IT’S A TOUGH BUSINESS
By Lowetide
12 years ago
Glen Sather suffered through bad times as GM of the Edmonton Oilers. However, by the time the Oilers began failing under his watch, Sather had already sealed his legacy with 5 Stanley’s. Today’s Oiler leadership is at the All-Star break and in year 2 through 6 (depending on your pov) of a rebuild. What does the future hold for Steve Tambellini? Tom Renney?
Terry Jones broke the news and Robin Brownlee gave what I felt was the most reasonable solution in regard to the Oiler front office. Jones’ news (Tambellini extension, Renney blowing in the wind) and Brownlee’s item (what’s the hurry, Mac?) are nice bookends for what has to be a major topic of conversation for Oiler fans right now.
I think the question is: where are we in the rebuild? Do the Oilers feel another top 3 selection is important? Or is there pressure to turn this thing around and show some progress by season’s end?
My guess is that there is real pressure for coach Renney to win some games down the stretch. Draft picks are the building blocks of success, but then again you can’t do it every year because eventually you’ll be at the podium picking first and then saying goodbye to Taylor Hall on July 1 in the same summer.
At some point, you need to stand and deliver. It’s my feeling that coach Renney’s job relies–at least somewhat–on a reasonably strong showing in the second half. RNH and Gilbert will return and the team will have its best available players for the month of Feb (before the deadline).
In the next month, we’re likely to see Steve Tambellini extended (as per Jones article), Hemsky shopped (as per everybody) or hopefully signed, and I do think it’s an important 30 days for Tom Renney.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
You could argue that Tom Renney doesn’t have the horses and I’d agree with you. I don’t think it changes a thing. Tough damn business.
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NationRadio hits the airwaves today at Noon Edmonton time on Team 1260. You can email comments and questions for our guests to nationradio@theteam1260.com or post them in the comments section on the blog. I’m also @lowetide_ on twitter. Scheduled to appear:
- Terry Jones, HOF writer for the Edmonton Sun. He’s following the Barons this week and I’ll ask him about the prospects, the suspects and the fact that this OKC team might be among the best minor league clubs (in terms of wins and losses) in the Oilers history.
- Jason Gregor, host of the popular Jason Gregor Show on Team 1260. We’ll talk trade deadline, prospect progress and what he expects from the Oilers in the season’s final 30 games.
- Dennis King of Dennis King scoring chances and mc79 hockey. Dennis will talk about Paajarvi’s lack of progress (Dennis worried from the start about his offense), the trade of Ales Hemsky and touch base on what this team needs for next season.
- Jim Byers from OKC Barons. Jim is the play-by-play announcer and an astute resource for all of these Oiler prospects. I’ll ask him about Phil Cornet and his season, plus some of the "under the radar" types like Hunter Tremblay and Tanner House.
- Dennis Murphy, co-founder of the WHA and therefore a major reason for big league hockey in Edmonton. We’ll talk about the rebel league, the importance of Bobby Hull and the larger than life figure that was Bill Hunter.
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