Edmonton, AB (SportsNetwork.com) – The Edmonton Oilers named Peter Chiarelli
president of hockey operations and general manager on Friday.
Chiarelli was fired by the Bruins last week after a nine-year stint as GM. He
replaces incumbents Craig MacTavish, who had been the GM since the 2013-14
season, and Kevin Lowe, who will move out of hockey operations but remain vice
chair of Oilers Entertainment Group.
“We are delighted to bring a person of Peter’s considerable hockey knowledge
and experience to the Edmonton Oilers,” said Oilers CEO Bob Nicholson. “Peter
has had success at all levels of the game and we look forward to his
leadership.”
During his time with the Bruins, Chiarelli built a team that won the Stanley
Cup in 2011 and returned to the Cup Finals in 2013. However, his desire to
keep the core together left the club hamstrung by the salary cap.
Boston missed the playoffs this season for the first time since 2007.
Edmonton’s postseason drought extends to 2006, when it made a surprising run
to the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven
games.
The Oilers, who went 24-44-14 this season, won the draft lottery, and are
expected to select the supremely talented Connor McDavid with the No. 1 pick.
The team also announced that Patrick LaForge has stepped down as president and
chief operating officer.
