Multiple candidates emerging for Oilers GM after Ken Holland retirement

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Liam McCormick
March 3, 2024 (7:29 PM)

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At the end of this season, current Oilers GM Ken Holland is expected to retire. Now 68 years old and in the final year of his contract, the Oilers are already gearing up to find a replacement for the GM at a critical time for the franchise - with the contracts of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl looming.

In recent weeks, a few candidates have begun to be brought up from several Oilers insiders. Right now, the candidates appear to be Mark Hunter, Brad Holland, Keith Gretzky, and Dave Gagner.

Mark Hunter has been the most recently connected as the next GM, but at times throughout the recent season, the other candidates have been discussed at times. Brad Holland is a current scout with the Oilers organization, and has obvious ties and familiarity with President Jackson and his brother Ken. Keith Gretzky has a lifetime of hockey experience and reverence in the city of Edmonton. Finally, Dave Gagner has a strong prior relationship with President Jackson and with players around the league as an agent, and he's also Sam Gagner's father.

Dave Gagner is the only one who has come out and publicly leaked that he's not putting himself in the running for the job, which leaves just the other three candidates in consideration at this time. Other popular options throughout the league could include Eric Tulsky from the Carolina Hurricanes and Mathieu Darche from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Oilers have got to get this hire right, as the next GM will be tasked with the Herculean task of extending the team's generational talents and allowing them to continue competing for the Stanley Cup, especially if they don't win this year. With Holland retiring soon and critical decisions coming near the draft and free agency, the decision for Oilers GM will come soon - hopefully, it's the right decision.