TSN’s Ryan Rishaug has taken time away from his “Jesse Puljujarvi should be in the AHL” crusade to tell us that the Edmonton Oilers have fired Peter Chiarelli.
Peter Chiarelli has been fired by the Oilers. Done deal
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) January 23, 2019
No surprise as we’ve reported over the last few weeks. Chiarelli had time to save his job but nothing he could do was enough. I said at the beginning of the season, if he was GM-ing to save his job, then it was already lost.
The Edmonton Oilers have dismissed Peter Chiarelli as President/GM.
— John Shannon (@JSportsnet) January 23, 2019
John Shannon also confirms this and I imagine we’re going to hear some entertaining stories in the near future with regards to what went on during Chiarelli’s reign as Oilers GM.
Oilers talk radio is going to be LIT this week!
Who Will Take Over?
My guess is it will be Keith Gretzky. He was the guy running the show yesterday with the Koskinen signing, Jones heading to the AHL, and Spooner/Rattie going on waivers.
But it will still be a collaborative effort going into the trade deadline between former NHL GMs Craig MacTavish and Scott Howson, as well as head coach Ken Hitchcock.
What Happens Now?
No real idea. The Oilers are still very close to the playoffs and could still make it in. With players like Ryan Dzingel and Mats Zuccarello being rumored targets, I think they’re still going to make a go of it.
I would prefer to cut bait and trim the fat though. Clear as much cap space off for next year’s team and then go into this summer with a plan to improve the defense massively. Go get your Alex Pietrangelos, Jake Muzzins, Brett Pesces, or your Tyson Barries. Load that back-end up at give it another go next year.
We’re definitely going to hear names like Cam Talbot, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Oscar Klefbom, Darnell Nurse, Milan Lucic, Adam Larson, and Jesse Puljujarvi in the rumor mill way more now as those players were the ones Chiarelli had targeted as the core he wanted to build around.
