Edmonton Oilers hire new director for analytics department

The Edmonton Oilers are rebooting their hockey analytics department, starting with the hiring of Michael Parkatti.

As senior director of data and analytics, Parkatti will be tasked with overseeing the department and “provide valuable insight-driven recommendations,” according to a statement from the club.

The team made the announcement of Parkatti’s hiring on Thursday.

Analytics is a specialty where teams collect data to look for patterns and trends to help in making on-ice decisions.

Parkatti was a consultant with the Oilers from 2013 to 2015.

NHL teams have embraced the analytics trend in varying degrees, with some teams listing only one staffer dedicated to it, while others (Maple Leafs) have had as many as eight, according to a story in 2022 by The Athletic.

The hiring is the latest in a series of moves for the Oilers off-ice since Jeff Jackson was hired as CEO of hockey operations on Aug. 3. Last month, the Oilers hired Mike Fanelli as video and coaching analytics coordinator.

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