The Edmonton Oilers have fired head coach Todd McLellan and hired Ken Hitchcock as their new head coach.
Edmonton Oilers: “Hitchcock is the third-winningest coach in @NHL history with a total of 823 victories. He led Dallas to a Stanley Cup in 1999 & captured the Jack Adams Award as the league’s top coach in 2011-12.”
Some thoughts from the media
Bob Stauffer: “Ken Hitchcock is 3rd all-time in NHL wins. Has won Stanley Cup (’99) and won 8 Divisional titles. Todd McLellan was a class act to deal with for the last 3+ seasons and finished 123-119-24 as Oilers Head Coach”
Greg Wyshynski: “Chiarelli has to make the playoffs to keep his job. Firing McLellan was his last card to play. Hitch has a history of short-term success.”
Brayden Sullivan: “The #Oilers just took the first step in what is likely a marathon of changes needed. Doesn’t solve the problem but at least there is some optimism on Twitter today.”
Justin Bourne: “McLellan strikes me as a guy that, if you put him in a sane situation, would do a good job. Oilers have been off-the-rails-messed for years. No point in pretending otherwise. Which is to say … Chiarelli’s sticking around?”
Rob Tychkowski: “For my money they should have aimed higher up the food chain, but the Oilers have their eighth coach in the last 10 years.”
Adam Proteau: “Hiring Ken Hitchcock to coach a team with Connor McDavid on it is like Hiring Mother Teresa to coach Connor McGregor’s next fight. Or like owning a Ferrari, and putting LEGO Ferrari tires on it.”