Edmonton Oilers hire Steve Staios to hockey operations staff
By Zach Laing
11 months agoThe Edmonton Oilers have hired ex-NHL defenceman Steve Staios to its hockey operations department, the club announced Thursday.
Staios, 49, has been with the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs since the 2015-16 season as a president, and the following year was named general manager.
Last year, Staios was named the OHL’s general manager of the year after his star-studded team posted a 51-12-3-2 record capturing the East Division championship.
Back in July, it was rumoured that Staios could land an NHL role with either the Oilers, or the Montreal Canadiens.
Now, he returns to the team whom he spent the majority of his career with. Originally drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the second round of the 1991 draft, Staios signed as a free agent with the Oilers in 2001 before spending eight years with the club.
‘Steady’ Steve appeared in 573 games for the Oilers in that time scoring 35 goals and 146 points. While he wasn’t known for his offensive game, he was as steady as they came on the back end, hence the nickname.
Now, Staios will work closely with Oilers prospects focusing on player development. He will report directly to Ken Holland, the team announced.
In Hamilton, Staios built a really deep team. While some people may look at this hire and say “oh, it’s just the Oilers giving another alumnus a job,” it’s far from it. Staios has done his time and earned this role.
Here are some details from when he was named GM of the year looking at what he was able to accomplish.
Hamilton’s roster benefitted from a pair of key mid-season acquisitions in Anaheim Ducks first-round pick Mason McTavish and overage Montreal Canadiens blue line signee Arber Xhekaj. Big minute defenders in captain Colton Kammerer and OHL Defenceman of the Year Nathan Staios were also past additions by Staios, while other core elements of the club were identified through the OHL Priority Selection. Former first round picks Logan Morrison and Ryan Winterton join other players developed within the organization such as goaltender Marco Costantini, forwards Avery Hayes, George Diaco, Ryan Humphrey and Lawson Sherk, Under-18 Priority Selection pick Gavin White on the back end and CHL Import Draft find Jan Mysak down the middle.
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