Bob Nicholson To Edmonton?

Earlier this week, the Oilers made news by removing Kelly Buchberger from the coaching staff and adding Craig Ramsay. There is talk that Steve Smith and goalie coach Fred Chabot could be out as well, but there are are other off-ice rumblings picking up steam in Edmonton as well. Possibly a new boss above Kevin Lowe? It looks that way.

Ken Campbell of The Hockey News tweeted out the following during game four of the Stanley Cup Final:

@THNKenCampbell: Am told Bob Nicholson has offers from Washington, Edmonton and Vancouver to be CEO. Washington offering the most money.

@THNKenCampbell: Told Edmonton is frontrunner for Bob Nicholson.

Nicholson stepped down as Hockey Canada’s President earlier this year, and was rumored to be on his way to Vancouver before Trevor Linden took on the role of President of Hockey Ops. In April, a radio report out of Toronto on Sportsnet named Edmonton a possible destination, and it certainly seems now that this is possible.

What would the CEO role be in Edmonton? The Score mentioned something along the lines of what Tim Leiweke’s job is with Toronto, basically the overlord to what is going on with the hockey side of things.

Likely, this would push Pat LaForge to the business side of things only, and put Nicholson at the top of the Oilers food chain hockey wise, meaning he would be ahead of Kevin Lowe.

In Toronto, Leiweke is the top of everything, with new President Brendan Shanahan below him and finally GM Dave Nonis. I’m not sure if this is how it would work in Edmonton, but a food chain that goes Nicholson <- Lowe <- MacTavish would likely make the most sense.

I’m not sure this would greatly change the role that MacT plays now however. It was he and Dallas Eakins who made the call on Craig Ramsay, and he appears to have final say over what happens with roster moves and such, meaning trades, signings and waiver claims.

How a hiring Bob Nicholson would change that dynamic is unknown, but it is something to ponder.

Bob Nicholson to the Oilers rumors should be of no surprise, this is a guy connected with Edmonton through owner Daryl Katz, and has worked with President Kevin Lowe with Hockey Canada many times. It isn’t the first time we have heard rumblings of Nicholson coming to Edmonton either, keep in mind.

Is this a smart move? We can’t really say right now, because we don’t know if it will happen, and we don’t know what the set roles would be. Darren Dreger speculated he would take a role that is above President, but below owner in the NHL, so again, the Leiweke role.

Nothing is set in stone, but if tonight’s reports from Darren Dreger and Ken Campbell are true, Edmonton could have another front office face in the very near future. Daryl Katz is sensing the pressure building in Edmonton, and is starting to take notice. We’ll see how this unfolds. Stay tuned for more.