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Oilers hire ‘man of action’ MacTavish to do ‘bold things’

Edmonton Oilers' MacTavish yells for referee in St Paul

Edmonton Oilers head coach Craig MacTavish yells to get the attention of a referee during the second period of the Oilers’ NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul, Minnesota, January 15, 2009. REUTERS/Eric Miller (UNITED STATES)

REUTERS

Oilers president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe called his new general manager, Craig MacTavish, a “man of action” at today’s press conference announcing the “significant changes” in Edmonton.

MacTavish then called himself an “impatient guy” prepared to do “bold things” in order to “move the team forward in a rapid fashion.”

Translation: this summer in Edmonton could be a big one.

“The fact of the matter is, we are not where we want to be right now, nor where we should be,” said Lowe.

Lowe, at times getting defensive with reporters, said he relieved former general manager Steve Tambellini of his duties yesterday.

The Oilers also promoted former Columbus GM Scott Howson to senior vice president of hockey operations.

What kind of “bold things” MacTavish attempts will be the subject of much speculation. He said today that the club is in a position to “expose ourselves to some semblance of risk,” but when pressed for specifics, he was hesitant to say much more.

Might he trade one of his talented, young forwards -- see: Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nail Yakupov, Jordan Eberle, and Sam Gagner -- for help in other areas?

“We would part with those assets very begrudgingly,” said MacTavish.