The Odd Couple

Craig MacTavish and Rob Schremp have spent much of this summer on the outside looking in. One of them appears to have landed gainful employment. The other is still job hunting. For both men, the last several years have been a series of highs and lows.

For many Oiler fans (including me) Craig MacTavish remains a high water mark in terms of competent coaching for the town team. A solid technical coach and in game tactician, he was a big part of the Oilers Stanley run 2006 spring. His coaching strategy in that stretch (especially against the Red Wings) earned him a reputation of being a guy who could take a good team a long way.

Unfortunately for MacT, he never had the horses after the Chris Pronger deal. Coaching is a tough career because if the team loses too many games a change is required; firing the coach is easier than firing 23 hockey players–and less messy. MacT was the Oilers head coach a long time but perhaps spent "too long at the fair" in Edmonton.

It has taken a long time for coach MacTavish to land on his feet. Recent days have revealed he’s off to coach the Chicago Wolves of the AHL (Vancouver’s farm team) and I think he’ll be coaching an NHL team (maybe the Canucks–you never know) in the next year or so. He was considered for Minnesota’s head coaching position this summer and with his credentials one would think it is only a matter of time.

Why did it take so long for MacT to get another gig? His bout with cancer must have taken him out of the running for a time, and I do think his very public comments in regard to Dustin Penner may too have cost him. Having said all of that, I expect Vancouver fans will be thrilled with their prospects progress this winter. Good for MacT, hopefully this stint in the minors ends that crazy idea that he couldn’t develop the kids.

Which brings us to Robbie Schremp. Schremp’s fanbase (which is miles and miles) railed against MacT’s handling of him as an Oilers prospect. Robbie Schremp led the league in nicknames (Hockey Jesus, Sugartits) before he ever played a game, owing mostly to youtube and Phil Esposito length shifts in the land of legends (London).

The day I posted that Schremp had been placed on waivers, blogosphere commenter "quain" said the following:

Damned if Rob Schremp didn’t go to the Island and post better than expected numbers. 44gp, 7-18-25 -4 and his CorsiRel was a pleasant surprise. He needed to build on that half-season but what the hell the guy has talent, right?

Along came a guy named Michael Grabner via (once again) the waiver wire. Grabner ate Robbie’s lunch, and that coupled with a very average season (63gp, 13-13-26 -20) meant he was exposed to waivers again (end of Feb) and lost to the Thrashers. By March 24 the Thrashers were trying him at center between Evander Kane and Radek Dvorak and on the 25th he scored the GWG against the Islanders in what must have been a highlight of the season for him.

Of course, the off-season has been about change. The Thrashers became the Jets and the Jets set him free about a month ago. Schremp has been shopping for work since, but as the summer wears on one wonders if he’ll have to return to the minors (or Europe) and wait for another opportunity.

Schremp as an NHL player hasn’t been a world beater, but has been able to post some offense. That is the kind of player that often gets multiple chances; although he’s played for three NHL teams already Schremp’s NHL career likely has a few stops to come.

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Another busy edition of Nation Radio today at noon. Scheduled to appear:

As always, email questions and comments are welcome at nationradio@theteam1260.com and I imagine there will be a few questions about NK, the Smyth-Fraser deal and Team 1260’s brand new shows. Bring it on, we’ll answer everything we can and make sure your comments hit the air.