Edmonton Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson confirmed general manager Peter Chiarelli will retain his role as general manager and president of hockey operations next season, but head coach Todd McLellan's status is being evaluated.
Nicholson hosted a press conference to address the future of the organization Thursday afternoon - one day after Chiarelli's meeting with the media, in which he declared he expects a return to the playoffs next season and might deal the club's first-round draft pick.
#Oilers CEO & Vice Chair Bob Nicholson says Peter Chiarelli will continue to be the team's President of Hockey Operations & General Manager next season. "We will have a plan coming out in the near future about how we're going forward."
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) April 12, 2018
Both Chiarelli and McLellan were brought in to revamp the Oilers' front office and usher in the Connor McDavid era in 2015. After a 103-point season in 2016-17, Edmonton crashed hard this season and missed the playoffs by a long shot despite McDavid leading the league with 108 points.
McLellan owns a record of 114-109-23 in three seasons behind the Oilers' bench, but Chiarelli's attracted the majority of ire for a series of questionable roster decisions.
Under Chiarelli's watch, Edmonton dealt MVP candidate Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson, and traded longtime Oiler Jordan Eberle for the less productive Ryan Strome. Combine those deals with a number of cap-constraining contracts - most notably Milan Lucic's seven-year, $42-million deal - and it's clear how the organization has dug itself a hole.
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