Mark Spector

Mark Spector is a columnist for sportsnet.ca

Oilers GM Steve Tambellini has chosen a strange way to manage a valuable asset in Sheldon Souray.

PENTICTON, B.C. -- Edmonton Oilers GM Steve Tambellini says he clearly instructed Sheldon Souray's agent Paul Theofanous that the disgruntled defenceman was not welcome at training camp.

"We talked to his agent last week, multiple times. I wanted to be clear coming into camp and not deal with it then," he said Monday evening in Penticton, B.C., where the Oilers rookies are involved in a tournament with four other clubs. Asset or not, Souray isn't poisoning the Taylor Hall project going on in Edmonton, Tambellini says.

It's a gutsy move to tell a valuable asset like Souray to stay home so he won't have a negative effect on the rebuilding program.

But then why was Souray in Edmonton on Monday, eagerly talking about attending training camp this weekend?

"I got an email this afternoon," Souray told sportsnet.ca Monday evening. "It was forwarded by my agent from the Oilers, that the Oilers did not want me to come to camp and they would advise me as to when and where to report. It came today."

On Monday morning Souray had told local media, "We are in a completely different spot now and there's a lot of optimism.

"We've got some good young players coming in and they are going to need a healthy environment. It's up to the guys to provide that for them. I've got a little bit of experience and you just try to lend that."

He's ready to help the team trade him, by playing hard and keeping his head down.

Tambellini, obviously, doesn't believe it. Theofanous couldn't be reached Monday night.

So there is a disconnect between Souray and the Oilers. Go figure.

There has been ever since Souray blasted the club -- and its GM -- in a column on sportsnet.ca on the final day of a dismal regular season for Edmonton. In fact, the disconnect has been there for most of the three years he has been in Edmonton.

Tambellini has been trying to trade Souray since April, even putting him on waivers this summer, with no result. The $5.4-million cap hit for two more seasons and lengthy medical resume make Souray a tough trade.

"We've been trying to move the player for some time, obviously," the Oilers GM said Monday. "We're sticking with the plan. Our ownership, our management, our coaches, our staff are all on board with the plan, and we're not going to change it.

"It's best for the Oilers and for him not to be at camp right now."

But is it really?

Doesn't Tambellini have a fiduciary duty to swallow his dislike for the player, and let Souray get into game shape at training camp? What chance does a trade have of happening once the entire league gets into game shape and the season starts, and Souray is like a player on a contract hold-out, left behind by the game?

Remember, Souray hasn't played since busting his hand in a scrap on Jan. 30th.

The player is ready to stay in the marriage until the kids grow up, if you will. Come to Edmonton, show NHL general managers that he's healthy and can still bomb 'em from the point, and when a trade happens he'll shake hands and leave town.

"I'm coming here with nothing but full intentions to make the team, and help the transition for the young guys who are here. (The turmoil) won't get in the way of my professionalism. My focus is here (in Edmonton)," he said Monday night.

So, we have two opposing theories on how to manage an asset.

Tambellini has chosen to freeze Souray out. He feels that exposing Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and the rest of the kids to Souray would be more damaging to the team than the mitigated trade value that will occur once the season starts and Souray hasn't been at camp.

That's a GM's decision to make. Of course, the player doesn't agree.

"There's all sorts of speculation: 'He's a cancer in the dressing room,'" Souray said. "I've never had a problem with my teammates. I've always been accountable, made guys accountable. I've always been a guy they know will stick up for them, and stick up for myself.

"Whatever happened five months ago, it happened. Let's move on."

But Tambellini has chosen not to move on, which is his right.

If he thought Souray was hard to trade this summer, wait 'til the season starts.

This could get real ugly now.

Mark Spector is the lead columnist for sportsnet.ca