Edmonton fans know well the cost of winning. They even know well the cost of almost winning.

Back in the glory days of the Edmonton Oilers, the Oil won so much that the pieces detrimental to creating that winning record became simply too expensive to keep. As a result, the team that was once so good, eventually became the 30th place team we know today.

It started with trading Wayne Gretzky and it ended with Chris Pronger, all along the way trading big names for unfair value coming back.

The Edmonton Oilers

When the Oilers took themselves to the Stanley Cup finals in 2006, even though they didn't win it all, it became clear that players that contributed to the Oilers getting that far were due for raises -- significant ones.

Names like Dwayne Roloson and Fernando Pisani received big time contracts and players like Shawn Horcoff got huge inflated contracts down the road thanks to their assistance during a winning time for an otherwise not so winning team.

Players like Jaroslav Spacek got a raise in another city and one of the most hated Oilers in history, Chris Pronger decided among other reasons that he was too under appreciated after taking his team to the finals to stay and play for the big fat contract he'd signed.

Chicago Blackhawks

The cost of winning is now something Chicago will have to face. Just mere days after the Blackhawks took home the Stanley Cup, how much so became extremely clear today.

A team that was already facing cap issues is now really in a troubled situation as it's been reported by the Globe and Mail, that Chicago is now faced with exceeding the 2010/2011 salary cap by more than $4 million dollars.

Because of the Blackhawks win and the star players on that team being rewarded with healthy entry level and performance bonuses (ie. a $1.3 million dollar bonus to Jonathan Towes for winning the Conn Smythe), Chicago is in a world of hurt and GM Stan Bowman admittedly has some serious work ahead of him.

As the Globe and Mail explains, here’s how the CBA and salary “excess” is dealt with:

“To the extent a Club’s Averaged Club Salary exceeds its Upper Limit as a result of: (i) Exhibit 5 Individual ‘A’ Performance Bonuses and ‘B’ Performance Bonuses paid by the Club that may be earned by Players in the Entry Level System and (ii) Performance Bonuses that may be earned by Players pursuant to Section 50.2(b)(i)(C) above, then the Club's Upper Limit for the next League Year shall be reduced by an amount equal to such excess.”

That $4-million (or whatever the number ends up being), in other words, is coming off next year's cap for the Blackhawks who already have to deal with being over the cap by about $800,000 (according to capgeek.com). This is all without noting the status of players like UFA's John Madden and Nick Boynton and/or RFA's like Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager, Antti Niemi, and Niklas Hjalmarsson.

When it comes to their superstar core, Chicago is in good shape. They're not forced to deal with losing the likes of Kane, Toews, Hossa, Keith, or Seabrook to offer sheets or UFA bidding wars, as everyone that can be considered the face of that franchise during this recent run and subsequent runs to follow are long term Blackhawks.

Antti Niemi might be the closest key component not on the books and due a raise thanks to his being the goalie to take them to Lord Stanley's Cup (that's always rewarded), but that's about it.

That said, the Blackhawks will have to lose either a great deal of their depth (something very underrated and significant in their cup victory) or will have to try and convince some NHL teams to take on some of their bigger cap hit problems, which won't be easy to do.

They'll likely start with Cristobal Huet. Huet has turned out to be a glaring error and a contract that still requires $5.6 million per year for the next two years -- terrible when you consider he hardly played throughout the playoffs and has yet to establish himself as a starting goaltender. Chicago might look to the minors or a buy-out, but it seems unlikely considering the cost.

Even if Chicago were able to dump Huet's contract, it would only solve the cap overages, not assist in getting those key RFA and UFA's back in the Blackhawk fold for 2010/2011. More moves would have to come and since Huet's contract is about as moveable as Shawn Horcoff's, maybe less so, Huet isn't a strong bet for solving Chicago's problems -- not that they won't try.

Another option would be to trade high priced defenceman Brian Campbell. He was key to the Blackhawk turn around upon his arrival and still has a lot to offer a team needing an offensive veteran blueliner. The issue is that $7 million plus over the next six seasons due Campbell. It's simply too much for 90% of NHL teams to absorb and by todays standards a gross overpayment even though Campbell brings a lot to the table.

Might Edmonton consider Campbell for Souray? Maybe. But, even the Oilers, who would be happy to get a star defencemen for a disgruntled star defenceman would think twice, maybe three times about taking on that kind of money.

The more likely scenario, is that the Blackhawks start moving some depth with value and trading RFA's for picks or low priced prospects.

Kris Versteeg is an obvious choice. Toronto is rumored to have interest as I'm sure other teams will, but I might suggest the Oilers consider Versteeg as he's a very well rounded winger with tremendous upside. Given more of a break-out opportunity on a team not quite as stacked as Chicago, Versteeg could become a 25-30 goal scorer. He gives you powerplay and short-handed ice time, he can score big goals at big times and he's young enough to be a part of a rebuilding franchise. In Edmonton's case, he'd be a natural to switch back and forth with MPS as the 2nd/3rd line wingers behind Dustin Penner; giving MPS time to establish himself as an NHL'er.

Might Chicago move a $3 million plus Kris Versteeg for a $2 million Robert Nilsson or Ethan Moreau? They might.

Some will mock at that idea, especially Chicago fans because Versteeg offers so much more than either Nilsson or Moreau do, but consider that Chicago wouldn't make these trades if they had other choices and you quickly realize the Blackhawks won't be getting value for any of these players. They are almost 100% salary dumps.

If Chicago really struggles to find suitors, Dustin Byfuglien and Patrick Sharp would be the cats meow in terms of scoring on an opportunity if one were there for an NHL team.

Byfuglien seems more likely than Sharp considering he's due for a raise after next season and if his play remains anywhere near what he showed in the post season, there is no way Chicago can afford him. Perhaps they do some forward thinking and make a move now considering his value is at an all time high. Byfuglien would likely gather you an assortment of decent prospects and/or picks. For Chicago that would be important since they can't take on any additional money.

Finally, if the Hawks are in real cap trouble, they see what's out there for Patrick Sharp. If I'm the Oilers, I make every pitch outside of the drafts and prospects core that Edmonton has built up like Eberle, Gagner, MPS and our first overall in 2010. Players like Penner and Hemsky can't be included thanks to their salary, so it leaves other longer term prospects and picks. Perhaps the right package offer would be too hard for Chicago to ignore.

Obviously 28 other teams will want to put something together to steal some talent from the defending Stanely Cup champions. Columbus needs to make the playoffs and might be willing to move the 4th overall pick to do it. Would Sharp and Byfuglien help them get there? Likely. Would Chicago do that kind of trade? Doubt it, but it's one a few type of similar offers Chicago might receive. If I'm Tambellini, I at least throw something out there.

If Chicago considers it, we know for sure, that's the cost of winning and the choices were few and far between.

The Chicago Blackhawks roll into town the hottest team in the NHL, having won five straight. Not good news if you're an Oiler fan.

Saturdays this season have already been unkind to the Oilers and the Blackhawks are loaded with talent, who each and every game are trying to make it their best game. After all, three of the biggest pieces of Chicago's puzzle are mere moments from obtaining contracts that will set them up for life.

Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith are all rumored to be close to signing extensions with the Blackhawk organization. The only thing keeping them from getting this done? Tagging room under next years salary cap.

Bob McKenzie did a nice piece on tagging room on his latest TSN blog. Effectively, the Blackhawks need to clear enough space to fit under the allowable level of salary committed to next season.

While it's near impossible to tell what this means in terms of decisions coming forward for the Blackhawks, the wide assumption is that salary will be trimmed and players like Cam Barker, Brent Sopel and possibly Patrick Sharp could be casulaties of having to live by the salary cap guidelines.

Of those three, Patrick Sharp may be the one player Chicago would least like to move, but if I'm the Oilers, perhaps I'm putting together an offer that Chicago simply can't ignore.

Patrick Sharp is exactly what this Edmonton team needs. A strong, gritty faceoff center, who just so happens to have 18 points in 20 games. He plays short-handed, he plays powerplays, he's not afraid to get dirty and he's fast. In short, Sharp's that non-superstar, hole-filling player fans have been begging the Oilers to go after for years.

On a list of players the likes of Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Ducan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Kris Versteeg and others; Patrick Sharp, who would rank amazingly high on almost any other team, seems like a possible odd-man out in Chicago. It sounds odd to say of a player producing at the rate Sharp is, but it may be accurate.

All that said, Tambellini seems to have a knack for missing opportunities.

See signing Malhotra or Prospal, but letting go of Glencross and Reasoner.

I don't assume, that should an opporunity for Tambellini to make a viable offer on a player like Sharp exist, and in a time of minor crisis for the Blackhawks, that much will come of this. If we're lucky, perhaps Sharp plays too well for Tambellini to ignore.

Now I'm reaching here a bit, but maybe the Oilers not being able to land many of the players they seem to have their eyes on is a good thing. It seems to me, that some of the deals the Oilers can't ever seem to put together, not for lack of trying, turn out to be positives in the long run and these players have a certain virus like quality no matter where they end up.

First there was Chris Pronger. His history shows him to be a fantastic hockey player and many of the issues surrounding why Edmonton fans dislike him so much has nothing to do with hockey, but more his personality. But, mark my words; his seven year extension is going to haunt the Flyers. Especially since we now know all seven years will count against the cap whether he chooses to play or not.

Then there was Michael Nylander. It was a done deal. An agreed upon contract, until his wife voiced her opinion and he went to Washington. Look how well that's turned out for the Capitals. He's paid too much, he's unproductive when he doesn't play with Jagr and the Caps can't move him to save their life, despite permission from his wife. The Oilers are thanking the Gods above that deal never came through.

Of course we can't ignore Dany Heatley. Do we really need to go further? While we don't know the future or how Heatley is going to affect the chemistry on whatever team he ends up playing for, Heatley is making a lot of noise trying just to get to another season where he can play hockey. He's going to be a cancer if he stays in Ottawa and/or he'll cause a million issues if he goes to San Jose in terms of cap problems. I know the Oilers need a top line LW, but Heatley just has problems written all over him and if he goes somewhere else, I think the Oilers will be glad the Heatley boat sailed on by.

But now, the lastest in the saga is Marian Hossa. Word is coming down that Chicago is again under investigation; this time as it pertains to the rediculously long 12 year contract given to Hossa on July 1, 2009.

Edmonton, AL (Sports Network) - The National Hockey League is reportedly investigating Marian Hossa's new 12-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks amid allegations that it circumvents the collective bargaining agreement.

According to the Edmonton Sun, if Chicago is found guilty, it could face a maximum fine of $5 million and the loss of draft picks. Hossa and the Blackhawks allegedly agreed that the star forward would retire before the end of the contract, which would lessen the cap hit on the team.

I don't know what seems to be the problem with the Chicago Blackhawks, but this is now two major glaring violations in less than 3 weeks and Hossa is turning out to be a bad deal and possibly a shady personality for Chicago. He's hurt, and maybe while the Blackhawks knew that, it came as a big surprise to everyone else when it was made public Hossa would miss a good chunk of this coming season.

So too, if the allegations are true, then we know he doesn't like to follow the rules. Agreeing to retire prior to your contract ending is a direct violation of the terms of the CBA and I can guess a few teams, including the Oilers who had offered Hossa a nine year contract last year; would have issue with a team and player agreeing to such a long term without ever having the intentions to live up to it.

I can't say that this isn't as much about the teams that end up landing these players as it is the players themselves being a poor showing of character. What I can say, is that each time we set our sights on a big fish, that fish ends up finding a different fisherman and that fisherman ends up badly wanting to throw that fish back into the water.

All we can hope is that as a result, the Oilers are able to take advantage of what few good fish are left in the sea and just waiting to jump into someone's boat.