Not to be outdone by the Florida Panthers, the Edmonton Oilers have also extended the contract of their general manager.
Steve Tambellini’s vote of confidence comes despite the fact the Oilers are about to make their third straight first overall draft pick.
“Three years ago we asked Steve to begin a rebuild which we all know hasn’t been easy,” said the team’s president of hockey operations, Kevin Lowe, in a release. “However, Oilers fans can take some consolation in the fact that Steve and his staff have acquired some amazing talent which will most definitely be the cornerstone to future sustained success for the Edmonton Oilers.”
Under Tambellini’s guidance, Edmonton has drafted the likes of Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson.
Expect Lowe to face some criticism for extending Tambellini given the Oilers’ win-loss record the past four seasons. Typically press releases announcing new contracts don’t ask fans to “take some consolation.”