SCORCHED EARTH
By Lowetide
10 years ago
I believe this sentiment drives much of the discontent in Oilers Nation these days. Why can’t we have nice things? Colorado sucked for LESS time and are in the playoffs looking like the Oilers team we were promised!!!! What the hell? Where are the answers? After the break.
Steve Tambellini authored a devastating period in Oilers history and left a roster filled with forgettable. Tambellini never met an NHL player he couldn’t rid himself of, he was quite impressive at the discipline.
- Sheldon Souray said a few things? OFF to Chocolate City with him!!!
- Dustin Penner has size, but won’t use it? Kick him down the road for a pick that might turn out years from now.
- His ‘stand and deliver’ July 1st 2011 series of transactions (bought out
Souray, signs Cam Barker, Ben Eager, Darcy Hordichuk, Eric Belanger,
Corey Potter and trades for Andy Sutton) serves as his nadir.
It’s easy to forget just how many useful people were sent away after Steve Tambellini arrived in late summer 2008.
- Erik Cole, Edmonton gets Patrick O’Sullivan
- Kyle Brodziak, Edmonton gets two picks (Bigos and Roy). Minnesota also gets a late pick they turn into Darcy Kuemper—who played for them last night.
- Denis Grebeshkov. Edmonton gets the pick that turned into Curtis Hamilton.
- Lubomir Visnovsky. Edmonton gets Ryan Whitney and the Brandon Davidson pick.
- Steve Staios. Edmonton gets Aaron Johnson and the pick that turns into Travis Ewanyk.
- Riley Nash. Edmonton gets the Martin Marincin pick.
- Dustin Penner. Edmonton acquires Colten Teubert and the Oscar Klefbom pick.
- Andrew Cogliano. Edmonton acquires the Marco Roy pick.
- Tom Gilbert. Edmonton acquires Nick Schultz.
- Tobias Rieder. Edmonton acquires Kale Kessy.
RECOVERY
When Craig MacTavish took over this hockey team, they were very weak up the middle. Improvements last summer (Boyd Gordon, Andrew Ference) added to mid-season fixes (Scrivens, Fasth) have Edmonton looking a little better at C, D and G.
There’s a long way to go.
However, the scorched earth policy—which involved things like sending a capable defenseman to the minors as punishment for a moment of frustration—delivered an empty cupboard and made certain the early years of Taylor Hall were bleak.
Steve Tambellini dealt Dustin Penner at the 2010-11 deadline, and the Oilers did not replace him until summer 2013 (David Perron).
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
When looking at a picture, it’s vital to identify the real tragedy.
I understand the frustration that Michael Parkatti and all Oiler fans have today. This is draining, especially when Colorado makes it look so easy. But if you look at where they were in 2010 (they had 95 points and made the playoffs) and since then (seasons of 68, 88, lockout 39 and now 112 points), it doesn’t compare with the scorched earth Oilers.
The one season that showed promise (2011-12 under Renney) Tambellini fired the coach and brought back Lennart Petrell. !!!!!!.
I know this is a difficult period, but if we’re laying blame here let’s have the conversation. It’s hard to rebuild an empire from rubble overnight.
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