Edmonton might have hit the jackpot once again.
Nearly one week after winning the NHL Draft lottery, the Oilers have appointed former Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli as general manager and president of hockey operations in the team's front office shakeup, Oilers chief executive officer Bob Nicholson announced Friday.
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From this morning, Bob Nicholson & Peter Chiarelli sign Peter's #Oilers contract, @RogersPlace in the background. pic.twitter.com/qZBlb1MZEa
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 24, 2015“I don’t have to talk about what he’s done in the National Hockey League,” Nicholson of Chiarelli. “His record speaks for itself. We are delighted to bring a person of Peter's considerable hockey knowledge and experience to the Oilers."
Chiarelli was fired by the Bruins last Wednesday after a disappointing campaign that saw his team fall short of a Stanley Cup playoff appearance. Shortly after, he visited Edmonton for two days and met with Nicholson to discuss a potential deal.
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Chiarelli's hiring was the biggest move in Nicholson's front-office purge. Among those losing their jobs or being reassigned were those who had long associations with the team. Some were players during the Oilers' Stanley Cup dynasty of the 1980s.
Nicholson removed Kevin Lowe as president of hockey operations, but retained him as vice chair of Oilers Entertainment Group. This ultimately paved the way for Chiarelli to take his place. General manager Craig MacTavish was reassigned, but his new role has yet to be determined. Patrick LaForge stepped down as president and chief operating officer, and is no longer with the organization.
The Oilers offered comments from owner Darryl Katz and Chiarelli in a media release.
Chiarelli inherits a team with good young talent, including first-overall picks from the NHL Drafts in 2010 (Taylor Hall), 2011 (Ryan Nungent-Hopkins) and 2012 (Nail Yakupov), but no tangible success. The Oilers are also expected to draft Connor McDavid first overall. McDavid is considered a generational talent, similar to the likes of Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.
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“I have thoughts, I have ideas, I have a lot of things going on … I’m really excited to be a part of this,” Chiarelli said. "I am honored to join such a great organization with a long history of success. I hope to bring it to the next level."
Chiarelli left Boston with a regular season record of 386-233-85 after serving the team for 10 seasons. The Bruins qualified for the playoffs seven straight years from 2008-14, earning a Stanley Cup championship in 2011 and a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2013. Chiarelli, who was respected and revered around the NHL, helped make the Bruins relevant again. Now, he must do the same with the Oilers.
Nothing has worked for Edmonton since their last postseason appearance during the 2005-06 season. The Oilers, who finished sixth in Pacific Division with a record of 24-44-14, haven't qualified for the playoffs since and have posted a winning record only twice. Chiarelli must figure out the Oilers’ roster and find a coach to direct the players, including one of the most hyped players to enter the league in a decade.