Report: Two favorites identified in Oilers’ GM search

It’s been over three weeks since the Edmonton Oilers fired general manager Peter Chiarelli and replaced him with interim GM Keith Gretzky. Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson made the announcement and met with the Edmonton media to lay out his plans for hiring the team’s next GM. Since then though, there’s been little talk about who the Oilers’ next GM will be. 

Gretzky, of course, is an option but due to his history with the team and simply because of his last name, his hiring certainly won’t go over well with Oilers fans who believe the team’s management group is nothing but a nepotistic Old Boys Club. Two favourites who have been identified are Vegas Golden Knights assistant GM Kelly McCrimmon and former Toronto Maple Leafs assistant GM Mark Hunter, but it’s likely that the Oilers would have to wait until the offseason to speak to either. Another potential target is Boston Bruins executive John Ferguson, who was formerly GM with the Leafs in the 2000s.

Check out this report from Elliotte Friedman in his latest 31 Thoughts column for Sportsnet: 

When Edmonton gets down to GM interviews, the favourites are Kelly McCrimmon and Mark Hunter. But, there are expected to be other conversations. Interim GM Keith Gretzky has history with current Bruins executive director of player personnel John Ferguson, so it would not be a surprise to see him involved.

McCrimmon is an interesting candidate as many analysts consider him to be a big part of Vegas’ early success. Hunter, of course, left the Leafs organization this past offseason after being passed over for the team’s open GM spot in favour of Kyle Dubas and returned to his former position with the OHL’s London Knights. As for Ferguson, he’s no stranger to a tough media market like Edmonton and has no doubt learned a ton since his first stint as a GM with the Leafs.