Fans react to Canucks' reported interest in former Oilers GM Chiarelli

Jun 22 2019, 2:44 am

The 2019 NHL Draft is nearly underway but the Vancouver Canucks are looking to add more than just players to their organization.

Reports have surfaced of former Edmonton Oilers General Manager Peter Chiarelli possibly joining the Canucks’ front office.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, notes that he’d be working under Jim Benning, although there’s no indication of what his exact role would be. Should these reports come true, it would be a reverse scenario of their working relationship with the Boston Bruins.

Benning spent seven years as assistant GM, winning the 2011 Stanley Cup while working under Chiarelli in Boston.

LeBrun also says that Chiarelli has been in contact with a number of front offices around the league, although other teams remain unnamed.

The suggestion to add Chiarelli to Vancouver’s front office — or any team’s organization, for that matter — seems head shaking, if not laughable.

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Chiarelli joined the Oilers shortly after they won the Connor McDavid draft lottery. Instead of acting as the turning point for what should have been a hopeful franchise, he led them back into darkness.

Poor signings, trading away key players with a lacklustre return, you name it. By the time Edmonton relieved Chiarelli of his duties, fans around the NHL were laughing at the damage done.

Which is why you have to ask the question — what’s the benefit here if Vancouver adds Chiarelli?

Not to mention, Benning only has one year left on his contract, and with four consecutive seasons outside of the playoffs, it’s not a far stretch to say that his job could be on the line as well.

Needless to say, the reaction from fans on Twitter was unanimous:

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