Article content Edmonton Oilers hockey boss Jeff Jackson said that for now he’s the acting GM, but he’s looking to hire a new one now that Ken Holland is moving on. Jackson said he himself has no intention of taking on the GM role, but it’s complicated hiring a new one just now as candidates are part of other NHL teams with the draft and the NHL’s July 1 free agent signing period coming up. “I have a number of candidates that I have started to reach out to.
..”Jackson said.
“The people I want to talk to are integral parts of other organizations. I’m anticipating I’m going to have to be a bit patient with that and get through these next few days. But I am OK with that.
I want to do this the right way. I want to get the right person.” Jackson said he met with Holland on Wednesday.
“We mutually decided that this was the best thing. He was ready to move on. And we’re going to go in a different direction.
” Jackson praised Holland for bringing in veterans Zach Hyman and Mattias Ekholm. His head scouts is ready to lead the draft and he and his pro scouts are read for July 1, with Jackson acting as interim GM for now. “When July 1 hits we’re going to get on that.
We’ve got a lot do and we’re sort of behind the eight ball, but I’m confident we’re going to be able to accomplish what we need to do in the short term and then going forward with discussions around contract extensions and things like that.” Jackson said no decision has yet been made on.
