The Edmonton Oilers didn’t go out and find one coach — they opted for two.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs bench boss Pat Quinn will take the reins as head coach in the City of Champions, while former New York Rangers coach Tom Renney will be an associate, the team announced yesterday.
“Now is the first step, I guess, in redoing what we think will guide this hockey club, this organization, into a direction where we look for better things, and that’s success,” Oilers GM Steve Tambellini said during an announcement, roughly one month after Craig MacTavish parted ways with the club.
Quinn spent his junior days playing for the Edmonton Oil Kings, winning a Memorial Cup in 1963.
“My start in hockey came right in this community and I am fully aware of the organization’s work ethic, especially its appreciation of talent,” said Quinn.
“We will be setting high standards and we will be pushing, cajoling and educating players as well as we can to maintain and reach those high standards.”
Renney said taking the associate coaching position in Edmonton after being fired in New York was a “no-brainer” because he surrounded himself with “good people.”
Former Oilers captain Kelly Buchberger was also named an associate coach, while Charlie Huddy and Bill Moores were fired from the coaching staff, Tambellini said.
