Todd Nelson will now have complete control of the coaching reins behind the Oilers bench after serving as interim coach with general manager Craig MacTavish for the last five gamesPerry Nelson
Craig MacTavish has officially turned over the Edmonton Oilers head coaching reins to Todd Nelson.
Starting with Tuesday night's game against the Los Angeles Kings, Nelson will have full control of the Oilers bench for the first time since MacTavish fired Dallas Eakins earlier this month.
"It's time for him to put his mark on what he can do with this hockey club," MacTavish told the assembled media earlier today.
"I just feel that, the transition, it's the right time now. Coaching is not a place for two captains. Todd has directed the team and changed the lines the last couple of games and I'm comfortable now that he's got a familiarization with the personnel."
Since making the coaching change little over two weeks ago, the Oilers have lost five in a row and will be looking to avoid a 10th consecutive loss when they face the Kings.
Nelson says the formal transition behind the bench should give the players more clarity.
"The players know I'm the head coach and this is the way we're going to play moving forward. I think it's easier for the personnel to accept the buy-in of what we want to accomplish."
The Oilers (7-22-7) have the fewest points in the NHL and have won just a single game over their last 21.