As was already reported today by a number of sites, Fernando Pisani is no longer a man waiting by the phone and waiting for a job. After reports that not a single team had called Pisani and not a single GM expressed interest in the somewhat healthy veteran --including Oilers GM Steve Tambellini -- that all changed on Wednesday.

In what took very little time to finalize, Pisani signed a one year, one-way deal with the Chicago Blackhawks for $500,000. In many ways this makes sense for both parties and while it's understandable the Oilers have chosen to walk away from Pisani, Pisani could be a great surprise for the Hawks.

The chances were Fernando wouldn't be returning to Edmonton. Without him (or veterans like him) the Oilers are sorely lacking in veteran leadership.

Ryan Whitney, Ales Hemsky, Shawn Horcoff, Jim Vandermeer, Jason Strudwick, Sheldon Souray, Kurtis Foster and Nikolai Khabibulin are the only current roster players who have played more than five seasons in the NHL. Sounds at first like a decent assortment, but at closer look 5 of the 8 are defencemen, while Souray and Khabibulin may not be of much help if either doesn't return.

On a team greatly lacking in veteran leadership, one could have argued bringing back a veteran forward like Pisani could have been important in a transitioning Oilers team bound to have a few bumps in the road. To give the new young Oilers futures a chance to talk, follow and understand the game at their position instead of looking to each other as rookies and struggling through changes they've not yet faced, someone with experience has to be added to the top twelve to round this roster out.

Is that someone Mike Comrie? Comrie is patiently waiting. Recently married, he's had other things on his mind, but his goal has clearly been to stay with the Oilers. Pisani going could have increased his odds Comrie's doing so ever so slightly.

Comrie is the type of player who makes sense for the Oilers. He'll take a one year deal at around $1 million dollars so the money seems to make sense. He's seen and been through everything a hockey crazed city like Edmonton can throw at a skilled young forward. Offering a mentor to the Halls, Eberles and Pajjarvis on the team is a smart move. One who is similarly skilled, and been where they are now seems logical.

Comrie also provides a strong example of a desire to be in Edmonton, when in the past that desire hasn't been at it's height. The argument that a team like Edmonton only keep players who want to play here regardless of skill is an old and tired one. Comrie doesn't fit that category or into that argument.

Comrie can still score. If healthy, it shouldn't be hard to see 20-25 goals. Should the rookies struggle, Comrie can play anywhere in your top six and on the powerplay.

Most want to see the Gagner deal get done. I do too. I'd rather add Comrie first. It's not likely Comrie will keep waiting. Gagner has no choice.

Darren Dreger, who is about the most connected NHL insider involved in the business tweeted Tuesday, that the Edmonton Oilers are closer to a move that would send Ethan Moreau and probably more out of Edmonton, if they could "sweeten the pot".

However, Moreau may not be on the only piece involved here and just the start of a few moves for Edmonton.

From what we understand, there are possibly a few scenarios that might be options. One includes (as Robin Brownlee pointed out on oilersnation.com) that Ethan Moreau and possibly a draft pick would be moved to Toronto for Garnet Exelby and possibly a higher round draft pick.

If true, this would essentially be a move to rid the Oilers of salary, as Moreau has another year on his contract at $2 million and Exelby becomes a UFA, the Oilers are not likely to re-sign. If they do, it will be at a discounted rate over Moreau's $2 million. Even considering re-signing Exelby might hinge on the Oilers moving Steve Staios and not re-signing Jason Strudwick.

Brian Burke likes gritty players and often to the point where he dismisses their tendancies to take bad penalties. That describes Moreau to a tee, which makes sense as to why Burkie might consider a deal with Edmonton (whom he swore he'd never deal with).

Anaheim is also said to have interest in Moreau and the value coming back isn't known for sure, but that Nick Boyton or Evgeny Artyukhin might be involved in some way or another.

There is also some word that Montreal and Edmonton are and have been talking for the past little while about a multi-player deal with some bigger names from both sides and some smaller pieces. One smaller piece name we've heard is George Laraque coming back to Edmonton.

Laraque has 1 yr left after this one on his contract with Montreal, and the Canadiens would force the Oilers to take him as part of a deal, but that the Oilers aren't completely sour about it as big George might provide some protection for some of the young forwards about to enter next year and the move was just a part of a bigger trade.

Since the Oilers view next year as another possible rebuild, they wouldn't be looking at Laraque to be an offensive player and in fact he'd likely sit as many games as he'd play under Pat Quinn, but because his contract would be coming off the books the year after, doesn't derail any rebuild process and he's a good "ex Oiler that the community loves".

One player we've heard Montreal might want is Gilbert Brule and/or Fernando Pisani; neither of which I see as realistic options. For Brule, I think the Oilers feel that unless a better value comes back than sending Brule away, they have a forward they'd like to keep.

In Pisani, he's obviously being discussed to relieve salary, but not as much as I think people expect.

For one, Pisani's numbers already come off the books next season, so moving him now for next to nothing doesn't help the Oilers at all. In fact, with the cap trouble facing the team, they might see Pisani as an inexpensive piece to resign for 1yr at a low dollar, but useful role playing contract for next season. If they took that approach, and said to themselves "we're not moving Pisani unless the deal is too good to pass up" I think they'd be smart.

The Oilers should be able to get Pisani at near league minimum. He's useful when healthy. He's a good guy who feels like he owes the Oilers organization a lot for dishing out a big contract from which he missed a lot of due to illness and health issues and wouldn't mind staying in Edmonton where he'd get the chance to show what he can do to keep his career going. Not that any of this mind you is Pisani's fault.

To me, Pisani is a very similar situation to a Mike Comrie with a few different circumstances.

Two, any team looking at Pisani would have to consider what they'd be giving up to get a somewhat risky health question mark for a tough playoff run. Pisani had magic in 2006, but has yet to reproduce that. If it's going to take a 2nd or 3rd round pick, teams might not be willing to take that chance. That said, if a team needed a third or fourth line defensive-minded penalty killer for a playoff run, they might give a decent 2nd round pick, which is a good deal for Edmonton.

The Oilers are focused on two things: moving salary and bad contracts off the books for next year and getting as much value back for good contracts or assets as they can.

It only makes sense to focus on trades that affect your team moving forward. Fernando Pisani doesn't hurt you in the future if you can't move him, so don't move him for literally nothing. It just doesn't make sense.

Needless to say, Dreger is connected and doesn't have a tendancy to report things without good merit. The Oilers are close to doing something, and are trying to make things happen. That much we know is true.

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.