Hey, what do you know: Steve Tambellini did something.

Today, the Edmonton Oilers signed prospect defenseman Brandon Davidson to the three-year entry level deal. This was not a surprise, as the Oilers and Davidson had been trying to sort a deal out for a few weeks. Davidson is big, offensively aware, and can skate. Perhaps he isn't a prospect who is immediately considered on the same level as Klefbom, Musil, Gernat or Marincin, but he's a kid and he needs time to develop. Could become a Top 4 NHL defenseman in time.

The signing of Davidson likely means other prospects taken during the 2010 draft - Jeremie Blain and Drew Czerwonka, will likely not be signed, and will re-enter the draft in June. A team can carry only so many contracts; it's as simple as that.

Tambellini and Ryan Smyth's agent Don Meehan continue to be in contact in an effort to iron out a deal to extend Smyth. It sounds like length of term, not money, is the sticking point.

Oilers will interview around 75 players during the NHL Combine this week. Nail Yakupov is clearly who the Oilers will use the 1st overall pick on. The purpose of the interviews is more to decide if there's a reason to move up the 31st overall pick, or to pursue a second 1st round pick by moving Hemsky to do it.

Other Notes

- Bob Hartley is the new Head Coach in Calgary. Why would anyone want to do that? How desperate must that man be for employment? Oh well. If I had to pick between Sutter, Maurice or Hartley with Edmonton, I would go with Hartley.

- Marc Crawford is a possibility for the Head Coach job in Edmonton, just so you know.

- Very sad day, with Nick Lidstrom retiring. Maybe a D-man like Bobby Orr had more raw talent, but I'm not sure there's a defenseman who brought all-star play to the league for as many seasons as Lidstrom did. One of the two or three greatest defensemen of all time, and deserving of instant inclusion to the Hockey Hall of Fame. He'll be missed tremendously.

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