Oilers GM Craig MacTavish will be the 'No. 2 guy,' says Chiarelli
BY TERRY JONES, EDMONTON SUN
PRAGUE – Peter Chiarelli is still working on the title.
Not his own.
The new President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of the Edmonton Oilers has convinced demoted G.M. Craig MacTavish to stay on as Super Duper Chief Right Hand Head Man.
Or something like that.
“I haven’t settled on his title,†said Chiarelli, who is here in Prague for the opening weekend of the IIHF World Championship.
“He’ll be the No. 2 guy,†Chiarelli made it official in an exclusive interview upon arrival.
When Chiarelli was introduced at a press conference in Edmonton last week, the status of MacTavish, other than the fact he wouldn’t be general manager any longer, was a bit iffy.
But after that conference, Chiarelli convinced the former Oilers coach of eight seasons and G.M. of two, to climb on a plane to Kelowna with him to go watch Oilers first round draft choice Leon Draisaitl play for the Rockets in the WHL playoff series against the Portland Winterhawks.
“He’ll be No. 2 in all aspects,†said Chiarelli.
“He’ll be my eyes and ears in all areas.
“I want to have strong people with strong opinions.â€
Chiarelli expects it to work.