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Will Tambellini attempt to lure Sedins to Edmonton? |
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Fish or cut bait.
That’s the scenario facing the Edmonton Oilers and Steve Tambellini over the next few months, as the club determines whether to stick with, or abandon, its commitment to some of the team’s core players in an attempt to regain respectability and competitiveness.
Without q uestion, the Oilers have some dead wood to clear out of the locker room, and Tambellini sounds like a GM on a mission, at least in the spoken word. Whether that translates into bold, dramatic changes that will transform into immediate on-ice improvement, remains to be seen.
This summer is the first real measuring stick for Tambellini, a seasoned front-office man brought in to do the dirty work those including Kevin Lowe seemed, at times, unwilling to do.
The former Vancouver Canucks’ suit has tight connections to the west coast club, which begs the question, “Will the team’s most recent front-office hire make a bold pitch to bring the Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik, to Edmonton?
Both coveted UFAs this summer, the Sedins (currently earning $3.75M respectively) will most certainly be seeking a hefty raise after leading the Canucks in scoring over the 2008-09 regular season. The twins finished the regular season campaign each with point-a-game numbers contributing 82 points in 82 games for The Whale. (Daniel: 31-51; Henrik: 22-60).
Undoubtedly, the LW-Centre combination will account for in the neighbourhood of $10-$12M of a team’s cap hit, if they’re signed as a package deal the second time around. But who would Oiler fans rather see in their top six next season – a $7M aging forward who’s been out of the NHL for a year (Jagr), who has pulled disappearing acts throughout various regular seasons, a long-term deal that could pour upwards of $80M into one sniper’s bank account (Hossa), or $11M for a pair of 29-year-old point-a-game rising stars on the presuppose of greatness?
I fancy the latter myself!
Tambellini has plenty of spring cleaning to do this off-season, some of which could potentially include breaking ties with project players such as Marc Pouliot, Robert Nilsson and Kyle Brodziak, as well as league veterans including Ales Kotalik – perhaps even Captain Ethan Moreau!
When your team fails to qualify for the playoffs three years consecutive, all bets are off.
Whether the Sedin twins remain Canucks, get lured to Edmonton or shed the blue and green for blue and white and join former Vancouver GM Brian Burke in Toronto, Oilers Nation should anticipate some significant roster moves this off-season.
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