I don't read the Edmonton Sun for a range of reasons, but it's come to my attention this morning that they ran a story suggesting Steve Tambellini is soon to be re-signed as the Edmonton Oilers General Manager. One person told me on Twitter that it's a four-year extension? I don't know for sure. I didn't read the article.

What I do know is Oiler fans are going ape tit at the suggestion that Tambi be retained. He has been, after, GM for two consecutive Oilers last-place finishes...and you can likely turn that two into a three at the end of this season. Why should the team reward failure?

Well, for starters, it isn't really Tambellini who is failing.

I have absolutely no doubt Steve Tambellini plays are large role in setting the direction of this team, but everyone should keep in mind how he got here in the first place. Pre-Tambi, Kevin Lowe did everything. I think he even was responsible for washing the jocks. It was suggested that part of the reason the team was starting to fail under Lowe is that he was taking on too much. By the time Tambi was hired, the mess that is the Oilers already existed.

Consider the Oilers before Taylor Hall. Who were the players? Horcoff, Hemsky and Gilbert were here. A few others were here too. I seem to remember players named Penner, Pouliot, O'Sullivan, Brule...yikes.

Teams can get better a few different ways. One is through the draft. Look at the last few seasons and ask yourself how the Oilers are doing in that department. Answer is, tremendously. Eberle, Nuge, Hall...I still believe Paajarvi will turn into something good. Lander, Pitlick, Hamilton, Martindale, Marincin, Gernat, Musil, Bunz, Klefbom, etc...I dare say no team has been better at the draft for the last few season. Oilers have provided their scouting staff solid pick position to work with, but look at the list and tell me the Oilers aren't doing fantastic stuff at the draft. In a few years, this team will be unstoppable thanks to scouting.

A team can improve itself by making deals. Difficulty with that is, you need to give up something to get something. Back when Tambi inherited the GM job, the Oilers didn't have many assets they could move to bring back quality. Players like Hall, Eberle and Nugent-Hopkins don't just fall from trees. Trading draft picks, especially when they have the chance to be #1 overall ones, is a risky proposition.

Third way to acquire players is to sign UFA's. Well, this hasn't gone as well as Tambellini hoped. For example, he tried this summer to bring in a stack of vets to address holes on the Oilers roster. Eric Belanger's resume suggests he should get a point every second game. Ben Eager's game file says he's tough and likes to instigate. Cam Barker was a D man that had a good first season and then struggled. Big name UFA's, as we know, don't like to sign for teams like Edmonton, because it's a few too miles west of New York or Detroit.

Is Tambellini a good GM or a bad one?

Kevin Lowe still calls the shots. Tambi does plenty of footwork, but Kevin Lowe is the guy who says yes and no to things. Tambellini is Lowe's face-man, gopher, and to a large degree, puppet. I've seen nothing that indicates he hasn't done well with respect to his work.

Tambellini has made some deals that were sweet, especially when it comes to sticking it to the Kings. The Fraser for Smyth deal was sweet, as was the Penner for Teubert and a 1st (Klefbom). At worst, we could say Tambi wins as many deals as he loses. I actually think he usually wins deals, so gold star on the nose for him for that.

He has a solid record at the draft. Hey, don't just praise the scouts. Tambellini has the ability to overrule his Head Scout and call out different names. From what I've seen, Tambellini listens and he gives his scouting staff plenty opportunity to be involved in decision making. Give Tambellini a big plus in the checkbook.

Signing UFA's...okay, that hasn't went well. But in defense of Tambellini, how exactly do you predict that someone with the consistent numbers of a Belanger is going to fall asleep on you? The biggest issue I have with Tambi's work in respect to this is that he's so far been unable to bring in a solid talent through free agency. He's brought in a number of experiments or lesser players, and neither have done much to improve the team.

Overall analysis? Tambellini is okay. Not great, and not terrible. It could be worse. I complain about how bad the Oilers are right now constantly, but in truth, I am very optimistic about the team's prospect depth and talent level. Tambellini's biggest asset, perhaps, is his ability to remain calm, and to not sell out a great 10 years of future just because the team stinks now. Perhaps I'd like Tambi better if he can, oh, I don't know...sign UFA defenseman Ryan Suter to a long-term deal this summer...but you can't always get what you want.

I'm not sure I'd be giving Tambellini a four-year extension, but two I'd certainly support. Three for negotiation reasons would be acceptable.

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