First to Go is Denis Grebeshkov

In what shouldn't be a surprise by any stretch, the Oilers have begun what might be a slow process in shedding some salary from the team and moved defenseman Denis Grebeshkov to the Nashville Predators for a 2nd round pick in 2010.

To me, this is a smart move. Grebeshkov, who was overpaid for his one year of high offensive production, has really come back to reality and had a poor year for a player making more than $3 million per season.

With the Oilers need to really move salary from the back end and the arrival of players like Taylor Chorney and Theo Peckham, keeping a player who at any time could bolt to Russia and the KHL as an RFA meant getting something in return now makes sense.

Grebeshkov, who is viewed highly in Russia as a valued offensive defenseman would have been a target internationally and the Oilers could ill afford to overpay for his lack of production next year when the salary cap is bound to hit the Oilers hard.