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Oilers yet to decide Renney's future

Jim Matheson, Postmedia News, April 11, 2012

EDMONTON — Tom Renney’s future with the Edmonton Oilers isn’t any more clear after general manager Steve Tambellini met with the media on Wednesday.

“Tom is our coach right now . . . I won’t go into what ifs,” said the Edmonton Oilers general manager.

That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for Renney, but Tambellini doesn’t make snap decisions. He wants his head coach, whose contract expires June 30, to decompress after the 82-game NHL season and return to optimum health.

“I told Tom he needs to go away for a few weeks and rest,” said Tambellini. “I told him to take a vacation. And I’m going for a few weeks to the under-18s and eventually the world championship (May 4-20 in Helsinki and Stockholm).

“It’s time for us to think about the season, think about the things we did well and could do better. We’ll discuss that and he’s comfortable with that.’’

He also wants Renney, who has been the Oilers bench boss the last two seasons after replacing Pat Quinn, to think about how he sees the team going forward. Tambellini wants a game plan, an analysis of the team, if you will.

“I’ve spoken with Tom and he’s all right with this,” said Tambellini, whose four-year contract is also up, but will likely be renewed. “I thought the coaching staff . . . Tom, Ralph (Krueger), Steve (Smith), Kelly (Buchberger) and Fred (Chabot) worked extremely hard. The one-on-one communication with the players was good.

“They did a very good job.”

Tambellini said he’s not procrastinating on the coaching call. And he’s not looking at anyone else, or waiting to see if any other high-end coaches become available after their teams are eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs.

But Tambellini can’t let this coaching situation drag on too long because that leaves Renney and his coaching staff hanging in the wind should other jobs open up elsewhere.

The Oilers finished 29th in a 30-team league this season and finished last in 2009-10 and 2010-11.

“This is why we need time to step back,” Tambellini said. “I know Tom’s going to have a lot to say to me. I want to hear how he thinks we can get to the next step, how do we make people better, compete for a playoff spot.”

The feeling Tambellini got from the players is that they genuinely liked and respected the coaching staff.

“They liked the communication . . . they felt they were prepared for every game,” he said. “Players who get ice time like coaches. Players who don’t get ice time don’t, of course.”

Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
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