Stan Bowman could be waiting on Bruce Cassidy, but Connor McDavid might be looking over at Craig MacTavish on Edmonton’s bench.
After Jim Matheson proposed MacTavish as a local one-year alternative if the Oilers become weary of waiting to speak to Cassidy, this is the fresh development.
It touches down since the coaching position in Edmonton is still open. In the league’s current management file, Stan Bowman is listed as general manager, but there is no head coach mentioned for the Oilers.
That emptiness shifts the vibe around every gossip. When a search is prolonged, catchy names begin to sound more plausible than showy ones.
That kind of conversation applies to MacTavish. He is aware of the market, the pressure associated with the position, and would not require much time to comprehend what the space demands.
However, the “one-year coach” component is what gives this more clout. If Bowman is unable to arrange the timing he desires for a more significant hire, that seems more like a bridge than a comprehensive vision.
Edmonton wouldn’t be moving from a tranquil location either. Despite McDavid and Leon Draisaitl’s presence, the Oilers are still in a win-now situation after last season.
“Craig MacTavish might be the guy to speak with locally if the Oilers are tired of waiting to speak with Cassidy and are searching for a coach for a single year.”
After the most recent Stan Bowman development, the coaching position for the Oilers took an unexpected turn.
This isn’t the same as choosing a long-term bench boss in June and spending the entire summer around him. A one-year play would be a hold-the-the-line move.
In the appropriate space, that may function. Older players do not necessarily need a total system overhaul. Sometimes they need a bench that can sustain the high level of performance and prevent the season from going off course.
However, it also reveals something about Cassidy. The waiting itself may be starting to wear on the organization if Edmonton is even thinking about a backup plan like this.
Since other organizations in the league have already filled positions, such as Boston with Marco Sturm, Pittsburgh with Dan Muse, and Seattle with Lane Lambert, Bowman’s deadline is now more crucial.
For this reason, MacTavish’s name has more resonance than an arbitrary throwback. It indicates urgency, and urgency generally means that the initial plan no longer feels spotless.
There is still a sizable difference between a local notion and a real hiring. But when a respected Edmonton voice introduces MacTavish, it no longer sounds like idle fan chat.
For the Oilers, that is the true evolution. It’s possible that this is no longer simply a matter of waiting for Bruce Cassidy. It might be about determining how long that wait is worthwhile.
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