Oilers Add GM, Maturity

Also notable in last week’s paltry news cycle was some front office shuffling by the Edmonton Oilers. In a rather surprising move, the Oilers moved current GM Kevin Lowe to the position of President of Hockey Operations, and hired old-glove Steve Tambelini. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s always been a kinda background guy.

Tambellini, 50, has been part of the Vancouver Canucks hockey operations staff for the past 17 seasons and was most recently the Assistant General Manager and Vice-President of Hockey Operations.

Tambellini played 553 career NHL games between 1978-1979 and 1987-1988 with the New York Islanders, Colorado Rockies, New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks.

As Director of Player Personnel, Tambellini helped put together the roster that won the gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah and he was also a member of the management team for Team Canada’s gold medal triumph at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. He also served as the General Manager of Team Canada at the 2003 and 2005 IIHF World Hockey Championships, winning the gold medal in Finland in 2003 and silver in 2005.

Given the pissing matches Lowe has had with Anaheim GM Brian Burke lately, perhaps this move wasn’t so surprising.

Man, I’d hate to think that move only had to do with last month’s poo-flinging session with Burkie. The way I see it both parties were acting like jackasses in that one and it would only be fair that they both have to sit through three Jose Theodore interviews. Now three might seem like a low number but, trust me, that’s a loooooooong time. Also, I looked into it and at four viewings both the Red Cross and Amnesty International start getting involved and it’s not worth the hassle. Seriously.