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Krueger said having no interest in returning to Edmonton has nothing to do with his departure or what he may or may not have discovered about the Oilers organization during his three seasons here, the first two as an assistant to Tom Renney, now the head of Hockey Canada.

“No hard feelings. None. Not on my part. It’s just as a leader, I don’t believe in going back into a situation you were already in once,” he said. “I think getting into something new and fresh is always important. That’s kind of my personal style.

“I loved my time in Edmonton. It was shorter than I would have liked, but it was special in my memories and I’m going to keep it that way.

“I would want to do something fresh and something new if it was in hockey,” said the former Swiss National coach known for upsets over Canada and most recently for the success he enjoyed coaching Leon Draisaitl and Team Europe to the final of the World Cup of Hockey.

“After six years in my role now, I’m also looking at options in football somewhere else in the Premier League.

“I’m kind of in a strange space right now with my tool kit. It’s trying to figure out where that tool kit best fits for me, also to be challenged again and to grow.

“I like to go after things that are different and challenging and where I can do my best to make a difference.

“I’m still not sure where that might be but there are options in both sports. I just have to come clear with where the right move is right now. But I am very hungry to find another challenge, that’s for sure.”