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Oilers specialty coach fired, gets shocking promotion after being hired by Dallas Stars
The Edmonton Oilers are expecting some significant turnover this offseason, including nearly all of their assistant coaches. Now, two coaches have officially joined the Dallas Stars.
According to insiders, all Oilers assistant coaches' contracts have expired. Goalie coach Dustin Schwartz will not return, Assistant coaches Glenn Gulutzan will but the Dallas Stars head coach, and now he's bringing over a friend.
Oilers skating coach for 11 years leaves to join Dallas Stars
David Pelletier, who spent 11 years with the Edmonton Oilers as their in-house skating coach, has now officially joined Gulutzan in Dallas - with a massive promotion to assistant coach.
According to the release from the Dallas Stars, Pelletier collaborated with players from all levels in the Oilers organization to develop skating talents. Pelletier has never been an assistant coach, but had a highly decorated career in figure skating and Olympic competition.
Prior to working with the Oilers, Pelletier had a highly decorated career in figure skating. He is a three-time Canadian champion, world champion and a Grand-Prix Final champion. Pelletier captured an Olympic gold medal in figure skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, earning Canada's first gold medal in pairs figure skating in 42 years.
- Dallas Stars
- Dallas Stars
Pelletier clearly did some quality work in Edmonton too, as the Oilers have developed some of the best skaters in the NHL over his tenure. Connor McDavid is the obvious top skater, but others like Ryan McLeod, Warren Foegele, Dylan Holloway, and even Evan Bouchard have showed great improvements with the Oilers.
Some media members were surprised to see Pelletier let go given his quality results, but he surely can't turn down that level of promotion.
Oilers fans will be happy to see a clean house with coaching and development staffs at large though. After 11 years, it may be time to get some new voices in the room.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 11 | 392 ANSWERS Oilers specialty coach fired, gets shocking promotion after being hired by Dallas Stars Do you think the Oilers should've re-signed Pelletier? | ||
| Yes, results were good | 170 | 43.4 % |
| No | 222 | 56.6 % |
| List of polls | ||