For the Edmonton Oilers, nothing seems to be going in the right direction. They haven't been back to Lord Stanley's Playoffs since their miracle run to the Finals in 2006. They can't seem to find an identity anywhere, despite earnest attempts by management to put the right personalities together (somewhat ironic if you consider the 2006 team, there's hardly a more iconic hockey player than Ryan Smyth). They finished dead last in the NHL with 62 points, 12 less than 29th place Toronto and 17 less than 14th-in-the-West Columbus. They find themselves in much the same situation the Chicago Blackhawks did a few years ago, or the Pittsburgh Penguins before them: stuck with a roster of older players who can't get it done and young players who can't find an identity or rhythm with the team. It is certainly a formidable task ahead, but rebuilding in the NHL does not take as long as it once did, and is certainly possible in the case of the Oilers, though to think they'll be back in competition next season is a bit far fetched. Make no bones about it, this team is in need of a major overhaul.
One thing that could turn this all around, the Oilers have in the first overall draft pick in this months draft, but speculation is the Oilers are shopping the pick in order to acquire some top flight talent in the short term. Steve Tambellini, the GM of the Oilers, however, knows trading the pick is the flat out wrong thing to do in this situation. He has enough buyouts on his mind to begin with, and trading players like Sheldon Souray won't net his team a whole lot in return (at most a mid round draft choice). Look for them to take Tyler Seguin with the first pick, make him their franchise center, and move Sam Gagner down to the second line (his play last year indicated he is more a 2nd liner than a 1st). It was when this team got trade happy (Chris Pronger and Ryan Smyth both gone during the 2007 season) that it fell from grace, and that will usually happen. This is a league that now strives on team chemistry, and too many trades can decimate said chemistry (just look at the New Jersey Devils last season until they added Kovalchuk). In addition, Tambellini has a long list of young players who haven't been living up to their draft potential and could be dealt as well (Patrick O'Sullivan had a league worst -31 ranking, Robert Nilsson, Ryan Jones, Ryan Whitney, Ladislav Smid, even Ales Hemsky might be on the block). If he can't trade some of these players, expect Tambellini to buy them out. If one thing is to be taken from Tambellini in this situation, it is that he is willing and ready to be patient and do what is necessary to make this team win again. Patience must be a virtue for him, or the Oilers will not find their way out of the basement for some time.
Keep in mind that there is some young talent on this roster, but for whatever reason (last year it was goaltending) this team can't keep up with the Northwest Division, which is now squarely back in Vancouver, Calgary, and Colorado's respective grasp. Losing Hemsky (who was +7 with 22 points in 22 games) for 60 games last season surely helped doom this team, but there is more than enough talent to make up for that. Dustin Penner continues to disappoint, even though his 32 goals and 63 points last season were career highs and gave Edmonton fans at least a glimpse of the talent they thought they grabbed from Anaheim. Shawn Horcoff was awful with 13 goals, 23 assists and a -29 rating in 77 appearances. He is signed on for five more years at around $5 million per season, ouch. Ethan Moreau, while invaluable as a leader, is simply not worth $2 million a season, so a buyout seems logical for him. The lack of offense didn't matter any way, as Edmonton's questionable goaltending cost them game after game (combined, the Oiler goaltenders were 27-47-8 with a .900 save % and 3.28 GAA). Tambellini is going to have a rough time trying to trade Nikolai Khabibulin in favor of Jeff Deslauriers, who needs a new contract. Khabibulin appeared only 18 times, none after his November 19th start against Columbus, and got a DUI citation in February. Their defense didn't help either, as 8 of the 11 defensemen that dressed in the regular season finished with a minus rating (Taylor Chorney's is a ghastly -21).
According to CapGeek.com, the Oilers have about $12.5 Million in cap space. Do not expect them to be big players in free agency, the intention of management is clearly to build through the draft. They need scoring depth, at least 2 top 6 forwards, and another couple of top 4 defenders.
Returning Players: Ales Hemsky, Dustin Penner, Ryan Jones, Robert Nillson, Zack Stortini, Shawn Horcoff, Patrick O'Sullivan, Ethan Moreau, Ryan Whitney, Tom Gilbert, Ladislav Smid, Sheldon Souray, Taylor Chorney, Nikolai Khabibulin
Free Agents who will likely be back: Gilbert Brule (RFA), Sam Gagner (RFA), Andrew Cogliano (RFA), Ryan Stone (RFA), Jeff Deslauriers (RFA)
Top Prospects: Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, Linus Omark, Anton Lander
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