Less than a year ago, the Edmonton Oilers were sitting near the bottom of the NHL standings with fans going as far as to speculate Leon Draisaitl could be traded. Today, they have a new head coach who led them to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, are reportedly in talks to extend Draisaitl, and are searching for their next general manager.
How Did the Oilers Get Here?
Over the last five seasons, Ken Holland served as the Oilers’ general manager, experiencing countless successes and setbacks. His tenure included signing Darnell Nurse and Jack Campbell to costly contracts that will plague the team for seasons to come. However, he also made notable, impressive moves, such as securing Zach Hyman on a highly favorable contract and making the brilliant decision to hire Kris Knoblauch as former head coach Jay Woodcroft’s replacement. He ultimately led Edmonton to a narrow one-goal loss in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Holland’s decision to step down was mutual, with the Oilers seeking a new direction in their front office and Holland looking to pursue new challenges in his impressive career. His departure after the Oilers’ Game 7 loss ended months of speculation. Now, the focus of Edmonton fans has turned to who will take over the helm, with current CEO and interim general manager Jeff Jackson being an ideal candidate.
Following Holland’s departure, Jackson was named interim general manager, set to take over primary responsibilities in the front office until a replacement was named. In his short stint, he has led the Oilers at the 2024 Draft, re-signed key players, made bargain deals to bring in free agents, and made two impressive trades.
Jackson’s Draft Decisions
The first component of Jackson’s tenure is his success at the draft. He traded a protected 2025 first-round pick for the 32nd pick in the 2024 Draft to select Sam O’Reilly. While this was a bit of a reach given O’Reilly’s consensus second-round ranking, he fills a valuable need in the Oilers’ diminishing prospect pool.
O’Reilly is a hard-working forward with a high hockey IQ, impressive awareness, and a well-rounded game. His offensive production does not stand out, but he is a member of the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, a team with an impressive history of developing NHL talent.
Even if you disagree with the ultimate selection, trading into the first round was a smart move. With both Draisaitl and Connor…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Hockey Writers…