Edmonton Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini speaks to the media about the firing of head coach Craig MacTavish in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday April 15, 2009. The team fired MacTavish on Wednesday after missing the post-season for the third straight year.Ian Jackson/The Canadian Press
Edmonton Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini will meet with the media Wednesday afternoon to discuss his team's train wreck of a season.
But through an e-mailed media statement, Tambellini let it be known Tuesday he was not pleased with recent comments made by defenceman Sheldon Souray, who told Sportsnet.ca he wanted a trade and that the Oilers forced him to play in 2007 even though he was still recovering from a shoulder injury.
"Sheldon's comments are unfortunate and counterproductive, but we are going to manage through this in a responsible and professional manner. We understand Sheldon has had a tough year and he has a desire to play elsewhere," Tambellini said in the release. "His additional comments regarding being 'forced to play' when injured are far more serious and my stance is that they are demonstrably untrue."
Oilers coach Pat Quinn was more to the point saying, "If you don't want to play here, don't screw around. Get the hell out.
"If you've got one guy sitting over there who doesn't want to bloody well be here, how do you build trust?" Quinn continued. "Look each other in the eyes and build trust."