(Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

Fans of the Northwest division and residents of its cities are fortunate to have some of the most heated rivalries in the league.

The most prominent of which is probably the battle of Alberta.

Geographic rivalries are always the best: the teams are close enough that they can play each other frequently, the fans get in on it with barbs back and forth about which city is more likely to have cockroaches or Chaka Khan turn down an invitation (You didn't think we'd forget the NHL awards THAT quickly, did you?), and sometimes friendly bets are made.

If Alan Bass still lived in Canada, you'd better believe that he'd be wearing a pink Carey Price jersey after Luca Sbisa was made part of the Chris Pronger trade.

Sidenote: To those of you offended by the Chaka Khan barbs: I get that she can sing, it's not about that. It's about why she was at the NHL awards. THAT I don't get.

Anyhow, Colorado and Minnesota are out of the way...onwards and upwards!

Edmonton Oilers

2008/09 Record: 38-35-9, 85 points, 11 in West

Additions: Nikolai Khabibulin—G (4 years/FA),

Subtractions: Kyle Brodziak—F (Trade w/Minnesota), Dwayne Roloson—G (FA), Dany Sabourin—G (FA), Ales Kotalik—F (FA)

The Edmonton Oilers are going to try something completely different.

Gone is long-time head coach Craig MacTavish. In his place is one of the best in the business, Pat Quinn.

Quinn, who was blessed with a very talented Canadian World Junior Squad last year, has a big job ahead of him: Not only is he going to have to motivate some of the underachievers left on this Oilers roster, but he’ll have to prove the doubters wrong once again, and show them that he can work with kids.

FOUR MORE YEARS!! FOUR MORE YEARS!!

I understand the logic in bringing in Nikolai Khabibulin. You have a goalie in Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers who is still green to the NHL game, but (given a few years) could be the stalwart for this team. Due to the fact he’s not ready, you go and bring in a veteran presence to help show him the ropes and keep the seat warm for him.

But four years worth of him?

Last year, the ‘Bulin wall was outstanding. He only lost eight games in regulation, meaning that he earned the Chicago Blackhawks at least a point in 32 others. He also posted his finest season goals-against and save-percentage wise (2.33/.919) since he was with Tampa Bay in 2001/02.

Signing a 36-year-old who has been bothered by various lower body injuries as well as a wonky back over the past few years to a four-year deal worth an annual $3.75 million cap hit is troubling.

If Deslauriers can take the next step in his game over the next few years, the Oilers may simply be worried about making sure Khabi gets playing time so that money doesn’t just take up space in the books.

Although he’s just a veteran of ten NHL games, Deslauriers has shown a flair for the dramatic, going 2-1-0 in games where he’s faced 35 shots or more. Although he had great moments and not-so-great moments in his first NHL season last year, Deslauriers is in a position to finally lay the foundation of a career in Edmonton.

This year, the Oilers are set with Khabibulin between the pipes (Ensuring he stays healthy). If he performs anywhere near the way he did in Chicago, the Oilers are set.

If not, Deslauriers will be learning on the fly.

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