While on the face, with an egotistical enabler like Laforge now removed from Lowe's allies, it appears in the right direction. But, as has been mentioned, with Lowe lurking in the shadows and still with an office in the building, do not underestimate his abilities.
I am sure he was going to let Tambelleni do his job. I am sure he was going to let Quinn and Renney do their job...but his ego won't let him in the end and he has to have his hands all over every part of the on ice product and roster...trying to emulate the power Sather had.
(as an aside, for those that recall the Smid issue where the Oilers doctors, and management (Lowe), let him play with a lump on his neck for months, not even worrying about doing an MRI, I present this
http://www.coppernblue.com/2014/10/3...ome-dirt-in-it)
But Lowe is a wheeler and dealer. He convinced Quinn and Renney to get the job. He convinced a guy like Chris Pronger (aided by promises of other stars coming) to come to Edmonton for a few months. His antics with Comrie means he has no problem thinking he's smarter and more powerful than the establishment, and in trying to emulate his former boss in Sather, that sort of egotism has sunk this team to those depths with the meddling and outright lying reputation he's earned over the past decade+.
As far as MacT, he's as gone as he was when Lowe didn't renew his contract just before the SC run. He now provides no usefulness to Lowe and thus has no allies left; Lowe will need find a different mole to figure out what PC is doing and MacT can no longer be the mouthpeice for his public messages or marionette for roster moves.
It may be a move forward, but I don't think any UFA and player (or his agent) with an NMC, with the Oilers on the "avoid at all costs" list within the NHLPA, are going to assume the multitude of reasons that that organization is on that list, is suddenly ok with these moves....especially with the egotistical sole creator of that mess still employed by the organization.