Creating A Master Mind

As I was doing my daily Oilers readings, I came across this picture of Bob Nicholson and noticed the men sitting in the background looked familiar. They were recently fired GMs Peter Chiarelli and Dave Nonis! This got me thinking…

Bob Nicholson is a man in the know and a man with a lot of connections. So I’d like to propose an idea that may blow your mind!

What if Mr.Nicholson concluded his audit of the Oilers by firing Kevin Lowe, Craig MacTavish, and Scott Howson and replaced them with, now bear with me because the first name is going to sound silly, Wayne Gretzky as President, Peter Chiarelli as GM, Dave Nonis as AGM and brought in Mike Babcock or Todd McLellan to coach with Todd Nelson as assistant coach?

Peter Chiarelli would bring his 9 years of experience being an NHL general manager to the table along with 2 years as an assistant GM and a Stanley Cup ring. Is that not nearly double that of MacTavish? Not only that but before he was an assistant GM for the Ottawa Senators, he was a player agent and practicing attorney. Plus, if teams had a choice of Craig MacTavish and Chiarelli, who do you think they’d take?

Dave Nonis has 6 years of GM experience and 11 years of experience being Brian Burke’s right hand man. I admit that Nonis’ teams haven’t had a ton of success but I’m of the belief that perhaps his hands were tied in Toronto and quite possibly Vancouver. He knows the role of no.2 well and is quite good at it.

Gretzky would basically do what Kevin Lowe does… Not a whole lot. Make an appearance every now and then, attend the draft, etc. But Oilers fans respect him and he knows how to behave and what to say and when to say it. He’s a professional, Kevin Lowe is not.

Not a lot to say about McLellan or Babcock that hasn’t already been said. Both are champions as they were on the same staff that won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in the 2007-2008 season. Both would be the caliber of coach the Oilers have needed since this “rebuild” started.

Would that bring some respect to the Oilers organization after all these years of deplorable hockey? I mean Connor McDavid coming to Edmonton is all said and done but what if he or his agent, Bobby Orr, aren’t happy with the current management team? McDavid hasn’t played one game in the NHL yet but he’s certainly in a power position. Might they suggest a change be made in the management department or risk having McDavid not sign?

As a fan I can tell you if something like this mastermind scenario did take place, I would be instantly invigorated. You can’t tell me by creating a mastermind situation in the board room and behind the bench that it wouldn’t result in an instant turn around for the Oilers. And by instant turn around I mean getting this team on the path to the playoffs. Surely Chiarelli and Nonis could find a way to upgrade the blueline and goaltending. And Babcock or MacLellan would steer these young stars in the right direction.

Wishful thinking or lucky prognosticating?

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