EDMONTON, Alberta -- New Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz believes depth in the team's executive offices is as important as depth on the ice, and a handful of moves Thursday proved that.
The Oilers promoted general manager Kevin Lowe to president of hockey operations and named longtime Vancouver Canucks executive Steve Tambellini to replace him Thursday.
"In my estimation, and many people in hockey feel the same way, Steve's the strongest candidate in hockey at the executive level who wasn't a general manager," Lowe said. "It was a real easy choice."
Kevin Prendergast, the team's longtime vice president of hockey operations, is the new assistant general manager.
Lowe had been general manager since 2000 and helped guide the team to the Stanley Cup final in 2006.
Tambellini joins the Oilers after 17 seasons in a variety of management roles with the Vancouver Canucks. He served as their vice president and assistant general manager the past three seasons.
Lowe and Tambellini have worked together previously putting together Canadian national teams for the world championships and Olympics.
Tambellini is the latest high-profile executive to leave the Canucks after the team fired general manager Dave Nonis and replaced him with Mike Gillis.
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