of contending for a playoff berth and haven't made the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2006, when they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the finals.
Former GM Craig MacTavish will remain in the organization, depending on his upcoming talk with Chiarelli. Patrick LaForge is out as team president and CEO.
Patrick Laforge is no longer President of the Edmonton Oilers. Staff has been told. All changes to be announced at a press conf at noon MT.
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) April 24, 2015Not sure what Pat LaForge had to do with ill fortunes of the Oilers these past years being on business side of things, yet he loses his job?
— Jim Matheson (@NHLbyMatty) April 24, 2015According to The Edmonton Journal, Scott Smith will replace LaForge. Bob Nicholson, recently hired as chief executive of the Oilers Entertainment Group, is the man behind the changes. Nicholson was president and CEO of Hockey Canada, so bringing Smith along makes sense. Smith was Hockey Canada's chief operating officer.
However, Scott's future was not certain ahead of the Oilers' announcements.
Smith not part of today announcement. #Oilers
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) April 24, 2015Hockey Canada COO Scott Smith says he is happy in his current position and has no intention of leaving. Now explaining that to his staff.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) April 24, 2015This year the Oilers hit a gusher again by winning the draft lottery, giving them the expected call on Connor McDavid. This kid from OHL Erie is being compared to an Oilers legend, one Wayne Gretzky. Lowe was part of the Gretzky-led teams in the Oilers' 1980s dynasty.
Chiarelli was sacked in the Boston Bruins' postseason housecleaning. The Bruins missed the playoffs, and Chiarelli was being pilloried for his draft faults and failure to see young talent rise to the B's.
Oilers and Leafs both demolish their front office incompetence within span of two weeks. Will be fascinating to see who gets better first.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) April 24, 2015Great hire by Oilers in Peter Chiarelli. WAIT! I'm Eastern Media! I MEAN TERRIBLE HIRING OF COURSE http://t.co/YJzHxTTup3 (cc: @dstaples)
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) April 24, 2015Peter Chiarelli will bring the Edmonton Oilers back to respectability. Way better situation than he took over in Boston. #NHL
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) April 24, 2015Patrick LaForge an excellent businessman. Created NHL Winter Classic. With Nichols & EIG, he helped save #Oilers in Edmonton. Thanks, man.
— David Staples (@dstaples) April 24, 2015I honestly didn't think I would ever see the Edmonton Oilers run like a professional sports franchise again.
— Rob Tychkowski (@Sun_Tychkowski) April 24, 2015Chiarelli must make sweeping changes in Oilers personnel, the sooner the better.
Who would have thought that the be3st story of the first round of Stanley Cup playoffs would be a team not in them ... the Edmonton Oilers.
— Terry Jones (@sunterryjones) April 24, 2015MORE: Jones of the Oilers' moves
Peter Chiarelli was out of work 9 days after Bruins' fired him as GM, testament to his acumen, also rashness of Boston's move.#oilers
— Jim Matheson (@NHLbyMatty) April 24, 2015MORE: Matheson on the Oilers' moves
Final word on the Oilers' hiring of Chiarelli? Hockey scribe Eric Duhatschek calls it a bold move, giving a team noted for its reliance on homegrown managerment a fresh perspective from a man with great NHL connections. Duhatschek: "Chiarelli can come in and offer new ideas and help push the operation back on track."
Starting now.