Top candidate declines job as Oilers GM

The Oilers were patiently waiting to get permission to speak with Vegas Golden Knights assistant general manager Kelly McCrimmon, who was one of their top candidates to became the new GM in Edmonton.

However, McCrimmon has made it clear on Thursday that he was to stay put in Vegas, as first reported by TSN’s Bob McKenzie.

Kelly McCrimmon is not in the mix to be GM of EDM. Remaining with VGK.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) May 2, 2019

Oilers’ source confirms that Kelly McCrimmon is no longer a candidate for Oilers GM job.
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) May 2, 2019

With McCrimmon now out of the running, TSN insider Darren Dreger reports Mark Hunter, Sean Burke and Keith Gretzky remain as options for the Oilers. He adds that potentially all three could be a part of the team's management staff next season with two of the candidates being placed into assistant roles.

Mark Hunter, and or Sean Burke...and or Keith Gretzky. Maybe all 3 in a GM plus two assistants scenario. https://t.co/PjJ2kasZ29
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 2, 2019

The Oilers fired general manager Peter Chiarelli back at the end of January and replaced him with Gretzky on an interim basis. The team has yet to inform him if he remains a viable option for the full-time job going into next season.

It isn’t the first time McCrimmon is believed to have chosen to stay in Vegas over becoming a GM elsewhere in the league. He has been working for the Knights since 2016 after working with the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings dating back to 1988, serving as owner, general manager and head coach during his time with the team.

He was believed to have been contacted by the Toronto Maple Leafs before they named Kyle Dubas as their new GM.

The search goes on in Edmonton…