BY GENE PRINCIPE
sportsnet.ca

Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini was in Philadelphia Wednesday for the general managers’ meetings but he didn't stick around for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup final.

Tambellini had more pressing business in the B.C. interior. He hopped on a plane and is headed to Kelowna for the Oilers pre-draft meeting.

"It's going to be an interesting time," said Tambellini as he rushed out the door . "But I don't want this to be about debating on who we should take. It's more like we've been studying for a final exam and now it is time to take the test."

The test is between Taylor and Tyler and which one of these kids will pass to the NHL game with flying colours.

It appears to close to call.

If the public were choosing, it would be a call for Hall because he's been seen and heard much more and proven himself at many levels.

Seguin is believed to be, by hockey people, a better long-term decision, especially because he is a centre.

The Edmonton GM isn't saying either way.

"I won't tell you if I've decided," he said.

Tambellini added that not only will the public not know who the GM is thinking of selecting, but neither will his staff.

"I'm not going to tell them," he explained. "I don't want to pick one of them and put subtle pressure on people. I want them to make up their own minds. I do have a vote in this but I have a lot of confidence in Stu MacGregor (Oilers head of amateur scouting). He's had a couple good drafts the last couple years."

The Oilers are the envy of 29 other teams when it comes to their draft positioning. Edmonton has never drafted first overall and there's no guarantee that they'll call out the first name in L.A. June 25.

"Someone asked me if I would trade the pick," Tambellini said "And I guess I would have to think about it, but what would make sense to the Edmonton Oilers to make a deal? I'm open to suggestions, but right now I can't think of anything that would make me trade it away."

There has already been and will continue to be much more speculation on who Edmonton will use the first overall selection on.

Don't expect to find out until the last Friday in June when the Oilers go to the podium at the Staples Centre.

"We won't know who we're picking until the last moment," explained Tambellini. "I don't want everyone to think we have to keep this big secret, instead I want to wait to the final moment before everyone finds out who we want."