For all the times since 1990 I had Ken Hitchcock’s name at the top of my list of coaches I thought would be the perfect hire for the Edmonton Oilers, I didn’t even have him on the list of possible replacements for Todd McLellan when the proverbial axe fell, as it did today. Knowing Hitchcock as I do, I should have known better.
When I contemplated candidates to replace McLellan, who today got the sack that should have had GM Peter Chiarelli’s name on it, just this week, I never once thought of Hitchcock. Now 66, Hitch had retired with nothing left to prove, with his name on the Stanley Cup, a Jack Adams Trophy and his place in the NHL history books long ago secured.
Yet, here we are today. With the Oilers on a 1-6 skid and having dropped to 9-10-1 as they open a three-game trip to California in San Jose tonight, McLellan is out and Hitchcock has finally come home to Edmonton, where he began his rise through the coaching ranks with the Sherwood Park Chain Gang. There’s likely been half-a-dozen times over the years that I thought this hire could or should happen, but late finally takes the place of never.
Can Hitchcock, at this point in his career, turn the Oilers around and somehow squeeze more success from the roster Chiarelli built than McLellan did? My respect for this man I’ve known almost 35 years makes me believe so, but I can’t say I know so. That, as I see it, is the job. With the spotlight glaring more than ever on Chiarelli, Hitchcock is under contract only for the rest of the season. After that, everything, including Chiarelli’s status, is up for review.
LONG WAY HOME
I’ve known Hitchcock was what we call a lifer in the coaching fraternity since I first got to know him during the six seasons he spent running the bench for the Kamloops Blazers in the mid-1980s. During the years I rode the bus back then, Hitchcock had players like Rob Brown, Mark Recchi, Scott Niedermayer, Darryl Sydor, Dave Chyzowski and Len Barrie.
Hitchcock had some terrific teams in what fans called Little Montreal back then, but he never won a Memorial Cup. The Cups would come when the likes of Jarome Iginla, Shane Doan, Darcy Tucker, Tyson Nash and Jason Strudwick finally came along after we’d moved on – Hitchcock to the Philadelphia Flyers as an assistant coach and me to the Edmonton Journal.
On any given night, if we weren’t on the road and the Blazers weren’t playing at home, if you drove past the Blazers’ office across from old Memorial Arena downtown, you’d see Hitch’s car parked outside. He’d be in his office fiddling with the satellite dish watching games, breaking down video. Early, late, it didn’t matter what time of day. Hitch was as dedicated a student of the game as I’ve ever seen. He put in the hours – so many of them it made you tired just watching him. Same thing on the road.
My phone at The Journal rang in 1990 when the Flyers hired Hitchcock as an assistant. That’s the first time, as I recall, thinking the Oilers would be smart to hire him. It didn’t happen, of course, and Hitchcock went on to win a Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999. He made a habit of bouncing the Oilers out of the playoffs for years on end as payback for that post-season upset in 1997.
I thought Hitchcock would be the man for the job in 2009-10 after Craig MacTavish was let go, but the Oilers hired Pat Quinn. When the Oilers dumped Quinn, I wanted Hitchcock, who’d been let go by Columbus, but the Oilers instead ran a carousel of coaches that included Tom Renney, Ralph Krueger and Dallas Eakins before McLellan arrived. Seems to me the Oilers could have cut out a lot of those middle-men in that span and just hired Hitch, but things never lined up. The years zipped by. Until today.
HERE AND NOW
After cooling his heels since an encore with Dallas last season, Hitchcock steps out of retirement and behind the bench in San Jose with the Oilers tonight. A lot of people have Hitchcock pegged as an old school coach, and in many ways he is – he knows how he wants the game played and he expects a level of defensive commitment from his players. At the same time, he has evolved as the game has. He knows how to communicate, how to push the right buttons.
I’ll guarantee you this much, Hitchcock will poke, prod and coax everything out of this group of players they have to give in the 62 games that remain this season. That’s the mandate under the circumstances that have landed him here and that’s exactly what you’re going to see. If this roster is good enough to contend, the Oilers will contend. If it’s lacking, as just about everybody not on the team payroll believes it is, he’ll drag what he’s provided as far along as he can.
From where I sit, this is a hire that should have happened years ago, but that’s water under the bridge. Better late than never will have to do. A short-term fix? Sixty-two games and done? The way the cards are stacked, and with Chiarelli’s job on the line based on what happens the rest of the way, I’d have to say that’s most likely the way it plays out. Then again, knowing Hitch as I do, I wouldn’t bet on it.
Hitch was an assistant coach with Team Canada at least 3 times – making him a known entity to Bob Nicholson. Is it fair to say that this is Nicholson’s hire? Chia looks gelded.
He’s known Katz for a very long time too…
yawn
so what if Nicholson knows Hitch. He’s a proven coach and this is a good hire at the right time.
It’s simply a context thing. If he’s Nicholson’s hire, Chia is toast despite still having the job title, that’s all.
Chia worked with Hitch for 2014 Olympics. He mentioned that in his presser
Who cares,…. let’s just play hockey now, shall we?
All we need to know about Hitch – is in #823 ……and all of them WINS!
Good article as always Robin. I like Hitch and think he’s exactly what the team needs right now.
Hitch is the Casey Stengel of the NHL. Stengel was pulled out of retirement to be the Mets first manager at the age of 72. Hitch is less than a month away from 67. Casey was a throwback to another era – Hitch arguably is as well.
While it’s all well and good to expect him to bring the hammer down – he has a 62 game contract – most of the players have years and millions of dollars of contract to wait him out.
And yet another FOK/FOG hiring. Will that never end?
will you ever end. YOU ARE AN IDIOT
Serious Gord nothing but angry troll 🙁
Despite Hitch’s age, he’s a coach the evolves with the times. This is a good video on some of his philosophies towards coaching young players today…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AawMzRiN9i0
Hey Robin,
Love the work, long time reader but I rarely comment. Just looking for your perspective, although it makes sense from an outsider looking in (connection to the city, well established acumen of the sport, every possible accolade), do you believe this was the RIGHT hire for the Oil at this particular juncture? Or would have the Oil been better off pursuing an up and comer or even Coach Q (assuming there was any mutual interest of course). I guess what I’m really asking is two parts, is Hitch absolutely the best man for the job? and two, do you see this as something that extends beyond this current season?
Thanks for all your hard work!
He’s the best man for the job right now given the situation — rest of the season, see what happens, go from there. Chiarelli’s job is next on the line.
Further to your point Robin, if I may? I believe Hitch will also show us if this has been a GM or a Coach issue. Or maybe just the players not committed enough? In 62 games we will know what holes this team has.
Because I, like you, remember those old Sherwood Park Midget days. The post game dialogues at Earl’s with the coaching staff & the prep for the Air Canada Cup.
I still have my 1985 Blazer puck on my desk from Hitch & R.T…
I share your thoughts about him being the answer, for a long time since 2007.
He is what BM calls, “the Answer”. To my mind anyway.
Hitch will be able to give an honest/independent assessment of this team to Katz. Whether it leads to changes is to be seen. Done are the fake forensic asssessments.
Maybe, just maybe this is the “forensic assessment” that Nicholson was telling us about?
Spector made a great point in his article. He said that no marquee coach would take this job long term knowing that the GM has the rest of the year to make the playoffs before he’s fired. Only Hitch was willing to take the short term job and not care about a long term commitment. I feel if things don’t improve this year, there’ll be a new GM and he’ll hire his own coach.
That’s how it’ll likely go.
That GM may be Hitchcock? He hasn’t done that yet?
No marquee coach would take this job, while the 3 stooges remain involved. End of story.
But wait… isn’t that what signing multi year contracts are for? What’s the downside to signing long term despite management turnover!?
Seems to me a wise man would sign on for as long as he feels he wants to work… and if it doesn’t work and they let you go they still have to pay your salary. Seems like a no brainer…
My individual assessment of your question is long term vs short term thinking similar to why RFA’s (Nylander) play hardball on a contract. In other words, you sign on to coach the Oilers for 3-4 years and get terminated 1-2 years in. You may be waiting a long time to get another shot at HC if your team performed poor and the salary between HC and Asst is a factor of 10 at minimum.
“The Edmonton Oilers put their faith in their lord and second coming, Co…Coach Ken Hitchcock?”
Has Remenda been assigned a grief counsellor?
Gold, Dave, pure GOLD!
“THAT’S A GOOD ALBERTA BOY” – Don Cherry probably
Don Cherry well show the clip from last year where he said the boys quit on Todd.
This is just an assessment of how bad the team is vs. how bad McLellan was.
The only way Chiarelli is still here is if they are lights out for the rest of the year and make the conference finals. But if a new coach makes absolutely no difference, its the team. And let’s be honest, we all know it is.
A team that comes back from 4 goals down to beat the Jets, or the team that blows a game against Vegas? I optimistically think the former, hope Hitch can bring it out of them on a nightly basis
Good teams rarely need to make huge comebacks to win games
Good teams don’t also give up multi-goal leads. right? Just saying.
I hope the GM is out regardless if the team plays lights out
Gravis,… There are NHL Coaches, and then there is Hitchcock…
You want a forensic audit, you’ll get it with Hitch. 62 games, then the Oilers will know what they are working with. I swear he’ll be the new GM.
What are you going to say when Hitchcock gets this admittedly less than complete team into the playoffs?
He’ll either become GM, or let the new GM what holes need filling…
All we need to do is sit back & enjoy… At least I hope that’s how it plays out? It’s looking more encouraging.
If a player like Cagguila makes another lazy, don’t give a crap play like he did Sunday when the pass went off his skates and he just kept on skating under Hitch, he may as well just head back to the dressing room rather than take a seat on the bench (and Benning can follow him for serving up that pizza). It’s called accountability, and based on Hitch’s history, he will not be nice about it.
Right you are.
To be fair to Caggiula; he shows a helluva lot more determination and work ethic then more experienced vets.
Guaranteed he’s not going to be a fan of Oscar Klefbom’s stick waving “zero body contact” form of peewee no contact hockey
Nice words of encouragement for Hitch. The players do need some kind of motivation to show up and play with urgency and passion from the time the puck drops till the final buzzer.
If Hitch is the guy who can get that through the players heads then great. My suspicion is that we’ll see a small bump in motivation before Hitch starts tearing out his hair trying to get butts into gear.
Oh I wish we would have had the opportunity to watch, Ken Hitchcock teach Taylor Hall how to back check. It would have been priceless.
Chiarelli’s future now rests on the shoulders of Ken Hitchcock.
Of interest to me, is how the next 60 games go. If a winning record is achieved, Ken is a hero and Todd is a bum. If not, will management tear down this roster?
Oilersnation is such a high at times and low at others. A couple of weeks ago, Oilers were 8 – 1 – 1, and followed that up with 1 – 6 – 0. How do you do that. I think Hitch will find a way to even this out. Maybe.
Oilers have broken many great men.
Hitch will get the players’ attention when they see his Cup ring.
Come on man, Lowe has six of them, just ask him.
He also knows a thing or two about hockey. LMAO!
No, he knows a thing or 2 about winning. He doesn’t know anything about hockey
i think he’s been hired as the gm in waiting. Get to know the team for the rest of the year (week?) until the job is vacant, sort of thing. Why else come out of retirement, like as Robin said, has nothing left to prove.
interesting take on it. You may well be right.
I don’t think so. I’ve not once heard Hitch talk about anything but being a coach. He loves the specific demands of the job. I don’t think he fancies himself as a team-builder in the role of GM.
Wow. I’ve been rooting for Hitch or hitch like since the Eakins days.
Never liked McLs deal even when they were winning by the seat of their pants.
A systems coach in an organization like the Oilers. It will be a challenge but hitch will get it done.
I can hear Ty Rattie swearing as i type…..
PC’s options for a new head coach were basically promoting Guletzen of finding someone who is okay with the “interim” tag. No A list guy like Quenville or Alain Vignealt would take a job hired by a guy who more than likely will not be here after the end of the year. I have to think Hitch took this job due to his Edmonton connection.
Peter Chiarelli traded Tyler Seguin to Dallas…..
Ken Hitchcock coached Tyler Seguin (last season) to his best offensive season in the NHL. Folks this should be interesting.
Don’t mind me, I am just very excited at the prospect of Drai backchecking. That would be refreshing
Robin…i had a crazy theory this afternoon.
I think they’re tanking.
They have decided this year is shot and there is no need to kill Connor trying to win. Word from his agent and owner that 24 per is unacceptable probably came down.
McLellan would push him to that every night because he was fighting for his job.
Hitch can now come in, rein in Connor’s minutes and hopefully improve the defensive structure ahead of next year.
Also helps explain the Strome trade. Money gone after this year.
I see them shipping out Talbot for futures and maybe a Klefbom before Christmas.
They have to rebuild for when Pulju, Yamo, Bouchard are ready.
This year might be toast.
Also explains why you fire him game day of the first game of the Cali trip.
Just like ol Randy in toronto
Hitch’s last final gift of love to Edmonton will be his good name.
Your thinking is flawed. Hitch will push every bit as hard at Todd did. He’s not coming in to coach a team playing to lose in the name of a rebuild.
I could be nutso. Like I said, crazy theory.
But I can’t for the life of me figure out why he would take this gig at this time. Just to cross it off his bucket list?
Does he think he can truly save this team?
I see him looking at this as an important transition point to this team playing hockey that doesn’t rely on just mcdavid.
Your theory is that in an effort to tank the Oilers hired a head coach with 823 wins, 8 division titles, and 1 stanley cup?
A tanking team doesn’t hire Hitchcock! It hires Dallas Eakins
There was no contract benefit for the Strome Spooner trade. They both have 2 years left and NYR took 900k retention to make it so EDM has the same cap hit
Burnward… Quadruple post? Someone needs attention. Sheesh.
Red Wine Summit strikes again. Things never change
He’s a cerebral coach that has structure. The Oilers have a great coach in Hitchcock. Sadly, I don’t think he has the right personnel and that is on Chia.
I’m really curious to see what kind of line up changes Hitch will make, and generl strategy changes. Will he continue to play McDavid 24 minutes a night? It was really apparent that Todd was out of ideas. Pretty happy with the change, we’ll see how well it works.