The summer is long and the news is scarce, but the rumour mill is always churning and the latest rumour has the Edmonton Oilers finalizing their coaching staff ranks by adding Brian Wiseman as an assistant coach. Wiseman has been an assistant with the NCAA Michigan Wolverines programs since 2011.
Sources tells me Brian Wiseman, Associate Head Coach at Michigan is leaving to be assistant coach with the @EdmontonOilers and Dave Tippett. #CawlidgeHawkey pic.twitter.com/OOM0aAcvzn
— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) July 22, 2019
Brian Wiseman will join Jim Playfair on Dave Tippett’s coaching staff. Glen Gulutzan remains as an assistant from the previous two coaching regimes (Ken Hitchcock and Todd McClellan).
Who is Brian Wiseman?
Well, to be honest, it’s been a while since I have heard the name Wiseman and so I fired up the old google machine and while his playing career was short (multiple stints in the IHL, a cup of coffee in the AHL and three whole games in the NHL) his stats were nothing short of special:
| Regular Season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | Lge | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1990-91 | U. of Michigan | CCHA | 47 | 25 | 33 | 58 | 58 | ||||||
| 1991-92 | U. of Michigan | CCHA | 44 | 27 | 44 | 71 | 76 | ||||||
| 1992-93 | U. of Michigan | CCHA | 35 | 13 | 37 | 50 | 40 | ||||||
| 1993-94 | U. of Michigan | CCHA | 40 | 19 | 50 | 69 | 44 | ||||||
| 1994-95 | Chicago Wolves | IHL | 75 | 17 | 55 | 72 | 52 | -3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 1995-96 | Chicago Wolves | IHL | 73 | 33 | 55 | 88 | 117 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1996-97 | St. John’s Maple Leafs | AHL | 71 | 33 | 62 | 95 | 83 | -11 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 8 |
| 1996-97 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1997-98 | Houston Aeros | IHL | 78 | 26 | 72 | 98 | 86 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| 1998-99 | Houston Aeros | IHL | 77 | 21 | 88 | 109 | 106 | 28 | 19 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 26 |
| 1999-00 | Houston Aeros | IHL | 72 | 15 | 38 | 53 | 52 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| NHL Totals | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
Near as I can tell, he is a bit of cult hero in the Houston hockey scene. After walking away from the playing days in Houston, it didn’t take long for Wiseman to end up back in the arena when he was hired by the Dallas Stars in 2002. The man that added him to his staff as a video coach? The newest bench boss in Edmonton, Dave Tippett. So the connection makes sense, as Wiseman comes full circle with his Aeros teammate Tippett, after working as an assistant at Princeton and in Houston with the Aeros before landing in Michigan with the Wolverines since 2011.
I understand hiring a college or junior coach as an NHL assistant, but to hire a college assistant to be an assistant? Maybe Wiseman is a guru coach that has no interest in being a head coach, it just seems like quite the leap.
We have 3 former head coaches already on staff.
Maybe Tippett was looking for an assistant who specializes in video coaching.
I agree with you though, seems like an odd hiring.
Looking for a lackey. Someone to act a very defined role as video and skills coach who is good at development and dealing/teaching young players. Leaving the major stuff with tippet/gulutzan. We’ve already tried enough big name experienced coaches, this make sure sense
I am happy that the coaching staff is coming together so soon. Holland & Tippett are going with tried and true people that they have worked with before. Best case scenario they get a taste of success and stay for the dynasty rebuild.
*channels inner GotG guy*
“Who?”