Between keeping Ryan McLeod in the fold and avoiding a scheduled arbitration hearing with a new contract Tuesday and adding Connor McDavid’s former agent Jeff Jackson as CEO of hockey operations today, Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland has had a pretty good week.
First, <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2023/08/01/edmonton-oilers-and-ryan-mcleod-reportedly-avoid-arbitration-after-agreeing-to-two-year-contract/">the Oilers signed McLeod to a two-year deal with a $2.1 million AAV</a>, which has to be considered another bargain deal as he was coming off a one-year contract that paid $798,000 in 2022-23. After scoring 11-12-23 in just 57 games, a lot of fans and pundits, like in-the-know insider Frank Seravalli to name just one, pegged a new deal for McLeod at $2.5 million.
With the McLeod ink still creating a buzz, the Oilers announced this morning that Jackson, part of the Wasserman agency, will join the team. He will report directly to owner Daryl Katz and will oversee the Oilers’ NHL, AHL and WHL operations. Holland is staying on as GM and president of hockey operations, according to the <a href="https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/release-daryl-katz-names-jeff-jackson-oilers-ceo-of-hockey-operations/c-345510072" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news release</a> issued by the Oilers. Holland will report to Jackson.
In Jackson, 58, the Oilers are adding somebody who has all the angles covered. Jackson played 263 NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Quebec Nordiques, New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks. After retiring, he practiced law, then joined the Maple Leafs front office as assistant GM and director of player operations in 2006.
<h1 class="p1">JACKSON HAS THE CHOPS</h1>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
OEG Inc. Owner &amp; Chairman Daryl Katz announces Jeff Jackson has been named the new <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Oilers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Oilers</a> CEO of Hockey Operations.
&mdash; Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) <a href="https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1687085909962022913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In 2010, Jackson founded Wasserman Hockey. His clients have included McDavid, Aaron Ekblad, Alex Debrincat and recent Oiler signing Connor Brown. With this move, Judd Moldaver of Wasserman is taking over as McDavid’s agent. With the addition of Jackson, Bob Nicholson is now listed as the Oilers&#8217; special advisor of hockey operations We&#8217;ll no doubt get more details at today’s 2 p.m. media availability.
“This is an exciting day for Oilers’ fans and the organization,” Holland said. “Jeff is highly respected across the NHL and brings unique experience as a former player, assistant general manager and, most recently, as one of the most influential agents in the business. It is a real coup for Oilers fans to have Jeff join the organization and I look forward to working closely with him as we continue our drive for a Stanley Cup.”
“I can&#8217;t think of a more exciting franchise to join or a better opportunity for me to put into practice everything I have learned during the past three decades in and around the NHL,” Jackson said in the news release. “I&#8217;m privileged to join Daryl, Ken and the entire Oilers staff in the pursuit of a Stanley Cup championship in the short term and in realizing the full and exceptional potential of the entire organization in the long term.”
On top of all that, this move has McDavid’s stamp of approval, which speaks for itself. “Jeff and I have had a long and fruitful relationship, and I have witnessed his care, relentlessness, and obvious knowledge of the game and industry first-hand,” he said. “I&#8217;m excited about this next chapter for me . . .”
Now, if Holland can get the ink done on that bridge deal for Evan Bouchard before the coming weekend, it really will be a week to remember, no? It’s probably worth noting that Bouchard is repped by Sam Gagner’s dad Dave, who is an agent at, you guessed it, Wasserman. Let’s see how that plays out.

Between keeping Ryan McLeod in the fold and avoiding a scheduled arbitration hearing with a new contract Tuesday and adding Connor McDavid’s former agent Jeff Jackson as CEO of hockey operations today, Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland has had a pretty good week.
First, <a href="https://publish.oilersnation.com/2023/08/01/edmonton-oilers-and-ryan-mcleod-reportedly-avoid-arbitration-after-agreeing-to-two-year-contract/">the Oilers signed McLeod to a two-year deal with a $2.1 million AAV</a>, which has to be considered another bargain deal as he was coming off a one-year contract that paid $798,000 in 2022-23. After scoring 11-12-23 in just 57 games, a lot of fans and pundits, like in-the-know insider Frank Seravalli to name just one, pegged a new deal for McLeod at $2.5 million.
With the McLeod ink still creating a buzz, the Oilers announced this morning that Jackson, part of the Wasserman agency, will join the team. He will report directly to owner Daryl Katz and will oversee the Oilers’ NHL, AHL and WHL operations. Holland is staying on as GM and president of hockey operations, according to the <a href="https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/release-daryl-katz-names-jeff-jackson-oilers-ceo-of-hockey-operations/c-345510072" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news release</a> issued by the Oilers. Holland will report to Jackson.
In Jackson, 58, the Oilers are adding somebody who has all the angles covered. Jackson played 263 NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Quebec Nordiques, New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks. After retiring, he practiced law, then joined the Maple Leafs front office as assistant GM and director of player operations in 2006.

<h1 class="p1">JACKSON HAS THE CHOPS</h1>
https://twitter.com/EdmontonOilers/status/1687085909962022913
In 2010, Jackson founded Wasserman Hockey. His clients have included McDavid, Aaron Ekblad, Alex Debrincat and recent Oiler signing Connor Brown. With this move, Judd Moldaver of Wasserman is taking over as McDavid’s agent. With the addition of Jackson, Bob Nicholson is now listed as the Oilers' special advisor of hockey operations We'll no doubt get more details at today’s 2 p.m. media availability.
“This is an exciting day for Oilers’ fans and the organization,” Holland said. “Jeff is highly respected across the NHL and brings unique experience as a former player, assistant general manager and, most recently, as one of the most influential agents in the business. It is a real coup for Oilers fans to have Jeff join the organization and I look forward to working closely with him as we continue our drive for a Stanley Cup.”
“I can't think of a more exciting franchise to join or a better opportunity for me to put into practice everything I have learned during the past three decades in and around the NHL,” Jackson said in the news release. “I'm privileged to join Daryl, Ken and the entire Oilers staff in the pursuit of a Stanley Cup championship in the short term and in realizing the full and exceptional potential of the entire organization in the long term.”
On top of all that, this move has McDavid’s stamp of approval, which speaks for itself. “Jeff and I have had a long and fruitful relationship, and I have witnessed his care, relentlessness, and obvious knowledge of the game and industry first-hand,” he said. “I'm excited about this next chapter for me . . .”
Now, if Holland can get the ink done on that bridge deal for Evan Bouchard before the coming weekend, it really will be a week to remember, no? It’s probably worth noting that Bouchard is repped by Sam Gagner’s dad Dave, who is an agent at, you guessed it, Wasserman. Let’s see how that plays out.

Ken Holland all over it — Jeff Jackson named CEO of Hockey Operations

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