Oilers make flurry of front-office promotions after Round 1 exit

The Edmonton Oilers announced a series of front-office promotions on Thursday following the team’s second-round playoff exit, restructuring several areas of hockey operations with a larger focus on analytics, player development and scouting.

Michael Parkatti was promoted to Vice President of Analytics and Technology after serving as Senior Director of Data and Analytics since 2023. Parkatti previously worked with the organization as a consultant from 2013 to 2015 and is widely recognized in hockey analytics circles for developing expected goals metrics, commonly known as xGoals, which are used throughout the sport to evaluate player effectiveness. Edmonton also recently expanded their analytics department under Parkatti by adding Senior Data Scientist Hassaan Inayatali, Hockey Data Engineer Jordan Vani and Full Stack Developer CJ Gilroy.

Former Edmonton Oil Kings executive Kirt Hill was elevated to Assistant General Manager of Player Procurement after spending eight seasons as President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of the WHL franchise. Hill will oversee pro and amateur scouting along with undrafted free-agent recruitment. Before joining the Oil Kings, he worked as an amateur scout for the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2017-18 season and later served the WHL as Director of Hockey Operations and Manager of Player Development and Recruitment.

Kalle Larsson was promoted to Assistant GM of Player Development and Innovation after joining the organization in 2024. His responsibilities include working alongside Oilers and Bakersfield Condors coaches while supervising development plans for prospects and current players. Toby Salmelainen, entering his third year with Edmonton, was named Assistant GM of European Operations and will direct the organization’s newly formed European scouting, recruiting and player procurement division.

Andreas Karlsson’s expanded role as Director of Player Development will involve overseeing development programs for drafted and signed prospects across the AHL, CHL, NCAA and Europe. Justin Mahe, beginning his 17th season with the organization, was named Director of Hockey Operations and Player Experience, where he will manage budgeting, immigration compliance and relocation support for players and their families.

The Oilers also announced changes with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings. Michael Chan was promoted to President, General Manager and WHL Alternate Governor after previously serving as Director of Scouting. Jamie Jackson was elevated to Director of Scouting after working as an area scout since 2021 and most recently serving as Head Coach and Director of Player Development at Northern Alberta Xtreme Hockey Academy.

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