Canucks dealt blow [to head]
August 4th, 2008 by thewordbirdIn an interview that is highlighted on www.canucks.nhl.com at an address below, GM Mike Gillis states that he is ‘comfortable’ with the team the Canucks have now and a number of other troubling things. Namely, the loss of Assistant GM Steve Tambellini to the Edmonton Oilers to a four-year contract.
http://canucks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=PodcastPlayer&pid=114&iid=6772
Personally, I applaude Gillis for most of the moves he’s made to date. I think that he has brought in some solid front office guys and has put some pressure on some areas that may have been relaxing. But in this business, there is not much down time and I think that Frank Orr’s article on page 64 of the latest ‘Hockey News’ might say it best.
Orr quotes the late Milt Dunnell with, “In the NHL, if you’re losing your shirt, you can be certain someone will try to steal your pants.” This is indicative of the 60’s in which the six teams were cutthroat and can be applied to these days as well, I believe.
Vancouver has lost a very dependable and passionate hockey man to a divisional rival and despite the public statement of Gillis that “Steve is a person of character and integrity” and “would not abuse his relationship with the Vancouver Canucks,” you have to think that the organization has been caught with it’s collective pants down here.
Gillis says he made the clear indication to Tamby (in an earlier section of the conference call interview) that they wished to retain his services and get a deal done. Now one point or the other disturbs me from both an owner’s OR a fan’s view of this (if in fact you are a fan of Steve Tambellini of which I am).
How is it that knowing of a ‘window’ in Tamby’s contract that allowed him to entertain offers from other clubs openly and by the rules, do you as a manager let the man get to that point and not secure his services? Or, how the heck did you not know? The only credible answer I can imagine at this point is that Gillis was not such a fan of Tambellini and wanted to go the passive route of letting him go without disturbing the office or fan base on that level, to completely remove the old guard. I just do not know if I buy that though. The Oilers are one of a few teams that have a chance to be successful this coming season AND look forward to building a great core of solid youth. You sure cannot fault Tabellini there and I wish him success, especially in any further duties with Hockey Canada.
It has also been stated that Laurence Gilman and Lorne Henning will share the duties, as I imagine that Gillis himself will have to shoulder some of the load further. Interestingly enough, Scott Mellanby has not surfaced on the scouting list on the team’s website and I have to wonder out loud on the position he has been offered ‘unofficially’. I have to think that Ryan Walter’s role will be speeded along with this new turn of events.
It hurts to lose Tambellini. Kevin Lowe has been openly venerate of the Detroit franchise model and that starts with the front office. British Columbia-born Ken Holland heads a staff that has unparalleled success in the NHL in recent history and his delegation of duties from bringing Steve Yzerman along in the management area, to his right-hand man Jim Nill as the head of scouting and such, the Red Wings have a comraderie that is admired and sought.
Posted in Canucks, coaches/admin., honoured, interviews
One Response to “Canucks dealt blow [to head]”
By Jordy on Aug 5, 2008
Bird, I do not believe Tambellini was going to stay in Canucks land after being passed up as GM. He’s a capable GM and everyone knew it. I believe he was going to jump to the first organization that fit within his aims. A Canadian team with a solid youth base, a solid fan base and a solid coach fit the bill.
Do you think there was anything Gillis could have done? I believe Gillis was passive as well, but only because he knew that Tambellini was due to move up to GM status and he couldn’t offer him that.