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The Curious Case of Jeff Tambellini |
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Oh yeah, it's early June and I am struggling to find things to write while I'm starting to prepare for draft day. Okay, I'm not really preparing for draft day because something in the back of my head says he's trading the pick and then I would do a lot of research for nothing. But... we'll see.
But after watching Game 2 of the SCF, something odd struck me. "OMG! Jeff Tambellini is two games away from having his name on the Stanley Cup!"
WHAT?? Jiffy Jeff, Jeff Tambellini is on the precipice of Hockey history and I am stunned. Don't get me wrong, Tamby is a great guy and pretty intelligent. But this first round draft pick of 2003, chosen 27th overall by LA has never materialized into what everyone expected of him. Even his Hockey bloodlines haven't been able to make him a force in the NHL.
After playing on four NHL games for LA, Jeff was traded to the NYI in March of 2006 with the disgruntled Russian, Denis Grebeshkov for Mark Parish and Brent Sopel.
Jeff played 21 games in the '05-'06 season for the Islanders earning only one goal and three assists. He spent most of his time in the AHL where he played 56 games tallying 25 goals and 31 assists. hmmmm...
In 2006-2007 back with the Islanders he played 23 games earning only nine points, two goals and seven assists. But put him back on the ferry to Bridgeport and he scored 30 goals and 29 assists.
This happened every year. I am almost positive Tamby even earned AHL awards for his work in that league. However, for some reason, put Jeff back in an NHL sweater and all of a sudden -- he was invisible.
The only exception was when his father, Steve Tambellini was in the building. I can pretty much guarantee that most of the NHL goals on his stat sheet came during games when his father was watching.
As a left wing for Vancouver, Jeff played 62 games and scored 9 goals and 8 assists. Then again, he really doesn't get much ice time. He made his playoff debut against Nashville on 5/9 and has played four playoff games so far where he has -- nothing. Barely even a shot. He played Trevor Gillies minutes on 6/1 against Boston, seeing only 2:30 of ice time.
Jeff Tambellini, career AHLer? There is nothing wrong with that -- of course. He is a stellar player at that level. But to think that with Vancouver only two games away from the prize, Jeff Tambellini was one player whose name I never expected to see on the Stanley Cup.
Note to Tim Thomas: Stay.in.the.net. That was your best impression of Ricky D and it obviously gave you the same results.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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