IT'S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW . . .
Robin Brownlee
April 17 2012 08:37AM
There was a lot of speculation at Monday's news conference to introduce Brent Sutter as head coach of Team Canada that the gig will double as an audition for the job as coach of the Edmonton Oilers.
While that job belongs to Tom Renney until we’re otherwise informed, it seems obvious there's a measure of doubt the Oilers have decided to retain Renney – this "Take some time and then come back and tell me what your plan is" pitch being sold by GM Steve Tambellini doesn't ring true – and it's equally obvious Sutter is a candidate to replace him.
Sutter has history with Oilers president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe, who will be in on the decision about what happens with Renney and is also part of Team Canada's management team. They go back all the way to 1984, when they were teammates with Team Canada.
And, given the reasons we're hearing behind the mutual agreement Sutter and the Calgary Flames decided to part company last week – Sutter wanted to begin a full-scale rebuild of the team while Jay Feaster and ownership are not so inclined – there seems to be an alignment in philosophy in Sutter's approach and what's going on here in Edmonton.
While it's fair to argue the merits of giving Renney the golden handshake to make room for Sutter based on coaching style and career records, if you know the business of hockey, any business, you know Sutter's history with Lowe and being on the same page philosophically carry as much weight as a few percentage points either way in career coaching records.
Of course this is an audition, denials be damned.
COMMON GROUND
Sutter is back on the coaching market because he and Feaster didn't see eye to eye on the future of the Flames. Sutter made it clear Monday he preferred going the full rebuild route rather than trying to tweak and coax the Flames into playoff contention as an also-ran. Sound familiar, Oiler fans?
"I’m not a guy to just get in seventh or eighth. To me, you build your team to win the Stanley Cup," said Sutter, who also commented on what he sees happening up the road in Edmonton.
"I like the direction Edmonton is going. They have a lot of young players. It’s a young man’s game. They’ve had an opportunity to take a lot of the best players in the draft. They’ve done a good job of drafting."
Then, there's the history with Lowe, who has always placed a premium on the relationships he's made in his career as a player, coach and manager. You need look no further than Lowe's long friendships with Craig MacTavish and Kelly Buchberger to know that.
"We go back a long, long way. We played together in a Canada Cup," Sutter told Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun, referring to being teammates with Team Canada in 1984.
"I was real nervous. I was the youngest guy on the team. I’d come in late after camp started. I was in the lobby ready to take a cab to the rink when Kevin came down and suggested we share one together. Remember the Oilers and Islanders were at war back then.
"Kevin convinced me to relax, be myself, that I was a good player and deserved to be there with the others, that we were all good players, and to go play the way I always played. He helped me through it. He didn’t have to say anything."
HERE AND NOW
Is Renney out as Oilers coach? We don't know for sure, although I suspect Tambellini leaving him to twist is not a good sign he will be back. Would Sutter represent a clear upgrade and a better match for the likes of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
It's difficult to know for sure, just basing it on career points percentage and playoff performance. Neither Sutter nor Renney have enjoyed post-season success at the NHL level. Sutter's regular season points percentage through 410 games with New Jersey and Calgary is .584. Renney sits at .504 through stints with Vancouver, New York and Edmonton.
While those numbers tell us what Renney and Sutter have done until now, the history between Lowe and Sutter and the time they'll spend working together with Team Canada will likely carry far more weight as to what happens from here on out.
"Everybody knows the Sutters well," Lowe said. "They’re honest people. They’re obviously passionate about the game of hockey . . . I know what Brent represents. I know the type of person he is."
Listen to Robin Brownlee Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Jason Gregor Show on TEAM 1260.
Brent Sutter is very respected in the coaching ranks! He did marvelous things with the Jersey team when he got there that surprised many people at the time. If Sutter would coach outside of Alberta I believe he would have many opportunities. Lou L. at Jersey would take him back in a heart beat.
Having said that, I have nothing against what Renney has done as a coach. We don't know the inside word though & what his relationship is with the up & coming young leaders on the Oilers. I do know this, the young guys were talking lots about added ice time & more responsibilities on the team for next season. Remember Hall being upset with Renney's decision to leave the goalie off the ice when the outcome of a game was clearly decided. Just little things but who knows what goes on behind closed doors.
Reply button not working, @RB.
How's that Biscuit antique automobile you recently aquired doing Robin, did you whip that baby over to Canadian Tire and find some Seal All yet? That stuff will fix anything.
that is sort of what i couldnt get. how on earth can you not even talk to the player/agent when the player has been ranked number 1 overall for almost a year and you have been shaping up to be a top 3 pick since about xmas.
add in the dreaded russian factor everyone seems to mention these days, and you would think at least a conversation would take place. to start now is mind blowing to me.
Smyth contract can be bumped up by bonuses as long as it's a one-year deal.
Any chance we steal vancouvers coach Alain Vigneault if they part ways if vancouver gets swept ? I think he might be a good match for the oil
What kind of bonuses are allowed? Games played? Points? I'm assuming these but are their different ones and are they team determined or league. I think this is the Oiler's and Symth's best bet going forward.
We need a clear upgrade. I like Sutter...I am not convinced that he is an upgrade. I suppose I'd give Renny another year over a lateral move to Sutter.
Cableguy........why you ask is Edmonton the only team to have not contacted Yakapov? It's because Tamby is an excellent communicator and does his communicating telepathically.
He is very advanced.
If the Oil do hire Sutter there will be at least 6 or 7 candy-assed Oilers speed dialing their agents wanting a safe place to hide preferably with no extradition treaties with Canada.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to change this Oiler's coach staff under the right reasons or circumstances. Renney and Sutter are very well each respected. While Renney is excellent to speak to or communicate with the kids, I feel he is not the right one or disciplarian as someone like Sutter would be with the vets who got lazy or pouted. Its a fact that Renney did do some things this year that were very questionable to outrageous and yes he was questioned a lot by the media and/or players like Hall (next Oiler Captain). With krueger leaving and me not sold on Smith or Buckberger as continuing assistants I want a change....also along with several third, fourth line and defence changes. If Sutter does bring this Team Canada to the forefront in the Championship finals with the Oiler kids being awesome then why not say come on over for a couple years.
RB. Alain is a good coaching prospect, if available, but only if he swears off allowing players to dive. Oil fans hate the image that conjures.
We won't hear anything about discussions as that would be tampering.
Robin,
You suggest that Tambellini is "allowing Renney to twist in the wind".
While this is the case Tambellini himself is, of yet, not under contract for next season with the Oilers. Should a GM without a contract be hiring (or re-hiring) the head coach of a hockey team under the circumstances?
Most of the MSM and blogosphere have assumed that an extension for Tambellini is a given at this point. But until the assumption becomes fact maybe it's Tambellini that's actually twisting in the wind.
This is a valid point due to that a GM might not be able to and/or should not be able put a coaching team in place if he himself is not contracted to run the team either. It may very well be that Renney has to wait to see what happens to Tamby first as well. It has been suggested that Tamby will be renewed but that has not happened yet. Also, there may be a small rift between Tamby and Renney and some players from this year involved enough to a point that other coaches may be looked at and or contacted soon so as to see if they could work with these Oil players and a couple changes with Tambellini as still being the manager for the next year to three years. I also must say that if Renney is replaced then Sutter or even Vignault (if released by Vancouver) are two very decent choices to start a new era. MacTavish is a great person and coach too but he has been here already long enough and it may too soon for a rematch.
Yep a lot of what ifs...
Another one:
What if Tambo told the media one version and in private said to Tom Rennie - "Ya know, we might be hiring you back but we have to see what else is available before renewing the lease."
Of course ST couldn't release that officially... and the "go on a holiday" story is probably a B.S. line to buy time.
For everyone.
I have to address a couple points on here that really arent based on facts but assumptions.
Now i have to point out im not a huge fan of some of the decisions and the way the Oiler's management have gone about addressing certain things so by no means am I in their corner.
To say that Tambo is leaving Renney hanging is a pretty bold statement. I could make numerous assumptions based on the current circumstances. a) Maybe Renney is burnt out and is considering working in a diffrent position within the organization and does not want to go back behind the bench.
b) Maybe Renney and Tambo are actually taking some time before determining the next step for the Oilers and whether they both are on the same page as to where this team is going?
c) Maybe Tambo is giving Renney the benefit of the doubt and giving him time to present a plan before just dismissing him and thinking the grass is greener on the other side. Keep in mind Renney made some pretty questionable decisions throughout the season (ie: playing Belanger on the PP or overplaying him when he was diagnosed the Belanger traingle)
d)Maybe Krueger is leaving and they want to go back to an associate coaching Role and that needs to be addressed to find a suitable candidate that fits for both Tambo and Renney.
These are just 4 viable ASSUMPTIONS so how about we wait to see what actually occurs before presenting conspiracy theorys.
My two cents on Sutter? He doesnt ooooooze inspiration thats for sure but i bet he scares the crap out of players and holds them accountable for work ethic more than Renney. Alan V? I think he was dealt a great team. I'd love Hitchcock or Babcock for this squad, Tippet would be great too but he is pretty defensive minded and id fear he wouldnt let the young guns fly!
As per Renney....Im comfortable with one more year and maybe thats all they are willing to offer and he isnt comfortable with that. (Assumption #32)
agreed
Jason: You can't say what I'm assuming unless you know exactly what I know and (don't know).
There is no conspiracy theory. Until Renney is told he is re-hired, the position of Oilers head coach and who might fill it is open to speculation -- reasonable and otherwise.
Putting on the voice of reason hat is fine, but do you think I considered some or all of the points you raised -- and maybe made a call or two regarding those points -- before writing this or just did so off the top of my head?
Brent Sutter turned the Rebels into the Memorial Cup Champions - a boring, boring brand of Championship hockey.... i stopped going to Rebels games because it was so boring! No thanks to Sutter.
His tenure with the Flames not withstanding Sutter along with the rest of his brothers seem to have some principles. He sees the Oilers letting Renney twist in the wind, who's to say he wants to work for an organization that hangs their coaches out to dry like the Oilers have with Daum in Springfield and now Renney?
Renney is owed an answer sooner rather than later, let the man get on with his life.
Robin - Just to clarify i was not refering to your blog or your comments. I always enjoy your straightforward take on things i can assume you have a little more insight than the average joe.
Im refering more to the comments slandering Tambo and the Oilers organization as to how they are treating Renney. We really dont know the specifics...do we?
Speculation is great but throwing people under the bus doesnt help this organization's image anymore. They can mess things up on their own without our help. haha
Jason: Keep in mind, as a poster pointed out, letting somebody twist in the wind would not be a first for the Oilers during Tambellini's tenure as GM.
They did it to Rob Daum, a loyal assistant coach who deserved better -- like to keep his job in the first place. I don't buy Tambellini's stated reason for delaying this. Renney deserves better.
Valid point- keep in mind i also stated that im not a huge fan of some of the decisions Tambo and Kevin Lowe have made.
I also didnt agree with how they handled Quinn.
If i had a say in this matter id clean house in upper management because its clear it has become far too incestuous with certain key figures as well as its over loyalty to some players.
I just feel like nothing is going to change in that hiearchy and i remain an optimist that their choices and ethics improve to some extent.I remain an optimist that this "sabatical" for Renney is something he is comfortable with.
Id feel confident that there are alot of organizations that have these same issues. Fortunatly for all involved they are all paid handsomly and we dont need to be oversensitive to their unfortunate dimissal in a business and cuthroat industry.
As a fan bring me the wins now that rebuild isnt an excuse (kinda) and hopefully they will be held accountable IF they dont come.
If Tambo is ultimatly waiting for a better option at coaching then as an Oilers fan im all for it. Id sooner that than just replacing Renney with "just a new voice in the room"
@Jason
Calgary is simply waiting for Renney to become available.
@Robin Brownlee
Completely off topic here, have you heard any news on the Oilers trying to extend Hall and Eberle's contracts this summer or will they wait until after the new CBA is done?
Obviously there is some doubt about Tambellini's supposed suggestion that Renney take that vacation and come back with a plan devised to take the team to the next level. I would hope that Tambellini is busy doing the same thing. In fact, the whole organization should be doing EXACTLY that, devising how they will go from (A) to (B), with B equalling at minimum a playoff appearance, but more ideally a Stanley Cup in 2013. That HAS TO BE the goal, and that's exactly what they should be doing their best to put into action.
I mean, I don't know what is reality in this, but ST's story is at least a legitimate fable, and maybe it's Renney's last kick at it to show he knows just what they need to do to win. And then he has to sell management on his plan, otherwise, he gets shown the door.
All things being equal, and Robin being connected, the between the lines part appears to read like the old 'twisting in the wind' tale we've already seen. I'm hoping that is not the case, because I agree that Tom Renney in no way deserves to be treated with absolutely any disrespect. He is a class act all the way, and deserves the same in return. I would be very disappointed in the brass if this were anything other than what Tambellini was telling us.
Sitting thru another Suttorial with butt kissing doled out in spades by all involved ? Redicalous is it not ? All done in Tam time i might add .