For Keith Gretzky, who was hired Tuesday as Edmonton’s assistant general manager, working with former boss Peter Chiarelli and joining his older brother’s trademark organization were opportunities that were too attractive to decline.
Gretzky’s break, however, comes at a cost to his former employer. The Bruins are entering the final month of the offseason without a director of amateur scouting.
“I don’t think it comes as a total surprise to us at all,’’ said Bruins GM Don Sweeney. “The timing is not ideal this late in the summer. That would be the only thing.
“But Keith described it as a dream opportunity. With the family connection being a pull there, you have to look at it from the opportunity standpoint when anybody gets a position they think is ideal.
“It was something that was right for him. I don’t necessarily agree with the timing. But you have to respect and roll with it.’’
Gretzky, the younger brother of Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, will be reunited with Chiarelli, who hired him as a regional scout for Boston in 2011. Two years later, Chiarelli promoted Gretzky to manage the team’s drafts after firing Wayne Smith, the previous director of amateur scouting.
In 2014, the first year Gretzky oversaw their draft, the Bruins selected David Pastrnak with the No. 25 pick. They hope Pastrnak can have a high-impact third NHL season after injuries and inconsistency set him back in 2015-16. The Bruins picked Danton Heinen in the fourth round of 2014. The skilled wing will be a full-time professional in 2016-17 after compiling 93 points in two college seasons at Denver.
In 2015, the Bruins had six of the first 52 picks, taking Jakub Zboril, Jake DeBrusk, and Zach Senyshyn in the first round, and Brandon Carlo, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson, and Jeremy Lauzon in the second round.
DeBrusk and Carlo are expected to start their pro careers in Providence this fall. Forsbacka Karlsson will be a Boston University sophomore. Zboril, Senyshyn, and Lauzon are not old enough to play full time in the AHL in 2016-17.
This past June, the Bruins drafted Charlie McAvoy, Trent Frederic, and Ryan Lindgren — all graduates of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program — in the first two rounds. McAvoy will be a classmate of Forsbacka Karlsson’s at BU. Frederic and Lindgren will be freshmen at Wisconsin and Minnesota.
“In particular, the last three drafts, Keith has done a nice job,’’ Sweeney said. “You realize there’s pressure involved, especially the last two years with the number of picks we had. I fully respect the impact he made on our hockey club going forward.’’
Assistant GM Scott Bradley will assume Gretzky’s responsibilities until Sweeney identifies and hires a permanent replacement. Sweeney said he has no timetable on filling the position.
Bradley had been working with Gretzky on the amateur side. Bradley oversaw the amateur scouting staff for 11 years before serving as director of player personnel and assistant GM.
Separately, Sweeney will hire two amateur scouts and one pro scout.
Rookies play in Buffalo
Bruins rookies will participate in a three-team tournament in Buffalo for the second straight season. They will play their New Jersey counterparts Sept. 18 and the Buffalo rookies Sept. 19. Both games will take place at HarborCenter, the facility next to First Niagara Center. Kevin Dean, Providence’s first-year head coach, will be in charge of the Bruins team. Last year, Jack Eichel made his Buffalo debut during the tournament.
Two hirings due
The Bruins are planning to hire two assistant coaches to work alongside Dean in Providence. Dean had been Bruce Cassidy’s lone assistant before their respective promotions. The hires could take place this week . . . The Bruins are close to re-signing Brian Ferlin and Chris Casto, their two remaining restricted free agents . . . Sweeney declined to discuss the nature of talks with Brad Marchand, who is entering his contract year . . . Sweeney plans to travel Wednesday to Plymouth, Mich., to attend USA Hockey’s National Junior Evaluation Camp, the annual summer marker to help determine World Junior Championship rosters. Games involving the US, Canada, Finland, and Sweden run through Saturday. Bruins prospects Senyshyn, Lauzon, McAvoy, Frederic, Lindgren, and Oskar Steen are participating in the camp.
Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeFluto.
