Skip to content

Oilers' Chiarelli: MacTavish will be 'the No. 2 guy'

Bill Streicher / Reuters

When the Edmonton Oilers hired Peter Chiarelli last week, there was some uncertainty about incumbent general manager Craig MacTavish's future.

Chiarelli did his best to clear up those questions Friday.

"I haven’t settled on his title,” Chiarelli told Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun. “He’ll be the No. 2 guy."

The Oilers announced the hiring of Chiarelli as president of hockey operations and general manager last Friday. MacTavish's future wasn't made clear at the time, but the team's new executive said he plans to rely on him.

"He’ll be No. 2 in all aspects," Chiarelli said. "He’ll be my eyes and ears in all areas. I want to have strong people with strong opinions.”

Chiarelli was fired by the Boston Bruins after missing the playoffs by two points. The Oilers finished with the NHL's third-worst record and won the draft lottery, securing the first-overall pick in June's draft and the right to select top prospect Connor McDavid.

The former Bruins GM said he expects the new arrangement to work, even if it was difficult for MacTavish at first.

“He was upset,” said Chiarelli. "(But) I explained some of the ways I operate. I explained how much I’d like to have him in the mix and I’m glad he’s come around and decided to stay with us.”

Chiarelli said he doesn't plan on making major moves on the personnel side at the moment.

"There may be changes, but they are not imminent.”

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox