With some of the questionable decisions former NHL General Manager Peter Chiarelli has made over the years, it's difficult to imagine a scenario where he would be applauded for his efforts, but that's exactly what occurred on Tuesday when Edmonton Oilers General Manager Ken Holland offered up his praise for the aforementioned, Chiarelli.
The former Oilers and Bruins GM is known around the hockey world for positioning himself on the losing end of lopsided trades such as Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson or Tyler Seguin for Loui Eriksson and Reilly Smith.
It's difficult to argue that Chia doesn't deserve the criticism he has received following some of his decisions, but with the Edmonton Oilers finally showing signs of life and sitting atop the Western Conference a quarter of the way through the 2019-20 season, it appears as though Chiarelli may deserve some credit for his work in Edmonton after all.
Holland on Chia: “It's a big part, the job that Peter Chiarelli and his people have done previous, to allow us to be where we are today.”
Among the current roster are several impact players that Chiarelli was directly responsible for either drafting, signing or acquiring via trade. Some of the notable names include:
Connor McDavid (no brainer), Leon Draisaitl (selected 3rd overall in 2014, ahead of consensus #3, Sam Bennett), Darnell Nurse (selected 7th overall in 2013, ahead of Rasmus Ristolainen, Bo Horvat, Max Domi and Josh Morrissey), Ethan Bear (currently positioned on the Oilers' top pairing, Oscar Klefbom (19th overall in 2011, playing on the top power play unit) and Zach Kassian (acquired via trade in 2015).
As you move down the roster, Chiarelli has also provided the Oilers with some solid depth options, as well as some blue chip prospects in 2018 draftee, Evan Bouchard (10th overall) and 2016 draftee Jesse Puljujarvi, who is absolutely ripping it up in his native Finland. Bouchard is likely to remain in the Oilers' system to continue to develop until he is ready to make the jump to the big club, while Puljujarvi is more likely to be traded at some point to address a more immediate need should the right deal present itself.
With the success that the Oilers are experiencing this season, it's becoming increasingly difficult to deny the impact that Chia had in helping to build this team and it's nice to see Holland give credit where credit is due.
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