Oilers hire Chiarelli for front-office position: report

Peter Chiarelli, fired as general manager by the Boston Bruins last week, will join the Edmonton Oilers' front office, according to multiple reports Thursday.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that the Oilers are expected to announce the hiring at a news conference Friday.

Chiarelli met with the Oilers on Wednesday, though TSN reported that the meeting was not necessarily for the job of general manager, a position now held by Craig MacTavish. New CEO Bob Nicholson has said that all aspects of hockey operations are under review.

Friedman reported the exact structure of the Oilers' front office with Chiarelli was not immediately known.

Nicholson and Chiarelli know each other from Nicholson's time with Hockey Canada; Chiarelli was part of the group of NHL general managers who helped to assemble Canada's gold medal-winning team at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

The Oilers, who finished 24-44-14 this season, won the NHL Draft Lottery, giving them the No. 1 pick for the fourth time in six years. The top pick gives them the chance to select center Connor McDavid, the top-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.

Chiarelli was fired April 15 after the Bruins missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in eight years.

The Oilers haven't qualified for the playoffs since 2006, when they finished eighth in the Western Conference but won three series before losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 7 of the Cup Final. They were 28th in the overall standings this season.