Oilers’ GM Tambellini hasn’t been tempted… yet

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This article was published 22/06/2012 (5217 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PITTSBURGH — The Edmonton Oilers fielded more calls Thursday about their first overall pick in the NHL draft, while Columbus talked of sticking with the second selection or moving down.

Oilers GM Steve Tambellini’s socks had not been blown off by the time he met the media the day before Friday’s draft.

“It would have to be something significant … that makes sense for me to give up the No. 1 pick,” said Tambellini.

“Winning the lottery puts us in another spot for an incredible piece that will bring us forward. And I’m very comfortable, if it stays as is, we’re going to make our pick.”

The offers he had received were “obviously not good enough to make me really think about discussing with our staff,” he said.

“It may not come,” he added. “And I’m totally fine with that. We have an asset coming to this organization to join (Ryan) Nugent-Hopkins, (Taylor) Hall, (Jordan) Eberle, (Magnus) Paajarvi and (Jeff) Petry and some of the young D (defencemen) that are coming also. It’s an exciting time.”

Tambellini was cagey about whether the Oilers had decided on who that might be. All he would say is his scouting braintrust has been “very consistent with their direction.”

This draft is top-heavy in defencemen with Russian Nail Yakupov offering some flash among some promising European forwards available.

— The Canadian Press