Initially reported by TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Edmonton Oilers have fired Todd McLellan and replaced him with Ken Hitchcock.
Edmonton is 26th in the NHL with a record of 9-10-1 and have gone 3-7 in their last 10 games.
The Oilers tweeted confirmation of the news not long after Dreger’s report and he is expected behind the bench as the team faces San Jose tonight.
The #Oilers have named Edmonton native Ken Hitchcock as their new Head Coach after relieving Todd McLellan of his duties earlier this morning. pic.twitter.com/joNXTLMXol
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) November 20, 2018
An Edmonton-native, Hitchcock will be coming out of retirement to join the team. Dreger said his position will be re-evaluated at season’s end.
He is the eighth person to coach the team in the last decade.
He comes to Edmonton as the third-winningest coach in NHL history, while McLellan departs with a record of 123-119-24. Hitchcock was working as a consultant with the Dallas Stars, who according to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, was granted permission by the team to speak with Edmonton.
Vultures have so to speak circled McLellan for the better part of this season as his inability to extract wins out of the roster has come back to bite him. The firing comes after the Oilers blew leads against the Calgary Flames, and Vegas Golden Knights.
The 66-year old Hitchcock, who won a Stanley Cup with Dallas in 1999, is well-known as one of the most respected coaches in NHL history having spent time behind the bench for the Philadelphia Flyers, Columbus Blue Jackets, the Dallas Stars and most notably, the St. Louis Blues.
The truth behind this coaching swap is that Peter Chiarelli’s leash as the Oilers general manager just became shorter. Firing a coach is often the so-called last straw for GM’s in what is often a saving grace move.
While McLellan, in my opinion, could’ve done more with what he has had in the past three years, Chiarelli has constructed a poor roster and will pay for it with his job should this team not reach the playoffs.
McLellan still had this year and next on his contract that was paying him $3-million a year.
Peter Chiarelli will address the media at 11 A.M. MST.
On Twitter: @zjlaing
The Blues had the third best points percentage from 2011-2017 with Hitch (.650, behind Pittsburgh/Chicago) and out-scored their opponents by 193 goals during that span while surrendering the second-fewest shots against and goals against. Oilers could use some of that these days.
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) November 20, 2018
The Oilers are allowing 3.30 goals per game (tied for 24th in the League) and they're 74.2 percent on the PK (27th). Can Hitch solve these issues? Can he help Cam Talbot help the Oilers solve these issues? He has accepted a challenge.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) November 20, 2018
A couple notes on this Hitch to Edmonton thing:
– He was in an advisory role with Stars. So technically he needed Dallas permission to take this job.
– Montgomery had spoken to Hitch a handful of times this season to discuss things that happened in particular games.
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) November 20, 2018
Hitchcock is very interesting hire. Is a stop gap more than long term answer. If things don’t improve this makes it easier to fire GM change in summer and new then GM can pick his head coach. #Oilers
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) November 20, 2018
IMAGINE THIS….
Lucic + Cam Talbot + Third Rnd Pick to NJD for Cory Schneider + Drew Stafford.
Lucic and Schneiders cap hits are the same and lucics contract is only one year longer.
Stats are very similar between all four players this season, so theres little risk in this trade for both teams.
THEN, if a miracle were to happen…
Puljujarvi + Bear + either a 2019 or 2020 First Rnd Pick for Nylander, Sign nylander to max cap space for this season, and then Sign him to a 7-7.5 x 8 years this offseason if sekeras contract can be moved.
this ones obviously far less likely considering toronto may be OK with nylander simply sitting out this season and signing him next season, but they would still be receiving plenty of good assets, even if they arent necessarily immediate help…
all unlikely scenarios, but i think these two moves could change the scope of this team drastically…
you know what else would change the scope of this team, kassian and lucic for ovi and Carlson… but this isn’t a video game and that’s not going to ever happen…..
Hitch will be 67 in less than a month.
He doesn’t speak millenial.
He has no life outside of hockey. He “retired” because no one wanted him – he was seen as yesterday’s man.
Can only see this as a panicked, rushed, desperation move by chia and the wine circuit. And what happens to the assistants? (it is notable that Strome was shocked by how intense practices are with the rangers compared to the oil. What does that say about those assistants? And will Hitch address it?)
The shakespearean tragic-comedy begins yet another act…
Get serious would ya Gord. At least Ken will have some defensive structure and sit the lazy guys who are just out there for a Sunday skate.
“He doesn’t speak millenial” It seems everybody between 18-24 has a anxiety disorder now a days, except for when they’re looking for a paycheque.
Just curious…have you ever made a positive post ever? I have been reading this site for years and you always paint things in a negative light.
Always a negative perspective with you.Just depressing in every way and of course you dress that up as being realistic.
Your handle should be Debbie Downer.
this team needs an old school coach because ‘speaking millennial’ isn’t working
Sounds like you and Hitch are pretty tight. Please enlighten us on some other interesting tidbits. Does he use sugar or Splenda?
WTF? Hemsky said the same after he got traded, and that was years ago…
You are right on the money. Hail mary in full effect. With hilarious results. Anyone who watches this team can see coaching can only help so much. Especially one that is still in the 90s.
Lowetides a tool, how he has a radio show is beyond me, on the bright side he doesn’t write here anymore. Talk about major addition by subtraction.
Looking to see Draisaitl getting knocked down a peg. If there’s one guy that Hitch is going to see as a floater it will be him.
Yup – a real floater. 25th in the league in scoring and 13th in goals. Imagine if he tried!
All stats for a player that plays with McDavid are way inflated. No matter who it is, the stats are higher than their norm. That’s bankable.
Draisaitl goes into a pout when he doesn’t have anyone “good” to play with, instead of raising his level of play and taking two bums to the promise land along with him.
Be careful what you wish for. That “floater” makes 8.5mill and if he’s exposed as a floater, well…
So true, i thought it was just me that saw this when he hits the ice, one games great 3 floating around…repeat…mind you that describes half the team.
So Joel Quenneville is saying he is ready to coach again and we say hey let’s hire Hitchcock. Unbelievable
if he is ready, he can pick and choose; i.e. which team gives him the most independence? won’t happen here; too many chiefs, not enough natives
Just left a team with Toews and Kane? Couldn’t get them going what makes you think his message will get across with these guys.
I can never see Quenneville putting up with the Oilers management. No way.
exactly. No way he gets on this old boy clown car.
Hitch on the other hand was desperate to take anything including this job.
you are an idiot. Hitch was hardly desperate. He is an Edmonton guy who can bring an element of coaching that this team desperately needs.
In case I wasn’t clear…..you are an idiot.
He was retired, hardly desperate??? Sheesh, you guys are a joke?
I would probably have both those guys in the same category as far as coaching. Different styles, however both equally effective & respected.
Why does nobody want to give Hitch a chance, they have openly said they will reevaluate at end of season. Making a long term coaching hire in 1 day is not the right way to make a change. The Oilers need to do a proper search in the offseason and interview guys that may be the right fit. Just because Coach Q is available does not mean he is the right guy. Also Q is 60 years old as well, not exactly a young buck.
If you actually look at Hitch’s records over the past 7 years you will see a guy that has not had a sub .500 team since 2009-10 in Columbus so just relax people.
And naturally Hitch has connections to edm and the org… Of Course he does..
So did McD have anything to do with tmc getting fired? Did they clear Hitch’s hiring with him?
Gord what a bone headed statement.
You sometimes seem knowledgeable and other times no better than a flames troll.
Agreed he acts like a troll sometimes
Yes, McD endorsed his hiring, because who doesn’t like a good bag skate.(sarcasm intended)
The best teams I’ve ever played on had the hardest practices. You hate the work but respect the coach for doing his job and preparing you properly
What has happened up until this point to make you believe this is even a possibility?
THey discussed this very thing on Mccowns show just last week.
Who discussed it? McCown or McDavid. There is quite the difference. What did they discuss?
the one thing I like about this is the Oilers have gone out and gotten a tier 1 coach. they are signalling they want the best here in Edmonton.
1. That’s what they said about TMc
2. Talking about tiers is not likely to be well received by this fanbase.
Are you saying that TMC has the same reputation as Hitch as to discipline and team play? I would say Hitch has been much higher on that scale since he stepped behind the stars bench. Will his style be a hit here not sure. But I’d much rather see Hitch behind the bench as a stop gap than an assistant. He has 15 games in 30 days tough for any coach to walk in to this situation. But from team assessment view I’d be very interested in hitches view of the oilers at the end of the year. His reputation and views are respected league wide and he’s an outsider so best of a bad situation is my take.
2. That old joke still crack me up ..wp
Yes he brings discipline and accountability much better than promoting an assistant!
Wasn’t McC a tier 1 coach too?
Too bad Hitchcock’s first game as the Oilers coach is going to be a loss in San Jose. 66 years old, I hope he doesn’t have a heart attack before the end of the season. I would have given the reigns to Gulutzen.
As a Flames fan I can tell you that giving the reins to gel-boy would only have exacerbated your misery.
That’s right, I wouldn’t wish GG on a hated rival. Think about that a minute.
@wot
I STUCK UP for the guy last year. Think about THAT.
On a completely unrelated note I’ve reduced my commenting on FN by 90 per cent.
I gave you two cheers for that. Didn’t know multiple cheers was a thing but it is!
it’s a glitch, happens from time to time.
Thank you Todd for everything you’ve done for the community and representing us well outside the rink. Thanks for also being the best coach we’ve had since MacT.
Ralph Kruger says that is a lie.
He is a horrible coach for a young team, are not all of the 1st and 2nd year players no longer on the roster?
I agree Spydyr. Kruger was decent. I would of loved to see another season under him.
So just like I said a couple days ago, the coach takes the bullet!! How many coaches have we had in the last decade? The management, old boys club survives. What in the hell are they paying messier to do? Get his ass out there to work with these players.. until all that top heavy crap is gone and katz sells the team were never gonna improve.
,
Drink wine and make drive-by assessments on trades and signings?
Who is trashing this?? A bot? One of the old boys? Good lord, anyone who watches any sport knows that katz & the old boys are the ONLY problem.
Damn, what a disaster of a team. I wonder how good McDavid REALLY is. I think he’d be chasing #99’s records on almost any other team.