Report: Oilers receive permission to speak to new GM candidate

Earlier this week NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, by way of Bob Stauffer on Edmonton’s 630 CHED radio, the reported that the Edmonton Oilers had narrowed their list of potential general managers to three candidates. Now a report from Francois Gagnon of RDS seems to indicate that a new candidate has entered the mix: Montreal Canadiens assistant GM Scott Mellanby.

According to Friedman, interim GM Keith Gretzky is no longer in consideration. Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson will choose from one of Mark Hunter, Kelly McCrimmon, or, as TSN’s Ryan Rishaug reports, Sean Burke. Add Mellanby to that list says Gagnon.

“I think you’re in your second phase right now, and I think the Oilers are down to probably three people, and I think they interviewed a lot of people, but I think they’re down to about three, and I think Hunter is one, and I think McCrimmon is one, and I’m not 100 per cent sure the other,” said Friedman earlier today on the Edmonton radio station.  

“I always leave the wild card is: What does Ken Holland want to do…I’ve been on Ken Holland at the beginning as someone who would be very much be on the Oiler radar if he was interested. I don’t have the answer to that at this point in time. But I do believe that if he’s interested he is very much a factor.”

“I think you’re in a position where probably the biggest question is going to be: what is the level of power that someone who can come in is going to get? I think that’s what people want to know the answer is.”

Rishaug, who reported that Burke is in the mix, added “Burke is an interesting option, known to be extremely well prepared and very thorough. Dark horse candidate we don’t hear a lot about.”

Of course, Hunter, McCrimmon Mellanby and Burke all have extensive history at the assistant GM position in the NHL, but should one of the these men earn the GM position in Edmonton, it will be his first time in the role.