Following a disastrous 2018/19 NHL season, in which they finished 35-28-9, Edmonton Oilers decided to shake things up. The team announced on Tuesday that longtime Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland was named as Oilers’ new president of hockey operations and GM.

“I am very happy to be joining the Edmonton Oilers,” – said Holland in a statement. “I believe we can build something special in Edmonton and I look forward to putting a plan in place to make the Oilers a consistently successful team.”

Holland will be tasked with bringing back stability to the Oilers organization and return the franchise to winning ways as Edmonton made the playoffs only once in the last 12 years.

“When I think about the Edmonton Oilers and the players here, this franchise and the fan base, I just think there’s an opportunity here for me to try to make a real positive impact,” – Holland added.

Ken Holland spent 36 years with Red Wings, 22 years as GM, and helped the team to three Stanley Cups. Still, he was relegated to an advisory role in late April, when Steve Yzerman took over the GM position.

Holland didn’t waste any time at his new workplace and has already informed Ken Hitchcock that he won’t be back as the team’s head coach for the next season.

Hitchcock came out of retirement and took over the Oilers in November 2018, after the team fired Todd McLellan. He ended up leding Edmonton to 26-28-8 record.

The post Oilers Make Ken Holland New GM, Won’t Bring Back HC Ken Hitchcock appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Veteran winger Scottie Upshall joined the Edmonton Oilers after becoming a free-agent this summer. But Upshall didn’t get a guaranteed contract from the Oilers and only signed on a professional tryout. In order to stay with the team, the 34-year-old will have to show some impressive performances during training camp.

Scottie Upshall spent the last three seasons with St. Louis Blues, where he filled the role of a reliable role player. In 2017–18 he played 63 games for the Blues and contributed with seven goals and 12 assists. He had a chance to fight for the spot on the roster this time around as well, but Upshall decided to choose Oilers due to his chemistry with former Blues’ center Kyle Brodziak. Brodziak came to Edmonton back in July.

“I had a great chance to go back to St. Louis on a PTO this year, but when I saw Kyle signing with the Oilers, they got onto my radar. The chemistry I had with Kyle didn’t go unnoticed by me,” – said Upshall.

Although he will have to fight for a contract, Upshall isn’t too worried since it is his third time that he is looking to secure a roster spot like this.

“Going to camps without a contract is very, very difficult” – he added. “It is a challenge, but this is my third time. The first time it happened I was coming off a long tenure in Florida. I was kind of in panic mode…with no contract offers you are on edge.”

Scottie Upshall was selected sixth overall in 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators. He never got a real opportunity in Nashville, so he was traded to Philadelphia Flyers in 2007.

After two seasons with Flyers, Upshall moved on and went on to play for Phoenix Coyotes, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Florida Panthers as well. In 759 NHL career games he played, Upshall contributed 285 points, having scored 138 goals and provided 147 assists.

The post Edmonton Oilers Sign Veteran Winger Scottie Upshall to a Professional Tryout appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Following a disastrous 2018/19 NHL season, in which they finished 35-28-9, Edmonton Oilers decided to shake things up. The team announced on Tuesday that longtime Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland was named as Oilers’ new president of hockey operations and GM.

“I am very happy to be joining the Edmonton Oilers,” – said Holland in a statement. “I believe we can build something special in Edmonton and I look forward to putting a plan in place to make the Oilers a consistently successful team.”

Holland will be tasked with bringing back stability to the Oilers organization and return the franchise to winning ways as Edmonton made the playoffs only once in the last 12 years.

“When I think about the Edmonton Oilers and the players here, this franchise and the fan base, I just think there’s an opportunity here for me to try to make a real positive impact,” – Holland added.

Ken Holland spent 36 years with Red Wings, 22 years as GM, and helped the team to three Stanley Cups. Still, he was relegated to an advisory role in late April, when Steve Yzerman took over the GM position.

Holland didn’t waste any time at his new workplace and has already informed Ken Hitchcock that he won’t be back as the team’s head coach for the next season.

Hitchcock came out of retirement and took over the Oilers in November 2018, after the team fired Todd McLellan. He ended up leding Edmonton to 26-28-8 record.

The post Oilers Make Ken Holland New GM, Won’t Bring Back HC Ken Hitchcock appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Veteran winger Scottie Upshall joined the Edmonton Oilers after becoming a free-agent this summer. But Upshall didn’t get a guaranteed contract from the Oilers and only signed on a professional tryout. In order to stay with the team, the 34-year-old will have to show some impressive performances during training camp.

Scottie Upshall spent the last three seasons with St. Louis Blues, where he filled the role of a reliable role player. In 2017–18 he played 63 games for the Blues and contributed with seven goals and 12 assists. He had a chance to fight for the spot on the roster this time around as well, but Upshall decided to choose Oilers due to his chemistry with former Blues’ center Kyle Brodziak. Brodziak came to Edmonton back in July.

“I had a great chance to go back to St. Louis on a PTO this year, but when I saw Kyle signing with the Oilers, they got onto my radar. The chemistry I had with Kyle didn’t go unnoticed by me,” – said Upshall.

Although he will have to fight for a contract, Upshall isn’t too worried since it is his third time that he is looking to secure a roster spot like this.

“Going to camps without a contract is very, very difficult” – he added. “It is a challenge, but this is my third time. The first time it happened I was coming off a long tenure in Florida. I was kind of in panic mode…with no contract offers you are on edge.”

Scottie Upshall was selected sixth overall in 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators. He never got a real opportunity in Nashville, so he was traded to Philadelphia Flyers in 2007.

After two seasons with Flyers, Upshall moved on and went on to play for Phoenix Coyotes, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Florida Panthers as well. In 759 NHL career games he played, Upshall contributed 285 points, having scored 138 goals and provided 147 assists.

The post Edmonton Oilers Sign Veteran Winger Scottie Upshall to a Professional Tryout appeared first on SportzBonanza.