Oilers sign RNH to max contract

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It didn't take long for the Oilers and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to come to terms on a deal, as RNH signed his entry level contract today at an Edmonton Capitals game where he also threw out the first pitch. The Oilers own the North American Baseball League team.

Kevin Lowe got the ball rolling by contacting the RNH camp and a contract was quickly worked out with Assistant G.M. Rick Olczyk. The pact will pay the first overall pick the maximum $925,000 and with bonuses could jump to $3.775 million. Some of the bonus triggers are goals, assists, points, points per game, ice time, plus/minus and various awards. Interestingly enough winning the Calder trophy is not an eligible bonus do to the current CBA.

Nugent-Hopkins will join other Oilers prospects Monday morning in Sherwood Park at the team's prospect camp.

Does Tambellini have the stones to make a deal on the draft floor?

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When Kevin Lowe was G.M. of the Oilers he never seemed to have trouble making a quick decision on a deal. 2007 he moved up to take Riley Nash. He had no problem giving up a first round pick in 2006 to bring in Dwayne Roloson. The future of the Oilers certainly rests with whoever is drafted first overall today, but another big part of the future could depend on if current G.M. Steve Tambellini can make a quick decisison, something I'm told doesn't happen very often. If team X calls up the Oilers and wants to deal a pick for a player, or other picks, and Tambellini has to make a call on the spot...can he do it?

Past evidence that has been presented to me suggest no. From different sources across the league, here's what I've gathered from past deals the General Manager has and hasn't made.

The Lowe Down On Hockey Canada

This doesn't really have a lot to do with prospects, but I thought I would throw it out anyway. According to Bruce Garrioch's article in today's Ottawa Sun Wayne Gretzky will not be the ring leader at the 5 ring circus for Vancouver 2010. Instead, Steve Yzerman will be the man charged with putting together Canada's club and winning gold on home ice.

So with Yzerman in, and Gretzky out, what does that mean for Kevin Lowe? Obviously Lowe and Gretzky's past played a major role in the Oilers now President of hockey operations being a part of Team Canada, and they proved themselves in 2002 by coming out on top in Salt Lake City. However 2006 didn't go so well, and Hockey Canada could go in a completely different direction with a brand new coaching and management staff starting with Yzerman at the top, picking his own guys.



It's not going to happen. Atleast not at the expense of Lowe. I'm expecting Lowe to be named to the management team at Saturday's news conference in Ottawa. Likely in the capacity of Yzerman's right hand man. My next question is regarding Steve Tambellini. He's now the Oilers G.M. taking over from Lowe this summer. Does he continue his role with Hockey Canada? I guess we'll find out Saturday.

Garrioch's article mentioned a long list of coaching candidates, and I'd like to throw in 2 more names. Brent Sutter and Andy Murray. Both have successfully ties to Hockey Canada and atleast one of them should be in Vancouver in some form.