Yahoo Sports Former Oilers AHLer Gets Surprising Promotion
EDMONTON -- Everyone loves a surprising promotion.
Especially if your job was an exciting new venture, this is what former Edmonton Oilers product Brad Malone is currently experiencing.
Malone retired from playing professional hockey earlier this year. Afterward, he immediately pivoted into a coaching role. On September 5th, it was announced that he had joined the OHL's Oshawa Generals as a Player Development Coach.
Generals GM and Vice President Roger Hunt was excited about adding Malone to their coaching staff when he hired him.
"It's great to add Brad to our staff," the press release said. "Brad brings a lot of playing experience in the NHL and AHL combined with strong leadership qualities."
"Looking for him to pass that down through our ranks and ultimately make our players better."
The Oshawa Generals have named Brad Malone Interim Head Coach.#GensNation pic.twitter.com/RpkcFbPdkv
— Oshawa Generals (@Oshawa_Generals) December 9, 2024
Fast-forward three months, and things are already changing. On Monday, December 9th, the Generals relieved Steve O'Rourke of his head coaching duties.
His interim replacement is Malone.
This move is certainly curious, as the Generals boast an East Division-best record of 18-10-1. Breathing down their necks in the standings are the Kingston Frontenacs, who sit one point behind them.
The press release from today's move does not clarify why the change was made. At the very least, it's incredibly odd that a successful team would change their head coach 30 games into a 68-game season.
Hockey fans will have to wait and see how this move affects the Generals in the future. Obviously, the management team has a lot of faith in Malone's abilities, or else he would not have been chosen to step in.
If this surprising promotion works out, perhaps they will consider making Malone the head coach for longer.
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