Oilers make desperate move, try to convince McDavid to stay in Edmonton

This just in, the Edmonton Oilers have hired Connor McDavid's long-time player agent Jeff Jackson to act as the team's new CEO of Hockey Operations.

Check it out:

"This is a big commitment to the long-term success of our organization," said Oilers owner Darryl Katz in a prepared statement. "Jeff has well-established relationships across the NHL, including a strong relationship with Ken Holland. He brings tremendous industry insight, knowledge and leadership built through a unique career experience that is ideal for this leadership role at OEGSE. He understands what it takes to build an elite organization for the modern NHL and will work closely with Ken and our whole team to put the Oilers in the best possible position to win."

Jackson has been McDavid's agent for years now and with free agency looming in 2026, you can't help but think that this is somewhat of a ploy from the Oilers' organization to have McDavid renew his commitment to the team. McDavid will remain with Jackson's agency, but will obviously be represented by a different agent now.

There's also a suspicion in the Oilers' media that Jackson is being groomed and trained to supplant Ken Holland as the team's GM eventually.

"This is an exciting day for Oilers fans and the organization. Jeff is highly respected across the NHL and brings unique experience as a former player, Assistant General Manager and, most recently, as one of the most influential agents in the business," said Holland in the same statement on the Oilers' website. "It is a real coup for Oilers fans to have Jeff join the organization and I look forward to working closely with him as we continue our drive for a Stanley Cup."

Jackson has a long history of working in executive roles in the hockey world and is certainly qualified for the job. In addition to running a player agency for the past two decades, Jackson was also an assistant GM with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 2000s.

"I can't think of a more exciting franchise to join or a better opportunity for me to put into practice everything I have learned during the past three decades in and around the NHL," said Jackson himself. "Daryl Katz, Ken Holland, Bob Nicholson, Jay Woodcroft and the entire group have built an outstanding foundation for success. I'm privileged to join Daryl, Ken and the entire Oilers staff in the pursuit of a Stanley Cup championship in the short term and in realizing the full and exceptional potential of the entire organization in the long term. On behalf of my family, I also want to say how thrilled we are to join the Edmonton Oilers organization and the Edmonton community. I am very appreciative of the opportunity to help lead such a storied NHL franchise."

"Jeff and I have had a long and fruitful relationship, and I have witnessed his care, relentlessness, and obvious knowledge of the game and industry firsthand," said McDavid. "I look forward to working with Jeff in his new role, and am excited about what this means for the future of the Oilers.

"I'm excited about this next chapter for me and to continue to be represented by Wasserman on and off the ice, with Judd Moldaver as my agent and Adam Philips, my longtime manager, handling day-to-day matters."