I just finished taking a moment to review Robin’s article from May on the subject. A couple of quotes stand out:

Jim Matheson of The Journal wrote:

“Unless Edmonton Oilers coach Pat Quinn tells GM Steve Tambellini that he doesn’t want to return as Oilers coach in a couple of weeks when they sit down to discuss the past season, Quinn has certainly got the job for Year 2 of his three-year deal. “Pat’s our coach. Yes, I want Pat back. I just wanted to give Pat some time to think where he’s at and what lays ahead for us to get better, then go talk to him. To talk to coaches two days after the season, that’s not the time,” said Tambellini.”

Robin supplied his own thoughts:

Robin Brownlee wrote:

So, yes, Tambellini wants Quinn back. Hmm. That answer leads me to believe there’s three possible scenarios. First, Tambellini wasn’t telling Matheson the truth. He’s aware of the concerns regarding Quinn’s handling of the team but he isn’t about to embarrass his old friend. Tambellini is putting his best foot forward while looking for a way to extract Quinn from behind the bench gracefully. Second, Tambellini has been made aware of the concerns but hasn’t been swayed by them enough to consider making a change behind the bench. With the team in transition, those players not happy with Quinn might be a minority that can be moved in the normal course of rebuilding the roster leading into training camp next season. Third, Tambellini has no idea of the concerns related to me. He hasn’t heard them from any of the players. He hasn’t seen them with his own eyes. There is no issue and Quinn is the guy Tambellini wants running the bench for the coming season.

When I first read the article and the way Matheson portrayed things, I was really of the mind that Quinn was doing some serious soul-searching and might decide to just call it a career instead of going through another year of frustration. After all, is Quinn really in it for the money at this point?

After today though, seeing Quinn coming back in what is obviously a made-up position (why not just give him KP’s job if you thought he was at all valuable in that capacity?), I have to think that Robin actually got it right with the first scenario of his three. Tambo lied to Matheson. He did it with the right intentions, but it was a lie nonetheless. I don’t think Quinn had a shot behind the bench since the second he walked out of Rexall after the last game. And after reading everything that might have been going on behind the scenes, it’s also possible that Tambo is finally doing something right, and on schedule too. Here’s hoping it’s the start of a trend.