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Bob Nicholson To Oversee Oilers' Business, Hockey Operations In Major Shakeup

Oilers Entertainment Group yesterday announced that Bob Nicholson has been appointed CEO, effective immediately. Nicholson, formerly Hockey Canada President & CEO, joined OEG as Vice Chair in June '14. He will take over an expanded set of responsibilities with OEG that include authority over all Oilers business and hockey operations. Nicholson will continue to serve as an Alternate Governor for the team on the NHL BOG (Oilers). In Edmonton, John MacKinnon writes the Oilers are Nicholson's "operation to oversee now, root and branch, top to bottom, players, coaches, managers, No. 1 NHL draft pick and all aspects of planning for the new downtown arena district." Nicholson said, "As of today, everyone in the organization reports to myself." MacKinnon notes the "only clarity that fact established" is that President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe "now answers to Nicholson." Oilers President & COO Patrick LaForge also reports to Nicholson, and this creates an "intriguing organizational refresh." After nine seasons of "non-playoff failure, the Oilers sure can use a fresh start, but not even Nicholson, an upbeat guy, would have figured on so promising a relaunch" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 4/21). Also in Edmonton, Terry Jones writes Nicholson will be the boss of everybody "on the business side as well as the boss of everybody on the entertainment and new Rogers Place downtown arena side." Nicholson: "I’m going to be rolling up my sleeves and being much more hands on with every part of the organization.” Jones writes his added responsibilities makes it unclear "what this might mean for Kevin Lowe." He has "now officially been demoted and faces redundancy" (EDMONTON SUN, 4/21).

THE GREAT OIL RUSH? The Oilers on Saturday won the NHL draft lottery for the fourth time in sixth years, and the team presumably will select C Connor McDavid with the top pick. Denver Post columnist Woody Paige  called it “great” for the NHL, as McDavid will "make Edmonton part of the league again.” But N.Y. Daily News’ Frank Isola said it would have “been better if Buffalo got him." The Oilers keep "getting in the lottery every year, and they’re not getting better.” L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke said the Oilers “haven’t done anything to develop these first-round picks” and the team does not “have the money to bring in free agents to develop them.” Plaschke added, “Do you know how many Edmonton games were on TV last year in the U.S. on NBC or NHL Network? Zero. It’s almost like they’re putting the kid in hiding up there" (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 4/20). But ESPN’s Michael Wilbon said the NHL “should feel excited” the Oilers won the lottery. He compared the Oilers, Flames and Jets to the Spurs, Thunder and Trail Blazers in the NBA, noting they play in places "where you are The Show." Wilbon: "Those franchises are unbelievably important not just to their places, their states, but the league” (“PTI,” ESPN, 4/20).

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