Rieder's agent calls Nicholson's remarks 'unacceptable'

Tobias Rieder's representative is not pleased with Bob Nicholson.

Darren Ferris expressed as much on Thursday night, hours after the Edmonton Oilers CEO criticized Rieder at a breakfast for season-ticket holders.

"I am totally astonished and disappointed that the president of an NHL team can make such a callous and reckless statement about a player," Ferris told TSN's Ryan Rishaug. "This is unacceptable."

Nicholson apologized to Rieder, according to TSN's Darren Dreger, and later told Sportsnet's Mark Spector he "screwed up."

The executive told fans that the Oilers would probably be a playoff team if Rieder had 10-to-12 goals, and that the 26-year-old winger won't be re-signed for next season.

Oilers head coach Ken Hitchcock had Rieder's back after Thursday's victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.

"From our standpoint, you want to see a guy score and have success offensively because it makes him feel good. But if he's not doing that, he helps us in a number of other areas, Hitch said of Rieder.

- Brenden Escott (@BrendenEscott) March 22, 2019

Rieder has no goals and 11 points in 60 games this season. The Oilers signed him to a one-year, $2-million deal on July 1.

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