The Sesame Street Guide to NHL Management

Cooperation, makes it happen!
Cooperation, working together!
Dig it!
- the Sesame Street muppets

So is cooperation the new path to hockey enlightenment? Or just a passing fad?

In a couple of moves announced Thursday, Scotty Bowman joined Chicago as "senior advisor," while Steve Tambellini took over as general manager in Edmonton.

In each case, the team claims to be following "the Detroit model."

The idea is that a winning team is no longer crafted by a single, take-charge personality - usually the GM. It's all about teamwork now, about filling the front office with big hockey brains who make decisions by consensus.

In Edmonton, Tambellini doesn't get traditional GM powers. Team president Kevin Lowe still makes the "final decision" on trades and other moves.

It's hard to imagine an old-style general manager agreeing to that. But Lowe says the old style doesn't work anymore:

"The management of NHL hockey isn't what it was five years ago... There are more and more demands in this business at this level and in order to get the job done, you need many people doing it."

Sounds good. As long as you're winning.

Hockey execs are competitive guys, and not lacking in confidence. If the all-for-one approach results in bad trades, free agent busts and washed out seasons, it's hard to imagine them joining hands to sing the "Cooperation Song."

Expectations are rising quickly in Chicago and Edmonton - a Stanley Cup "might not be too far off" says Tim Sassone of the Chicago Daily Herald.

Looks like Sesame Street management is about to be put to the test.

(Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)