Those other vets you might want at present time can/should remain on hold probably till trade deadline ! Then team can accurately and more cheaply add those type talents if we make the playoffs .

That's bass-ackwards. Give up nothing to sign a guy now, or give up something to trade for him at the deadline... hmm... yep, it'll be cheaper at the deadline.

It has not been a perfect run for Steve-o I wasn't suggesting that but to pin all this on Tambellini is also not fair. Kevin Lowe made some awful moves and then didn't have to deal with the fallout and handed the keys over to Tambelini. He has done what he can this is work in progress and We'll need time to see how the youngsters develop. The Oil do have vets like Horcoff,Strudwick and Hemsky so I think they can help the younger players find their way. Regardless of what transpires I think it will be exciting watch and a darn sight better than the "Hot Mess" that was last season.

I don't disagree at all. I was not trying to bash Tambo as much as I was trying to defend Lowe. I hate how fans always blame the bad signings and where this team is on Lowe.

As for Tambo's job this summer, I will reserve my judgment until the players hit the ice. If you go back to the O'Sullivan for Cole trade everyone loved it at the time, and it was the ushering in of a new era with Tambo putting his stamp on the team... Of course when the trade didn't pan out, it was Lowe's fault... Now, conveniently, it's the summer of Steve, and everything prior seems to again fall on Lowe's shoulders. I will agree that Tambo's done some good things, especially the cap space(Staios, Morreau, O'Sullivan), however, he the GM that iced the team that finished 30th in teh league. Remember how positive things were before Tambo signed? (http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/sports/story.html?id=54b286c6-eecf-4323-8254-6682bb7574c2) He was supposed to be inheriting an up and coming team... what happened? He was the GM that evaluated while players values sank, he was the GM of the team when they chased Danny Heately to BC, he was the GM that inked an old injury prone goalie... I'm not saying he's a bad GM. I not saying that he makes team decisions in a vacuum. What I am saying is that he's not a puppet and sooner or later us fans have to quit blaming Lowe and realize that, as GM, something has to have been Tambo's responsibility.

Why would anyone talk about a non-rumour like Penner/Cogs for Johnson? That "Rumour" was pure speculative spit-balling on the part of somebody at Hockeybuzz. I will repeat that one, Hockeybuzz.

None of it is true. Just read the article it made it's appearance in. The guy is suggesting the trade in the same way RossCreek suggested signing Guerin. There is no source, there is no inside info, it's just a guy trying to come up with ideas as an armchair GM.

Spending an article talking about this would be a horrible waste of time. Almost as much of a waste of time as me taking this post to remind you that this "rumour" came from the fabricated rumour mill at hockeybuzz.

I understand what you're saying about Lowe. Lowe made a number of very good moves prior to the SCF season and at the trade deadline that year that got them to the 7th game of the final. I think he started to unravel a bit as GM when the mass exodus of players wanting to leave because their wives didn't like it here started. That and a few failed attempts at landing the big fish (Vanek, Nylander and Hossa). Thankfully none of those deals worked out.

KLowe is the ultimate Oiler. It must be painful for him to deal with today's players who feel a contract isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

I've met him a few times over the years, he's definitely less stressed today than he was as a GM. The move was good for him and the organization.

Edit: It`s also interesting to look back at the Horcoff deal and the context of when and why it was done. We had been seeing a mass exodus of our star players for years and Horcoff was signed long-term after an all-star season. No one at the time criticized the deal. I for one, don`t believe in revisionist history. If I didn`t bash the deal at the time, there`s no point talking about how bad it is today.

The Penner deal on the other hand is the opposite. Lowe took a lot of heat over the terms of that signing. Don`t hear too many people complaining about it today.

Petr's Jofa wrote:

What I am saying is that he's not a puppet and sooner or later us fans have to quit blaming Lowe and realize that, as GM, something has to have been Tambo's responsibility.

You are almost certainly right. Trouble is, people have been speculating that Tambi was a puppet right from the day he was hired. If he was then, people wonder, why wouldn't he be one now? Did Lowe ever have a date where he meant to 'cut the strings'?

By this point I believe that this is mostly Tambi's team. I do think, though, that Lowe might factor into some of Tambi's decisions. Speculating further, it may be that percentage of 'Lowe Oil Pressure' that concerns some people. Does Kevin offer input 5% of the time? 40%? When the advice is offered, does Tambi ever have the option to refuse it and stand his ground?

Quinn has been 'promoted' to Senior Hockey Advisor. How much power do you think Quinn has in the organization to affect change? In an organization where empty titles seem as common as undersized forwards, one starts to wonder which positions are real and which ones aren't.

??? If you were GM of one of the top 10 teams last year and still had the core of your team going into the 2011 season, would you pay a vet to come on board? I think not. Also keep in mind that you may need a couple mil left over to get a couple key players at trade deadline in the fall. The Oilers have room now for a couple million on a vet and still have trade room left and trade dealine left. I would DEFINITELY take a vet or two.

@oilslick @Crackenbury @Ender

Damn it. We can all agree!! Agreeing is a quick way to slow a thread down and makes the workday drag out.

Another option is that the Oilers don't sign a bottom of the barrel UFA. They can wait until traing camp comes to an end and maybe make a deal with an over the cap team that is looking to finalize their roster?

I don't know what fuzzy logic you use ? It always seemed to me if you pick up a rental player at trade deadline your only on the hook for about 1/4 of his salary for that year ! Thus, you could pick up a player or two of better quality ,that normally might be out of range if you tried to sign them otherwise . You also have a better idea of what you need down the stretch run .

You sound like a Flame fan , addicted to recycle instead of youth movement ?

That logic only seems fuzzy because you're thinking in dollars instead of assets. You trade FOR a guy at the deadline, it costs you assets. You trade a guy to another team, you gain assets. This is about assets, not money.

Since the Oilers will in all likelyhood be battling it out for the basement again, I doubt they will be looking to add that quality rental guy at the deadline.

Since when did acquiring a rental player stop ceasing to be an acquired asset regardless the length of time you care to use him ? I guess it matches your optimism for relishing in the basement again this season ?

Sounds to me you and Ross are wanting an award or something for this week ?

Definition of Rental Player: A player acquired with the understanding that said player will remain with the club until the end of that playing season only.

If we can agree with that then it's safe to say that if Team X trades a 2nd round pick for Player Y, and player Y leaves at the end of the season, then in the summer Team X will have spent a 2nd round pick for a player that is no longer one of their assets.

If Team X does not make the playoffs then Player Y will have done absolutely nothing for the club to get better short term. That spent 2nd round pick, however, will be a nice tool for some other team to gain an asset that could remain with their club for 8 years.

See how that works?

I'd love to be the recipient of madjam's weekly "butt plant" award for the 2nd week in a row. In fact, I plan on running the table - 52 straight weeks.

Lord knows Arch and I often have differing opinions on things, but I think we can agree on this:

"madjam, what you often have to say is of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response(s) were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought(s). Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

LOL...

In case it went over your head...

-Sign a guy now without giving up an asset and then trade him at the deadline to acquire an asset
OR
-Trade an asset to acquire a guy at the deadline

I know which one *THIS* team should be doing.

In any case, Bill Guerin specifically, is not the only option. Just one that's been thrown out by more than a few peep's here at TheNation.

This team has made room for the 3 kids by letting go the Nilsson's, Pouliot's, O'Sullivan's & Potulny's... how do they replace the Moreau's, Pisani's, Stone's & Comrie's. I think bringing in ONE more gritty vet (even Comrie himself) is not too much to ask... and not nearly as stupid as you (and others) make it out to be.

I assume that the Flames are going to fail to make the playoffs again this year. In the offseason they will likely fire Sutter and begin searching for a new GM.

Madjam - I strongly suggest you apply for this job. We will all give you sterling references and endorsements.

RossCreek wrote:

I'd love to be the recipient of madjam's weekly "butt plant" award for the 2nd week in a row. In fact, I plan on running the table - 52 straight weeks.

You'll have to earn it, RC. I went on record last week as saying I was in to be a serious contender for this week's award. I'd like to think I could be even more rational and logical than a guy who still cheers when the Flamers win a game.

May the best anti-jammer win!

@Rosscreek; Sadly Sportnet has reported that Comrie's not coming back. He's not a bottom 6 guy and there's no room in the top 6 according to Tambo.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2010/08/28/oilers_comrie/

Hopefully he signs somewhere. Solid NHL forward, could be had for cheap, lots of bottom dwellers could do worse.

I know this wasn't meant for me, but you NEED to go white water rafting if you go through Golden - we had a blast doing that.

Arch - a rental purchase may also be a seasonal player next season if you so choose to make him one . It's not as black and white as you make it out to be . Once again we disagree . Surprised ? Pretty soon , if Tambo doesn't slow down he'll be nicknamed Rambo Tambo !

Things could be much worse , you could be a Flames fan basking in pessimism . Look on the bright side , last time i went on holidays to start the exhibition year and another to finish the year , the Oilers went all the way to Stanley Cup finals . Will superstition repeat itself this season ?

They've already hired the new GM - Jay Feaster. He's just biding his time looking over Darryl's shoulder until Flames brass pull the trigger.

As Oilers fans, we should be hoping the Sutters stick around as long as possible - Feaster looks like a solid hockey man.

As an aside - I would still give madjam an endorsement if he sends in his appplication.

I raise 3 half full Pabst Blue Ribbons to Sam Gagner. Cute little fella.

There's an inherent risk that comes with the acquisition of a "rental" type player. Most often they are in the final year of their contract. Unless they have a NMC, and agreed to come to our fine city, chances are probably way better than 50/50 they'll be playing somewhere next season. Hence, with respect Arch's post #63, we gave up a second rounder for nothing.

The scenario I outlined already happened to the Oilers too. Oilers send 2nd round pick for Ales Kotalik.

That 2nd round pick turned into William Wrenn: Defensive Defenseman who Captained the Americans to 2009 Juniour Gold.

hmmm...Defensive defenseman with leadership skills. ~Nope, I'd rather have 2 months of Ales Kotalik.~

The Islanders have actually done a good job of signing vets to 1-year contracts then dealing them at the deadline for pics.

Case in point, Bill Guerin. They dealt him to the Pens in '09 after signing him to a 1-year deal that summer.

This is also why I assume they signed both Biron and Rollie last year, but probably didn't fetch the return they were hoping for in a trade.

Tampa has also done the same with Mark Recchi.

I couldn't tell you what type of re-building material they acquired from those deals, but it's a viable strategy nonetheless. If a trade doesn't work out (Roloson), or if the player gets injured (Doug Weight), the salary is usually small enough that the downside is minimal.

Why would you go through Kamloops at all? The trip from Edmonton to Salmon Arm would be 1.5-2 hours longer that way.

I dunno... going from Edmonton to Sorrento with gf to see her Dad. She prefers to go thru Jasper rather than Banff. I'm just along for the ride, lol

... the going thru Golden idea is mine if/when I grab the reigns and drive where I want ;-)

EDIT: And I just checked Google Maps... it says its only 15 min. longer yet 14km shorter
EDIT2: (and I guess you don't quite actually go thru Kamloops) - my mistake.

Yeah if you aren't actually going through Kamloops it's not quite as bad, but it's still a significant amount of time longer.

I'm not sure how you're entering it into google maps, because when I do it it comes up as still being a full hour longer (9h54 vs 10h54) and I actually think it will end up being even more than an hour because the road south from the 16 (South Yellowhead) can be slow going.

My dad and I have a cabin on the Shuswap just across from Salmon Arm, so I've done the drive more times than I can count, but admittedly I am usually coming from Calgary.

I think there is only one route to take if you go through Jasper, so I think you might be entering the Banff route wrong.

Edit: Bah. I just realized you said you were going to Sorrento. That's a good half hour past Salmon arm, so the difference definitely shrinks a lot. Definitely not enough to be worth arguing with your GF about.