[JaredMilne]

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/sto ... tract.html

$1:

Wanting more wins out of their young talent, the Edmonton Oilers won't renew the contract of head coach Tom Renney after two seasons in the NHL's cellar.

"We're entering a new phase of our hockey club," general manager Steve Tambellini said Thursday.

I personally don't think this is Renney's fault, myself. Just look at what he has to work with-a collection of young stars who haven't peaked yet, a lot of underachieving veterans and a migraine-inducing goaltending situation. Even Scotty Bowman would have his work cut out for him.

What Tambellini should be doing is working the phones to try and get a goalie to replace Khabibulin and support Dubnyk. The Bulin Wall has had a good run, but he looks like he's out of gas.

Thoughts?

[Unsound]

I don't think it was the best move. He has a losing record, but as you say, that's can't be completely laid at his feet. We're in a re-build. losing is what happens at the beginning of a re-build. I don't think any coach could make much difference as far as that goes. I would have preferred a little bit of stability for atleast one more year. I think that's important for young players as well. If there wasn't significant improvment this year I'd look at a new coach. WE do have the tools now to be dangerous. I expect big things from Eberle and Nuge this year.

[HaRdLy]

The organization as a whole needs a top down cleaning, starting with KLow and Tamby.

[Unsound]

Agree about Lowe but I think Tamby is doing a pretty good job. He hasn't caved to the pressure to rush things on the rebuild. I think the next 2 seasons wil really show if it's been done right or night. I expect play-offs in 2012-13 and a good play-offs the next season.

[HaRdLy]

All I care is that Sutter DOES NOT become the new Head Coach.

Look at Calgary for an explanation there....

[Thanos]

NHL teams in Alberta: where coaching careers come to die.

[Unsound]

Thanos Thanos:

Losing NHL teams : where coaching careers come to die.

Fixed.

[JaredMilne]

HaRdLy HaRdLy:

All I care is that Sutter DOES NOT become the new Head Coach.

Look at Calgary for an explanation there....

Care to provide some details for us non-Calgarians?

[Thanos]

"Boys, I don't care if you have a clear breakaway on an empty net that'll give us a win in the last five seconds of the game. What I really want from you is to concentrate on your grinding, backchecking, and yapping at the referees. Plus tomorrow we're trading more of our first-round draft picks for some third-line guys in their late 30's from Toronto and Columbus so please make the noobs feel welcome when they get here."

Yours truly,

any Sutter, bafflingly proud of a team - 30 goals for/goals against differential

[PostFactum]

"There are no bad players, there are bad couches." Exception always exists.

[bootlegga]

Unsound Unsound:

Agree about Lowe but I think Tamby is doing a pretty good job. He hasn't caved to the pressure to rush things on the rebuild. I think the next 2 seasons wil really show if it's been done right or night. I expect play-offs in 2012-13 and a good play-offs the next season.

It all depends on what happens at the draft - if they go ahead and just draft a another forward - knowing full well that the need now is defence - then management needs an overhaul too.

In an ideal world, they would either sign a big name d-man in the off-season (assuming they can convince one to come here), they will trade the #1 pick for a slew of defence prospects or trade places with someone else for a d-man or acquire a d-man from someone else.

Of course, Edmonton has its hands tied because a lot of players do NOT want to come here.

[Unsound]

I'm honestly so happy that it's not up to me to decide what to do with the draft pick. Ideally I'd trade it for a solid established blue liner and another top 3 or 5 pick, but I don't know if that's really possible. Any less of a return and there's a very good chance we'll look stupid when yakupov is tearing it up 3 years from now.

As for players not wanting to come here... i think that's starting to change. The chance to play with guys like Eberle, Hall, and Nugent-Hopkins is making us more and more attractive. If those guys keep developing the way they already have there are a lot of guys who'll want to be a part of that.

[bootlegga]

For the Oilers' sake, I hope you're right. I guess we'll know after July 1st whether or not the young guns are making us more attractive for established vets who want a shot at the Cup.

I agree that not taking Yakupov could backfire, but we could just as easily wind up with a Radulov who just bolts for the KHL - which given their recent 'poachings' isn't too hard to believe. Either way, the Oilers look to have plenty of scoring going forward, now they need to find some way to stop everyone from scoring on them. Who knows, maybe they'll take Yakupov and trade Hall or Paarvarti (or some other young gun).

One of the biggest handicaps the Oilers have right now is the three huge contracts (Hemsky, Horcoff and Khabibulin). If they could cut/trade one of those three, they'd have a lot more flexibility going forward in signing a significant player.

[Unsound]

I'd be happy to see Horcoff and Khabi gone but I think they did the right thing with Hemmer. Even if only from a PR perspective showing other players around the league that they appreciate a guys long time service.

As far as the draft, I'd like to see them swing a trade with Montreal. Pick plus a part for PK Subban and Montreal's pick. Then use the pick for the best player available regardless of position. I don't know if Montreal really wants to let Subban go, but I have heard rumours...