Steve Tambellini's Views On The Oilers' Goaltending

by Derek Zona on Jan 2, 2012 9:45 AM MST in News

Like sands through the hourglass, Steve Tambellini did an interview with a friendly face as soon as the grumbling from even the most ardent of Oilers fans has given up. For someone looking for a sign of hope, the most interesting passage has to be his take on the Oilers goaltending:

"The first month and a half of this season showed our capabilities. It wasn’t an illusion, not to me. If you look at our team when our defence is healthy and our goaltending is the way it was then, that’s the type of hockey I think we can play."

Through the first 45 days of the season, the Oilers even strength save percentage was .932. Steve Tambellini thinks the type of hockey Nikolai Khabibulin and Devan Dubnyk can play is equivalent to the sixth-best goaltending in the NHL.

Rather than a deep understanding of percentages, luck and goaltending talent, the General Manager believes that Nikolai Khabibulin should be playing at a level he's not seen in 12 years. There remains a real problem in the front office in Edmonton.

Poll

Do you believe the true talent level of Edmonton's goaltenders is akin to a .932 even strength save percentage (6th in the league)?

No

239 votes

Yes

34 votes

273 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I don’t care what kind of gaffe it takes to get these guys fired but it needs to happen ASAP. I would sacrifice any asset they have including RNH or Hall as long as it meant the Oilers got new management. These guys are going nowhere. It doesn’t matter how many draft picks they have or how much talent.

by RiversQ on Jan 2, 2012 9:52 AM MST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

any asset they have including RNH or Hall as long as it meant the Oilers got new management.

Wow.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jan 2, 2012 10:49 AM MST up reply actions

Has the media in Edmonton ever had the pitch forks and torches out for management. I am asking seriously. There has really only been two management groups here. Sather and Lowe. Did Sather get any heat before or after he moved on?

Its not like this is normal for all of Canada. The Vancouver fans/media have torched a few management groups (including the Tambellini, Quinn, Renney one we have now) and in Montreal they are ready to burn some folks at the stake.

by Matt.N on Jan 2, 2012 10:35 AM MST reply actions

In Montreal the media and fans are always ready to burn someone at the stake; fuelled by the Montreal sports writer’s favourite tool – the false dichotomy.

by Roke on Jan 2, 2012 11:32 AM MST up reply actions

Has the media in Edmonton ever had the pitch forks and torches out for management. I am asking seriously. There has really only been two management groups here. Sather and Lowe. Did Sather get any heat before or after he moved on?

Nope. Only Pocklington

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jan 2, 2012 11:33 AM MST up reply actions

The key word for me in this paragraph is “when”. When the defence is 100% fresh and healthy AND playing above their sustainable performance levels AND we get goaltending better than we can rightfully expect, then of course the team will play competently.

He’s just parroting back to the fans what they’ve been saying all along, which is that the D and goaltending suck.

by David S on Jan 2, 2012 10:51 AM MST reply actions

If by ‘parroting back to the fans’ you mean twisting and warping so that it sounds like the complete opposite, then yes.

by Yeti# on Jan 2, 2012 11:23 AM MST up reply actions

Don’t forget complaining about injuries.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jan 2, 2012 11:46 AM MST up reply actions

One the one hand, its basically what any GM is supposed to say and you don’t expect anything else.

On the other hand, you suspect that he actually believes what he says, and that’s where the idiocy and frustration lies.

by DarrenV on Jan 2, 2012 12:30 PM MST via Android app reply actions

Why do people keep on insisting on taking anything a GM of a hockey team says in public seriously? It is part of the job description to lie.

by godot10 on Jan 2, 2012 1:07 PM MST reply actions

If he’s lying, and none of the moves he’s made suggest he his, then he needs to be a much smarter liar.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jan 2, 2012 2:13 PM MST up reply actions

Public speaking is not one of Tambellini’s strong suits. He is a lousy public communicator. His spin is lousy.

But being able to spin well is one of the qualities I care about least in a GM.

The part of the organization that he hasn’t cleaned out yet, Kevin Lowe’s cronies in pro scouting, are the guys who have to be cleaned out next. It is the last part of the “organization” that Tambellini hasn’t fixed, and it is the last major organizational problem. That and replacing Renney with Nelson next summer.

Maybe he’ll do it after he collects Ryan Murray this summer.

by godot10 on Jan 2, 2012 5:19 PM MST up reply actions

He hasn’t fixed himself, either.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jan 2, 2012 5:54 PM MST up reply actions

No, it’s not.

I don’t really care what Tambellini says anyway. What does or doesn’t do is stupid enough.

by RiversQ on Jan 2, 2012 2:52 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

What I want to know is who are the 19 idiots who voted “Yes” in the poll.

by David S on Jan 2, 2012 2:58 PM MST reply actions

21 idiots

Unlikely they are contrarians who like to mess with people.

Steve Tambellini's motto - Nemo me impune lacessit

by Bar Qu on Jan 2, 2012 3:59 PM MST up reply actions

Some people will vote for anything.

Manager at Vancouver Whitecaps and western Canadian soccer website Eighty Six Forever and infrequently-posting flunky at Edmonton Oilers blog The Copper & Blue.

by Benjamin Massey on Jan 2, 2012 4:03 PM MST up reply actions

It’s the 21 different IP address’ at the Oilers Head Office.

by DarrenV on Jan 2, 2012 4:06 PM MST up reply actions

Tambellini flat out sucks as a GM.....

I mean what is going on? Kabi was a bad signing, he is on the downside of his career. There is no defense; no wonder Anaheim traded Ryan Whitney to the Oilers. He has a serious injury and may not play again. This team is a total joke…..in many ways they are worse than last year. They have some great offensive talent but are still losing. I say gut the management and start over. Tambellini is a joke; he is really out there when he talks about both goalies. I am losing my respect for Edmonton; I was a great fan during the Gretsky years. This team has really gone down fast…..It’s a dirty shame…..

by hocke on Jan 2, 2012 10:07 PM MST reply actions

Gone Down Fast?

Going sideways may be more apt…hey a ten game win streak right now and the Oil match last year for wins.

by Otiepitotie on Jan 3, 2012 12:58 PM MST up reply actions

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