In 1979, Colin Hay of the rock band Men at Work wrote the lyrics for their song, “Who Can it Be Now?” Well here we are in the summer of 2024, and hockey fans in Edmonton are wondering the same thing. Who are the top candidates to become the next General Manager (GM) of the Edmonton Oilers following the departure of Ken Holland? Despite rave reviews already for the free agent signings, re-signing of current players, and trades that the Oilers made in the 2024 offseason minus a serving GM, Oilers CEO Jeff Jackson has made it clear that he doesn’t want the job. He has recently said he expects to name a new GM in the next week or two. Let’s divide the possible replacements into three categories: first, in-house candidates; second, recycled NHL GMs; and third those who have never held the role at the NHL level before.
The Edmonton Oilers In-House GM Candidates
CEO Jackson didn’t make all those brilliant offseason moves on his own. People already on staff contributed greatly to those decisions. He will have used that experience to evaluate how well-suited those people would be for the role of main GM. One is Keith Gretzky. Another is Brad Holland.
Keith Gretzky
Gretzky has a lot more going for him than being the younger brother of the greatest hockey player to ever play the game. Gretzky has been with the Oilers organization since July 2016, when he was hired as assistant GM. Jackson relied on him heavily during this year’s draft and the beginning of free agency.
In addition to those duties, Gretzky runs the club’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. Under Gretzky, the team has made the playoffs in each of the past five seasons. He even filled in as interim GM for the Oilers in 2019 after the team fired the incompetent Peter Chiarelli.
Further helping Gretzky’s case is that he has lengthy NHL scouting experience prior to arriving in Edmonton. He was director of amateur scouting for both the Arizona Coyotes and the Boston Bruins. Finally, Gretzky used to play hockey himself. This helps his understanding of and relatability to today’s players. Selected in the third-round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, he went on to play six seasons professionally.
Brad Holland
Yes, Brad is Ken Holland’s son. That could work against him, just like Gretzky’s name could work against Keith. The Oilers have been criticized in the past for filling positions ideologies from the past. As good as Ken Holland was in the GM job, he was a divisive figure for the bad moves he also made. Will the team want to give the GM job to Ken’s son? The one whose fingerprints were reportedly on the Jack Campbell signing?
Holland has been the Oilers’ director of professional scouting since the beginning of the 2022-23 season and is a current assistant GM along with Gretzky. He is known for his in-depth analytical approach. Despite this, he has his other foot firmly in the “eye test” camp when evaluating players. The Oilers have been panned for past issues identifying and developing talent, but this has improved immeasurably ever since Holland replaced Archie Henderson.
Recycled NHL Edmonton Oilers GM Candidates: Stan Bowman
Bowman has an impressive body of work as an NHL GM. He was the Chicago Blackhawks’ director of hockey operations, assistant GM and then GM from 2009-2021. He won three Stanley Cups with Chicago. However, Bowman was in a position of authority with the organization when the misconduct involving former player and victim Kyle Beach took place. For Bowman’s role in that event, he was suspended indefinitely by the league. They reinstated him July 1st of this year but the disgrace remains. Yes, people deserve second chances. Unfortunately, hiring Bowman might be a bridge too far for the Oilers fan base.
Brian Lawton
Lawton was the first ever US-born or high school hockey player chosen first overall in the NHL draft. He played for six different NHL teams. After retirement, he became a sports agent. His company was bought out by Octagon Athlete Representation, which went on to become the second-largest hockey agency in the world. He represented stars such as Mike Modano, Sergei Fedorov, and Ryan Malone.
As GM of the Tampa Bay Lightning, he put in place the foundation for their coming Stanley Cup champion teams. Lawton has been a regular contributor to the very popular Oilers radio show Oilers Now. He knows the team and the league. Moreover, he has trenchant views on player quality, analytics, contract negotiations, and the salary cap. He is a Minnesota guy. He won’t mind Edmonton’s cold.
Those Looking for Their First Chance in the Big Chair: Shawn Horcoff
As one of Edmonton Oilers GM candidates, Shawn Horcoff is a former captain as a player with the club. He played for the team for 12 years. He knows the city, the team and its culture. A fourth-round draft choice, he worked his butt off to became a very good player. Then he did the same in management. He served under Ken Holland in Detroit as director of player development. Next, he added a role as director of player personnel. That went so well that they made him assistant GM and GM of their AHL affiliate Grand Rapid Griffins. On the negative side of the ledger is the recent lack of success of the Detroit franchise.
Mark Hunter
Hunter is part of a trio of hockey playing brothers who had NHL success. Brother Dave played for the Oilers in their glory years. Mark has made his Ontario Hockey League London Knights the gold standard in player selection and development.
He was director of player personnel for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Along with Kyle Dubas he served as co-interim GM until Lou Lamoriello took on the role permanently. He and the Leafs agreed to mutually terminate his contract when Dubas became GM. He has been a perennial candidate for open GM jobs ever since. Outside of top-five draft picks such as Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, his record is less than stellar. For a team like the Oilers who will have to rely heavily on hitting on mid-to-late-round draft picks, this isn’t a re-assuring sign.
Laurence Gilman
Gilman has more than 20 years in NHL executive roles. From 1998-2007 he filled roles as Director of Hockey Operations, Vice President of Hockey Operations and assistant GM for the Arizona Coyotes. He also served as GM for their affiliates in Utah and San Antonio.
He then went to serve as Vice President of Hockey Operations and assistant General Manager for the Vancouver Canucks from 2008-15. The Canucks enjoyed their best five-year run in franchise history during that time. They were the NHL’s best regular season team two years running. In 2011 they fell one win shy of a Stanley Cup victory.
Gilman then went on to Toronto (2018-24). There, he served as assistant GM, GM for their AHL affiliate Toronto Marlies and Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations. Gilman and the Leafs mutually agreed to part ways in June 2024. Why? Why would a highly-respected executive employed by the flagship Canadian franchise just walk away? Could a promise as Oilers GM have been the reason?
We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know
Bear in mind that Ken Hollands’ name never really came up in 2019 as a possible Oilers GM hiring until he did. So, which candidate is the right one now? An insider? A recycled GM? Someone hoping to make the next step? Or someone completely off the radar? Ultimately, it will be CEO Jackson who decides.
Main photo: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
