Two and a half days remaining. It's all the Edmonton Oilers have left in terms of time to make up their minds about the futures of some of the players on their roster.

Kovalev, Sturm, Neal, Stewart, Versteeg, Fisher and others are all names that have already been moved. Ales Hemsky, Dustin Penner and to a less extent Sam Gagner remain some of the few viable forward options for some twenty teams that are buying at this years deadline. The Kings, Coyotes, Wild, Capitals, Rangers and Predators are the names most commonly associated with Edmonton these past couple days.

The question becomes what does Steve Tambellini do? Reactions in Edmonton are mixed. There are plenty of fans who don't want either Hemsky or Penner to go. There are others who'd be fine with a move. The common denominator seems to be that if a move were to occur, the return should be an overpayment.

For teams like L.A. that means Brayden Schenn. In Phoenix, it's Oliver Ekman-Larrson or Kyle Turris. In Minnesota its Cam Barker. Two of those three I'd do. The other, as I would with many of the other supposed options available to Edmonton, would have me waiting for next year or this years draft to re-open conversations.

The only real guarantee, is that Edmonton is now a prime target for most of the NHL teams. Some teams have made their moves, but plenty remain. Yes, there are a few surprise trades that have happened like the Blues/Avs deal, which means there are others out there that likely few of us will guess are coming. But with so many teams looking at Penner, Hemsky and Smid among others that might be available, Tambellini is looking at a busy day whether he pulls the trigger or not.

But are we? For us fans, we might not ever see just how busy the Oilers get on Monday. To know for sure, we'll have to wait until the Oil Change TSN special at the end of March and even then we'll see if from a somewhat distorted and pro-Oilers point of view. We could be left at the end of Monday saying to ourselves "what happened to all the deals that were out there?"

Just because Tambellini is fielding calls, doesn't mean we'll see any trades. I predicted in a previous article that Hemsky or Penner being moved is a lock. I still feel that way. But one deal, may be all that we do if I'm right -- which I may not be.

Would you consider it a let down if nothing happened? If after all this talk, the Oilers stood pat and waited to the draft to grab another top three pick and trade some spare parts to fill in missing holes?

As fans, we watch games like the last five where the Oilers stood out as a team of the future. Then the 5-0 loss to St. Louis reminds us of how far we actually are. Do we really want to trade the only mildly reliable offence we have? I can see why the reaction is mixed.

What's your thought? Would you be upset if the Oilers did nothing? Would you be more upset if they did and you didn't like the return?

There is always lots of speculation in this final week leading up to the NHL trade deadline. Some of it's so far out there you wonder how it gained any steam. Some of it more on par to a trade two GM's might actually be working on. Here is what seems to be floating around currently in respect to the Edmonton Oilers.

L.A. Kings --

The newest rumor links the Kings to Oilers with Brayden Schenn coming to Edmonton for Ales Hemsky. There might be some smaller bits and pieces rounding out a deal like this, but those two components are the focal points. Dean Lombardi is actively seeking a top end scorer and is starting to feel the pressure to get something done as one of the many teams tied for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. He's always had his eye on Hemsky and if another team isn't in the picture, Penner is his backup plan which makes Edmonton a strong potential trading partner.

The chances the Oilers trade both Penner and Hemsky is not likely so what Tambellini will likely do is first make sure any offers are more than fair and likely an overpayment for either player. Since Tambellini has no real pressure to move either, he's got time to dictate the pace here. Once he's determined if an overpayment(s) exist, Tambellini should take the best offer on one player.

If the Kings are willing to part with Schenn for Hemsky the Oilers should sign off on that trade right away. As much as Oiler fans might want to keep Hemsky, sources like Bob McKenzie from TSN have it right that no way do the Kings move Brayden Schenn. He's a true gold mine of a player and should be ready if not next year, by 2013 to make a major impact in the NHL.

The argument here is that because the Kings need to win now and not in 2013, it's being greatly debated that the Kings might in fact be willing to move Schenn now if they were to ever consider it. They'd rather not, but if it means getting into the playoffs versus not, who knows.

For the Edmonton Oilers, the key is that any deal helps the not too distant future for this young inexperienced team. Tambellini doesn't want to wait too long for any return for Hemsky or Penner and Schenn is ready to make a jump to the NHL. He has size, hockey smarts and has been tearing up the WHL. He's the type of prospect Hemsky should be traded for if he's traded.

There are many who will argue and I agree that this is a massive stretch. That Schenn is of far greater value than Hemsky. In almost all circumstances this is true but one -- pure desparation on the part of Lombardi. If he gets needy enough, strange things could happen. Most feel the Dallas/Pittsburg deal is one-sided and it seems to be. Yet it still happened.

More realistic might be the Wayne Simmonds plus pick(s) for Hemsky option that might or might not exist. Again many will tell you that Lombardi in no way wants to trade Simmonds. Those people are probably correct. But want to and need to in order for deal to happen might be two different things.

There could always be Colten Tuebert or Thomas Hickey, but I don't think either prospect gives the Oilers enough return to move Hemsky at this point. While the Oilers defence is weak in the NHL today, their prospects look promising. Obtain more promise from the Kings doesn't really help Edmonton in the next two years which is a key number for the Oilers.

Edmonton is well aware that they need immediate help on the blueline and they need size and grit who can play. Simmonds fills one of those needs. Schenn doesn't but he's a top centre prospect that one shouldn't be willing to pass up on.

I still think one of Hemsky or Penner get moved, but my guess is that despite the popularity of the rumors it happens with the Kings, someone else is the ending destination for either forward.

While few can confirm it, I'm here to tell you that it is a lock that one of Edmonton's Ales Hemsky or Dustin Penner will be traded by the Feb 28th NHL trade deadline.

How could I possibly know this you ask? Especially considering there has been nothing but non-detailed rumors on the possible trades actually happening? The answer is simple. It is a sellers market in the NHL.

In fact, like no other year that I can recall, this year in the NHL more teams are on the cusp of getting into the NHL playoffs than ever before. More teams stand a chance than don't and there are few teams, namely Edmonton, Ottawa and the Islanders that are the only clear sellers in the market.

Teams like Toronto, New Jersey, St. Louis, Florida and others who should probably also be selling and out of the playoff picture, have gone on record having not thrown in the towel. Toronto sold assets like Versteeg, Beauchemin and Kaberle, but are currently looking to buy for a final run. New Jersey and Calgary who at the start of the year looked hopeless, are now all of sudden either in the playoff picture or making a run so strong that it doesn't seem out of the realm of possible they squeeze in.

What does this mean? It means that more teams than ever before are buying. The law of supply a demand is dictating the overpayments some teams are making and it's why so many major deals have already happened.

Teams are jumping to get ahead of the market knowing that in general NHL teams who buy specifically on deadline day overpay. There are far too many teams who will still feel they have a chance at the playoffs or need that one final piece to get in that they'll be making the same calls to the same three teams. With so many teams buying, the overpayments are bound to be massive. Not good news for many NHL teams who will find themselves on the outs if they don't have moveable assets.

Enter the Edmonton Oilers.

You'll find many fans who won't want to see Edmonton trade either Hemsky or Penner (especially if either has indicated they'd like to remain Oilers for a fair price past their current contracts), but Oilers Steve Tambellini may be faced with offers far too good to pass up.

Both Hemsky and Penner are pieces the Oilers can include in their rebuild should they choose to stay in Edmonton. Both are useful talents and the Oilers likely don't want to move either one. Tambellini simply may not have a choice if the longer term future of the team is more important.

In recent years and as is often done by fans of any NHL team, players tend to be overvalued and overrated. Locals fall in love with their teams rosters and don't place a realistic value of what that player might receive on the open market. This years trade deadline might actually provide the real dreamers with a realistic idea of what a return might be.

Let's take Mike Fisher who was traded from the Senators (a team almost sold out of what it is looking to be selling). He's realistically a good third line player. On some teams a 2nd line center. In years past, he might not get the return of a first round pick. This year he did and a conditional 2nd or 3rd rounder.

So did Kris Versteeg. In fact, Versteeg is overpaid yet still got Toronto a first round and a third round pick.

There are other examples but the key here is that all deals were done well before the actual deadline for players of good but not overwhelming talent. At the deadline, it is reasonable to expect the return could have been higher when multiple teams might have wanted to outbid each other and the trades really get out of hand.

It's why the Oilers are waiting on offers for both Penner and Hemsky and why they gambled on someone having some interest in a rusty, massively overpaid and out of shape Sheldon Souray. The gamble didn't work, but the logic behind it is and was sound.

While Souray is still an Oiler, Ales Hemsky and Dustin Penner are not however Sheldon Souray.

Both Oiler forwards have value for other NHL teams. Perhaps Hemsky moreso than Penner, but both players have gathered some interest and both players can only be traded by the Oilers to one team of some fifteen that might be in the market. Both have fair dollar values attracted to their contracts and while neither are really rentals, both only have one year remaining after this at a reasonable cap hit.

Yes, there are players like Alex Kovalev, David Booth, Jason Arnott, Jackub Voracek, Milan Hejduk, who might be in play. Some however are on teams that aren't throwing in the towel and even two wins leading up the 28th could make them buyers and not sellers.

What would or should Tambellini do if a team like L.A. felt that adding an Ales Hemsky would put them in the hunt and give them a legit shot? Would they part with Wayne Simmonds or Brayden Schenn? Not normally. But if they felt they had to do something and it came down to a bidding war, they might.

What would the Oilers do if a team in need of a 2nd line and possibly first line power forward like Penner came calling? If they offered a first and 2nd round pick like they did for Versteeg? What if they had to outbid someone else and threw in a faceoff 3rd or 4th liner? Would you do it? Tambellini might and who could blame him?

What if a team like Atlanta who might not be selling or buying today, but could be in five days offered up Zach Bogosian for a proven scorer like Hemsky? Would Tambellini do it? I might.

I'm the first to admit that at any other time this might be an over value of both Hemsky and Penner. But this is not any other time. It's the last minute hour of trade deadline in a year that almost everyone but the Oilers and Senators feel they have a shot. The Senators have sold a lot of what they are selling. The Oilers have yet to sell anything. What would teams do to obtain the assets the Oilers might willingly give up for the right price?

I'm willing to bet someone is going to offer the sun, moon and stars and Tambellini will take it at least once. I'm also willing to bet that names like Sam Gagner, Ladislav Smid, Kurtis Foster, Andrew Cogliano and Ryan Jones get a good look from other teams and the Oilers find themselves making some interesting decisions.

The Edmonton Oilers made the first of what I hope is many great depth trades by picking up Colin Fraser from the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks. I won't go into a ton of detail about Fraser as there are some great reviews here and here.

Fraser does a lot of things for this organization that they haven't been able to do since Kyle Brodziak left. An even better comparison might be elements he brings since Jarret Stoll left.

No, he won't score like Stoll can, but Fraser is just hitting his prime and his potential could be fantastic considering he was buried under a huge depth pool at center in Chicago. Fraser seems to be taking steps in the right direction to already improving on what he does well -- faceoffs, penalty killing, crashing and banging and forechecking -- but he also looks as though he might be adding an element of scoring touch.

As is, this trade gives the Oilers a much more viable depth option at 4th line center. Pouliot and Potulny were taking turns trying to fill that role, but neither were the crasher/banger type that meshed well with the like of a Ryan Jones or Zack Stortini. Fraser should do well here and get plenty of chances to move up the depth chart.

Fraser is an RFA, which means something in the neighborhood of $900,000 for two years ought to get a deal done, but time will tell, and a 6th round draft choice to pick up a 25 yr old with veteran and winning qualities is a great pickup.

We're wondering if this means either Pouliot or Potulny won't be returning or that a trade for Andrew Cogliano is imminent.

Marleau and Pavelski Remain Sharks

Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski will remain San Jose Sharks. These were two players that would have fetched some interest come July 1st, which leaves very little left outside of what happens with Ilya Kovalchuk to get excited about.

Marleau signs a 4yr deal for $6.9 million per season. This is an interesting one as the trend was to hand out longer terms to decrease the cap hit per year, but Marleau's deal does nothing of the kind. At almost $7 million, that leaves the Sharks with Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley, Patrick Marleau and Dan Boyle all dancing in and around that $7 million mark.

The Sharks will free up some space when they choose not to bring back goalie Evgeni Nabokov, but this is a lot of money tied up in 4 players. Could Joe Thornton be on the move? If not, does Wilson do this deal knowing that the increase cap for this season and Thornton a UFA next season still gives him some options?

I have a feeling the Sharks will still do a lot before the start of the season.

Souray Gone?

It is being reported that Sheldon Souray is about to be shipped to either Dallas or the New York Rangers.

Souray flew from L.A. to Edmonton yesterday to get a final examination done on his hand to clear him for a trade. I don't expect the Oilers to do something like that unless their is a trade proposal on the table and it's a matter of the final steps to complete it in the NHL's eyes.

Jim Kerr from New 880 in Calgary is reporting that Tambellini is hoping to deal Souray by the weekend.

Here's to hoping its to Dallas who has far less crappy high end contracts to send back and the Oilers might actually get something of value besides Rosival or Redden.

Kaberle Trade Odds Go Up

I reported about 60/40 that Kaberle gets traded on Friday. I think those odds went up to about 80/20 as TSN is reporting that Brian Burke has as many as five offers on the table for Kaberle's services.

At this point the offers are not packed enough to make the trade happen, but one or two of those teams will throw in a draft pick or prospect to get it done.

Montreal Deciding Who To Keep?

The Montreal Canadiens have made qualifying offers to forwards Maxim Lapierre, Tom Pyatt and Sergei Kostitsyn, as well as goaltender Carey Price; all of which are set to become restricted free agents on July 1.

The only name surprisingly absent from the list is Benoit Pouliot who played extremely well for the Canadiens after coming over from Minnesota part way through last season.

Ales Hemsky To Columbus?

This is nothing more than a rumor right now, but Robin Brownlee is reporting that Tambellini made a call to Scott Howsen about what it might take to get the 4th overall pick in this years draft. The name that came back was Ales Hemsky.

I wouldn't do it, but Tambellini might and I could see his argument if he does.

The Oilers with that pick will obtain a franchise defenceman. They need one, far more than they need a winger who may or may not stay with the Oilers after the next two seasons. When Hemsky is ready to make his decision, the Oilers should have a group of talented young wingers ready to step in and at that point, perhaps Hemsky becomes a bit more of a luxury than the need he currently is for the Oilers.

I would like to see what Hemsky can do with whomever the Oilers draft first overall, but that's just me. The other option that is still out there is Jason Spezza to Columbus for the 4th, but my guess, is that Howsen chooses Hemmer over Spezza.

Hemsky brings a smaller cap hit, less term and a familiarity with the Blue Jackets GM. I've also read that Ottawa GM Murray has stated only one team has expressed interest in Spezza and that if not traded before July 1st, when Spezza gets his $4 million dollar bonus, Spezza won't be traded period.

Savard about 50/50

TSN's Darren Dreger reports he does have confirmation that Marc Savard has been discussed in trade possibilities with other teams, but that Chiarelli isn't pushing a trade thanks to Savard's respectable cap hit.

I can see that Boston gets a ton of offers for Savard, which is why I placed the odds around 50/50. Toronto is kicking tires I'm sure, and I would hope so is Edmonton. A $4 million dollar cap hit for a 90 point player signed long term is a great player to have.

The only downside to Savard, is his age and how old he'll be when his contract expires in 2016. Injuries and lack of production will catch up to him and he'll be a far greater bargain during the first half of his deal than the second half.

More to come... I have a feeling this is just getting started.

The argument always tends to be BPA. Draft the "best player available" at all times. I would tend to agree if and when you are drafting a selection in the first or second round.

Once picks start moving into the third, fourth and fifth rounds; the philosophy of BPA turns into a muddled up mixture of drafting for need and who, regardless of position, is the best player available at the time.
So, when the Edmonton Oilers, who will draft first overall in this years NHL entry draft are ready to make their selection, who do they take knowing to many, Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin are a six of one and a half dozen of the other scenario?

With Hall's play at the Memorial Cup, many are leaning to Hall pushing past an idle Seguin as the consensus top pick. Others still contend that in the long run, Seguin is the better prospect. One consideration that the Oilers will make, is that they have a number of winger prospects in the system and a lack of true number one centers.

If we don't follow the rule of BPA, that leads us to believe the Oilers might be leaning towards Seguin. He fills a massive need and moreso than Hall might.

What if we're over-looking something? If we say the rule is to always draft the best player available (especially in the first couple rounds) and Taylor Hall is currently the "best player", why are the Oilers considering Seguin?

Simple. The rules don't always apply.

If that's accurate, what does that mean if the Oilers can make many of the rumored moves that might be coming prior to the first overall selection?

Talk has been on and off in terms of the interest in the Oilers moving either Ales Hemsky or Dustin Penner. I would hate to see them move either if the return wasn't tremendous, but should they actually do so, how much does that change the landscape of then drafting Taylor Hall? Logic would suggest that if you lose one or heaven forbid, two wingers, you better replace them. Hall is NHL ready. Would he then be the replacement?

If you're moving Penner or Hemsky for picks (the only scenario that makes sense to me), what new picks would you be obtaining?

The Edmonton Oilers have a lot of work to do to repair a lousy lineup/roster. It's not silly to assume that outside of the as many as 10 draft picks the Oilers have in this years draft, they'll be heavy on the trade front and Tambellini walking the floor a lot to swing other deals, potentially drafting some of those picks in higher positions.

Edmonton has a history of making moves on draft day and this year more than most, we know the Oilers want to move up to draft again in the top ten. We know the Oilers need to unload some bodies and salary. And we know the Oilers are actively shopping Sheldon Souray.

Should they pull it off one or many of these objectives, who would you draft and would it change who you are leaning towards as your number 1?

Regardless of your opinion of the rule of BPA, changes before the pick could drastically alter who we think goes first. I have no doubt about that.

A couple of quick posts by the Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson and Oilers Nation Robin Brownlee suggests what they thought was an unhappy and likely to be exiting Ales Hemsky, may have changed his tune.

Information presented to them in respect to a year end exit meeting between Hemsky and the Oilers, suggest Hemsky is now not only perhaps not looking to sign elsewhere at the end of his current contract, but excited about the Oilers current plans. If both Matheson and Brownlee were previously under the impression Hemsky was giving out feelers that he'd be leaving; what exactly happened at that meeting?

It's no secret that Ales Hemsky hasn't exactly been surrounded by a winning supporting cast. Ryan Smyth, Shawn Horcoff, Dustin Penner and other temporary fill-ins have tried, but none have yet to live up to the "superstar" billing that seems to surround Hemsky (even though Hemsky's numbers do not fully suggest he himself is a superstar). Ryan Smyth might be the closest.

As a result, the Oilers have done literally everything in their power to land a scoring winger to play with Hemsky. Marian Hossa, Dany Heatley, Thomas Vanek, even Dustin Penner who has had some mild success, were sought out or brought in to work with Hemmer and create that "top line" the Oilers haven't had in years.

In many cases, this never-ending quest has come at the detriment of the team.

This isn't to say that the attempts at centers like Michael Nylander or Paul Kariya weren't also done for the same reasons; but the publicity surrounding the failed attempts of someone Hemsky might click with, seem to start and end with well known and top level talent wingers. Heck even the Jagr rumors continued to float around until it was recently announced Jagr had officially re-upped in the KHL.

Does that mean that when the Oilers Steve Tamebellini and possibly Daryl Katz (as we have learned spent a good two hours chatting with Hemsky one-on-one over coffee) sat down with Hemsky to end this horrid season, that something like, "Hemmer...we're about to draft you the linemate you've always wanted. This is a big opportunity for you and the Edmonton Oilers" came out?

If anything similar to it was the focus of that conversation, the natural fit might seem to mean that Taylor Hall fits the bill better than Tyler Seguin would.

Hall, by all accounts, will make an immediate impact in the NHL. It won't come as a surprise to anyone to see him get top line ice time in 5-on-5 situations and the powerplay; and the logic behind it being to bury some of the beauty passes Hemsky can dish out. Hall has proven to be a big game player, has the ability to shoot and pass and he along side Hemsky should improve a player like Shawn Horcoff immensely, who everyone knows the Oilers can't and aren't getting rid of.

Perhaps the thought a player like Hall has Hemsky excited. That maybe, Hemsky can be a new leader on this team with a young scoring superstar who has the potential to be just as flashy as he is.

On the other hand, since we know little about what's really going on in Hemsky's mind, perhaps he's more open to the idea of a true first line center?

And, all of a sudden we're back to where we started. I guess, this is why it's fun to speculate, but really know nothing until the parties involved start to actually tip their hands. What do you think?

When a player or player(s) in this case are called out, there are two ways in which they'll respond. Either taking the subject of the issue to heart and putting in the extra effort to improve, or pouting, which in turns provides the team with a less efficient player.

When Pat Quinn called seven players into a closed-door meeting on Sunday morning, the Oilers could have gone two ways. Their effort against Phoenix could have plummeted showing everyone the Oilers are a group of underachieving cry-babies, or, and was the case on Monday, the Oilers could have come out with a much better effort taking the play to the Coyotes.

This is an issue that surrounds this team in spades. The skill on the Oilers is obvious. It's the want or desire to put in a sold effort per 60-minute game. Mondays game goes a long way to showing that if nothing else, the leaders on this team give a crap.

All four goals were scored by players in that closed-door meeting. Moreau, Hemsky, Souray and Horcoff needed to show the rest of the team not part of the open forum that they were prepared to listen to their coaches.

Had they not, it would have been a horrible lesson for the rest of the team just 25 games into a still young NHL season.

Hopefully the team responds on Wednesday vs L.A. and Friday vs the Sharks where a 100% effort might be the only thing that gets the Oilers back above the .500 mark.

You can't go far on the Oilers blogosphere these days without reading about the impending moves that must be coming to an Edmonton Oilers team that has struggled.

Pulling off their first shut-out of the season last night against the Coyotes, the critics might be silent for a couple of days, maybe even a week; but it won't take long before the rumors once again begin to swirl.

With that in mind, if a big trade is coming, which members of this team above all others should stay?

In any trade negotiation, there are players that a GM might deem "untouchable". Many might argue that the Oilers don't have any of those players. Some might argue only Ales Hemsky. Others might now add Dustin Penner to that list, even though last year fans prayed at night to see him moved.

I'm of the impression, that while this Oilers team needs a lot of work, there are some key pieces I would be very sad to see go:

Ales Hemsky

I selected Hemsky for two reasons. Despite how frustrating it can be to watch him fiddle around and act as if he'd rather be playing cards than hockey, he's still the most skilled forward the Oilers have. In fact on many NHL teams, he'd be the most skilled player.

He's not yet hit his peak in terms of point production and this could be the year we see the first real signs of what Hemsky could be for this team. With coaches like Renney and Quinn, I think this is the right place for Hemsky to push past that hump he's yet to reach, developiong a more overall game.

I also love his contract and how it's one of the few on the team that actually helps a salary cap situation. You don't give that away without a tremendous return. Hemsky is complete value for his dollar and that doesn't often happen in todays NHL.

Dustin Penner

Despite how fairweather this sounds, I've liked Dustin Penner since he came to Edmonton. Like many of you, I've been frustrated with his lack of production, but I saw it more as a mental issue and the wrong environment as opposed to Penner lacking the skill-set needed to be effective.

I believed that Penner would struggle at first as a player who'd been told he wasn't worth the contract he was given by almost everyone. He was under immense pressure in one of the most crazy hockey markets in the NHL and on a team that badly needed him to contribute. It was a recipe for disaster.

This year, he seems to have put the expectations behind him (being that no one really expected much) and he's playing like the player people thought he was when offered that big time contract.

He's a big body with great hands. He's faster than people give him credit for and he's willing to go to the hard areas (not too many people willingly stand infront of a Souray slap shot 5 or 6 times a game). He's been a strong two-way presence even when his offensive numbers were lower and when told to add elements to his game like penalty killing and faceoffs, he's done it... and successfully.

This year, Penner has added a play-making side to his game few knew he had. He's quickly making the statements Kevin Lowe said when he obtained him accurate. "We feel we're paying in part for potential with Dustin. He might not be fair value this year at $4 million, but we see him as a great deal in the next couple of years and worth more than we're paying him towards the end of his contract." (or something along those lines...)

Who'd have thunk that might actually have turned out to be a fair statement.



Lubomir Visnovsky

This was one of the better trades the Oilers made in the last few seasons. Saying that, I'm a fan of both Jarrett Stoll and Matt Greene.

Visnovsky is a fantastic all-around defenceman. He moves the puck well and while not a stay-at-home type, he's sound positionally on the defensive side. He's possesses a canon of a shot and the best part is, knows when to fire it.

Visnovsky has been about a dozen points shy of a point per game pace in a few seasons and this year, coming off shoulder surgery, he's poised to do it again.

He's a veteran presence, that makes the power-play and five-on-five situations better, but he also works hard to be a good teammate and leader with a great attitude.

He's paid well, but when he's on, the Oilers are a much better team. When he's not in the lineup, they can be outright lousy. That makes him worth his paycheck any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Gilbert Brule

Gilbert Brule has the potential to turn into one of the best trades the Oilers have made in a decade,when you consider what was given up to obtain him. Moved for Raffi Torres, it was a trade in which both teams involved had somewhat given up on the players they moved. Torres had proven and shown what he could do. Brule was a diamond in the rough, but somewhat of a gamble.

It's gamble that is starting to pay off for Edmonton as Brule is doing the things most players won't, but contributing on the offensive side as well. When it comes to physical play, he's third on the team in hits with 37. In terms of players who have taken more than 100 faceoffs this season, he's the team leader at 51.2%. He's not a minus hockey player, he has 13 points with 6 goals and he's getting stronger and stronger every night.

Brule has a tendency, as many young players do, to lapse in judgement which can lead to turnovers. With that comes his insatiable willingness to make up for it by doing two positive things for every negative.

For some reason, he's yet to convince the coaching staff that he's that go-to-guy, but it won't take long.

JF Jacques

You can't say enough about a player that knows his role and does everything in his power to exceed expectations in that role. Jacques leads the team in hits with 62 (amazing considering he's only played 17 games).

He's got better hands than people think, but he knows he's not a scorer. He's willing to throw down with almost anyone and his presence can change the course of a game, despite the fact that he's not a heavyweight.

I get the impression that JF Jacques is one of the few players on this team that would resign for less than he's worth, but I think the Oilers will find he has great worth and will make him a priority even though it shouldn't take a lot to get it done.

Of course, past experience with players like Glencross and Reasoner suggest otherwise, but perhaps this time, the Oilers get it right.

Ladislav Smid

This kid is going to be a great defencemen. He's got the potential to make the Pronger trade not look like a total disaster. That along side his reasonable salary put him on this list.

Sheldon Souray

This should be Edmonton's team captain. He's not, because the Oilers don't know how to remove it respectfully from Ethan Moreau while he's still an Oiler.

Sheldon Souray should be a lock for 50 points every year and while he's older, here's to hoping his injuries are behind him. Fans consider his salary to be up there in terms of money spent on defence, but when you consider or compare the elements he brings to an Edmonton roster, like a Chara in Boston would or a Pronger in Philadelphia does, he's up there.

No, he's not on the same level as those two defencemen are. What he is though, is as valueable to Edmonton as those players are to their teams. He's just a whole lot less expensive in the grand scheme of things.

Outside of those players, the Oilers can move anyone on this team and I wouldn't mind. Granted, it would be nice if the return justified the moves, but if a shake-up is coming, some players will be moved just to move them.

I'm not holding onto the urgency to get Gagner, Cogliano or Grebeshkov to long terms deals because I feel, in todays NHL, there will be contracts out there every year that are bargains. Each of those contracts should be able to match the production those names will bring the Oilers..

The Oilers were terrible on Saturday. We posted in a recent article that Saturdays this season haven't been kind to Edmonton; but what was a brutal loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, was not only embarrassing and more than a streak of bad luck Saturday games, but the foreshadowing of something big coming.

You don't have to watch very closely to see that all evidence or body language seems to point to a team that has given up hope. Yes, I said it and only 20 plus games into the season. The fact that I feel I have to is sad.

On their way to shattering NHL records for man games missed in a single season, it's as if the Oilers have decided that no amount of hustle or hard unskilled work to make up for the losses of key working-man's type players will make a difference, so why try?

It's a common theme in the "City of Champions". "We need to wait until the team is healthy before we assess what we really have." or "This team is more capable than it's showing." The problem is, this team will never be fully healthy and they are not as good as many fans might like to think.


Take a look at players like Patrick O'Sullivan. On more than one instance, but one in particular that caught the ire of CBC analysts Kelly Hrudey and Mike Millbury, O'Sullivan completely bailed on plays that would have resulted in more than a little extra effort to turn the tide of a sequence.

Unwilling to take the hit or block the shot, O'Sullivan and others on the Oilers roster simply aren't putting forth the type of effort that will win them hockey games with a depleted lineup. Even with a healthy roster, it's the style of play they want, but just not bad enough.

This fact, is something the coaching staff has noticed.

A coach and personality known to speak his mind, Pat Quinn laid into the team in a post-game presser calling the effort unintelligent. The kind of thinking that makes a team play like lambs instead of lions. "We can go out on the street and get lambs", Quinn added.

One has to wonder, if the same voices (Quinn and Renney) that press on players like Ales Hemsky and Mike Comrie, for their skilled but idiotic plays in important game situations and practices, let their opinions be known to the folks that can make decisions within the Oilers organization -- namely Steve Tambellini and Kevin Lowe, if something will get done.

Tamebellini has a great amount of respect for what Pat Quinn brings in terms of hockey smarts. So much so, that if a choice has to be made between the players or the coach, Tambellini may side with the coach. Something rare in todays game of superstars and egos.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, the Oilers don't really have any superstars, so anyone is fair game.

Sure, fans will be quick to suggest that an article like this is just evidence of a "sky is falling" mentality after a bad loss, but look closely into the comments Quinn made before season began and the team he chose to ice when the season started.

Would you have expected JF Jacques and Ryan Stone to be in the starting lineup playing significant minutes? Nope. No one did, except Pat Quinn who seemed to know his team wasn't nearly gritty enough.

Perhaps the sheer amount of losses that are piling up along side a team that has abandoned the style of play that got them their terrific start is enough to suggest that Tambellini needs to start shipping players down, up, or out.

The fast and skilled approach of the Oilers past isn't enough. Especially in a league where injuries and concussions seem to be more relevant. Perhaps the players feel it too and O'Sullivan's reaction is not something we're going to see for the last time.

This sounds like a broken record. How much can one team add up missing man games due to injury? The Oilers are posed to shatter records in the NHL this year if this pace continues. Here is the latest in a new string of players missing from the roster at practice.

Quinn gave the media the following news:

Mike Comrie: "has got mono. He's not going to play or practice until he's through the full phase of it."

*Oilers Insider Note: this is something that could be much worse than what fans are joking around calling the "kissing disease". Comrie hasn't been healthy since the flu thanks to complications with his asthma. This is likely just an extension of what's been ailing him and we could see Comrie miss some lengthy game action.

Ethan Moreau: "When he came this morning to the rink, our medical staff wanted him to take the day off, so he did that."

*Oilers Insider Note: Moreau will likely play on Saturday, but the staff takes no chances with head shots. It was a pretty nasty elbow that knocked Moreau from the rest of the game on Wednesday. If he makes it to practice Friday, that will tell the Oilers a lot.

Shawn Horcoff: "He tried to practice but couldn't get through it, so he left."

*Oilers Insider Note: This reminds me of the year Horcoff was on pace for 80 points and went into the All-Star game only to miss the rest of the season for shoulder surgery. Horcoff's foot and shoulder are bugging him. He's been fighting through it, but it could be a real problem.

Robert Nilsson: "He's out [with a concussion]."

*Oilers Insider Note: Nilsson has been listed as day-to-day and was ready to go a couple games ago, only to be bothered again. It's hard to give a timeline to injuries like concussions, so who knows here.

Liam Reddox: "is gone. You saw him get hit by that one shot by a player, so he's gone for an x-ray on the ankle."

*Oilers Insider Note: I've never seen a player take so much abuse since being inserted into the lineup. Reddox keeps trucking and fighting his way through games, often looking like one of the most effective Oilers. He'll fight, but if his ankle is serious, what can the Oilers do?

Lubomir Visnovsky: "needed a day. He's still suffering from being banged about four or five days ago."

*Oilers Insider Note: Visnovsky shouldn't miss any action. This is likely more a rest move with an extra day between games.

Ales Hemsky: "He's still sore from upper body stuff that's been going on with him for a while."

*Oilers Insider Note: Hemsky seems to be a one night he's fine, the next night he's hurt kind of player. He should be in the lineup, and this is a rest move again, but Hemsky has that time in every year, where he misses some important games. Let's hope this isn't it.

Sam Gagner: "went to have his hip further looked at."

*Oilers Insider Note: He should be ok and one hopes this isn't a nagging injury that eventually requires lengthy time off and/or surgery. Let's keep thinking glass half full on this one.

Denis Grebeshkov: "is still out for a period of time."

*Oilers Insider Note: Add him to the long term IR. Some possible room for the Oilers to make a move to replace his salary? Hopefull in the form of a 3rd or 4th line faceoff center.

Fernando Pisani: is also out due to issues with colitis.

*Oilers Insider Note: One can just wish the most speedy recovery possible in Pisani's case.

Taylor Chorney: continues to suffer from an ankle injury.

*Oilers Insider Note: No word on how long this is going to keep him out of the lineup, but he's quickly becoming an important piece of the Oilers team, when just weeks ago, he wasn't even technically an Oiler.

Going into the Edmonton Oilers vs Detroit Red Wings game, I would have been excited if the Oilers had escaped with one point.

Edmonton was sick, getting sicker, and injured, while Detroit sans Johan Franzen was relatively healthy and posed ready for a break-out game. It would have taken a total Oilers team effort to escape alive.

So when Edmonton hopped out to an early 5-1 lead, excitement to escape the game with a point, became enthusiasm for a possible offensive spanking. That would have been exactly what the Oilers had needed to break a seven period scoreless funk.

Shawn Horcoff had a goal and two assists (up to the Detroit game, he'd been horrid offensively), Ales Hemsky was terrific with two goals and a helper, and Dustin Penner was his reliable (never thought I'd use that word coming into this season) self, with another multi-point night, netting a goal and three assists.

The Oilers were looking good like a team should. Not to be outdone and also like a team, the Oilers became the Oilers.

Missing Lubomir Visnovsky and still without Sheldon Souray and Steve Staois, the young blueline got tired and panicked. The first line stopped producing and any depth that might have existed, disappeared.

Detroit jumped all over it and within a twenty minute time period, had clawed all the way back to tie the game at 5 goals a piece. In short, despite Edmonton's 6-5 win, the Oilers got whipped for a good 35 minutes.

Hopefully the entire Oilers team learned a lesson.

Is it true, that Dustin Penner is third in the NHL for points with 19? Yes. Is Hemsky fifth in the NHL for assists with 11? Yes. Is Ladislav Smid quickly making a case the that Pronger trade was not a total disaster? Perhaps.

Let's take it a step further.

Taylor Chorney is auditioning for a permanent job on the blueline and he may have earned it. Gilbert Brule is posed to become a reliable NHL forward and he's earned that too. All the while, Jacques continues to rank high in the NHL in terms of hits at 4th. I can't remember the last time an Oiler did that.

Are these things enough? No.

For the Oilers to do more than escape with a win, they'll need to figure a way to piece some individual success stories together to make a total solid team effort. They'll need to leave the zone together, retrieve the puck together and win together. Relying on 10 point nights from your top line won't cut it.

If they don't, the Oilers will continue to be out-shot, out-scored and out-played.

They also won't keep winning.

I can get behind a trade if and when it improves the quality of the team from which a player is leaving. I can also get behind a trade that if not for moving a player, that team risks getting no assets in return thanks to the status of a players contract. I just can't get behind a trade that involves a player because for lack of a better reason, fans are a tad unhappy with that players performance.

This is the state of where we as fans sit with Ales Hemsky. As if making trades hasn't been beaten enough to death here in Edmonton, the popular thing to do over the last couple of days seems to be debating whether or not the Oilers should rid themselves of a seemingly disinterested Ales Hemsky.

Are we kidding ourselves? From respected writers like Robin Brownlee over at Oilersnation to the average joe who has no idea of how the salary cap works, it seems that the hot topic right now is whether or not Hemsky should be considered a player on the way out.

I for one have never seen Hemsky as the building block in which a successful NHL playoff team was to be built around. Nor have I suggested that a winning formula be that Hemsky be the player you expect to get you the most points on your team. The Oilers have looked to Hemsky to fill that role in the past, but quite frankly, that's the main reason the Oilers haven't been that good a team. As good as Hemsky is for what he's paid, they need more than one guy who can get 60-70 points per season.

Ales Hemsky is a 70 point player. Little more, sometimes less. As fans, I'm sure it would be nice to see him become a point a game player, and perhaps one day he may (he's been extremely close in the past). But to put that kind of pressure on a kid just seven games into a new season is ridiculous. Hemsky has never shown his ability to be that guy, he isn't paid like that guy, and to suggest trading him when he shows he's not that guy, is the formula that's led other players to hitch a ride out of Edmonton faster than it can go from 10 degrees above to 15 degrees below.

Those of you out there suggesting the Oilers send Hemsky packing, answer a couple questions for me?

Who would you trade him for? He's not nearly valueable enough to fetch you a Kovalchuk or a Savard. But he's too valueable to move him for spare parts like a Chuck Kobasew who was traded from Boston to Minnesota on Sunday or a Kaberle who might be trade bait in Toronto. Would you trade him for Drew Stafford in Buffalo, who is rumoured to be on the radar of the Oilers? I wouldn't.

If you could trade him, how would you manage your salary cap? One of the great things about Hemsky, besides his natural skill; is the contract to which he's signed for the next three years including this one. At $4.1 million, even if he were to only get you 65 points (which is a reasonable expectation for Hemsky), he's a steal of a deal and one that is hard to find in the NHL. Moving him for someone of similar talent, virtually guarantees you bring more salary back than you can fit under the cap.

The sad part here, is that Hemsky is not even off to a bad start. He's got five points in six games. So what if he's looked a bit sluggish. When he chooses to play like Hemsky can, which is more often than not, he's a game changer. This sluggish phase will end. It's a matter of time.

But we may see that sluggish attitude move quickly to disgust and distate for the city and its fans, if we keep up the current trend of conversation.

As fans, have we learned nothing from our past mistakes? Did Comrie's return and subsequent near point per game pace teach us nothing about how not to treat our players? Did Pronger, Lupul, Peca, Arnott and many others who found it hard to perform infront of often intolerable fans, not show us that we have an uncanny ability to assist in the running of quality players out of town? Not one of our most attractive qualities Edmonton and it's no wonder the Heatley's, Hossa's and Kariya's think twice making Edmonton it's home as a professional NHL player.

Patience is a virtue. Perhaps we should try extending it to a player like Hemsky. He's had 66 points in 72 games, 71 in 74 games, 53 in 64 games, and 77 points in 82 games over the last four years. Those are the statistics of a player who deserves better.

Without patience, don't be surprised if his sluggish demeanor changes. If I performed up to my skill level for the last four years, was paid accordingly for it and it still wasn't enough, I'd consider a change of scenery. Wouldn't you?