Bleacher Report - Articles by Ian Wilson

Oilers: Net Pain, Net Gain—Goalie Picture Comes into Focus

Ian Wilson — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:36:41 -0500

Photo credit: Shaughn Butts, Edmonton Journal

Nothing appears to be Garon-teed in the Oilers net right now, but the stellar play of rookie goalie Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers means one of the team's three goaltenders could be rolling out of town soon.

Drouin-Deslauriers—or JDD to the spelling impaired—has played brilliantly this season and back-to-back wins against New Jersey and the Rangers have provided job security for the 24-year-old Quebec netminder.

What exactly that job will be is unclear at this point, but he has done enough to at least grab hold of the backup role.

Statistically, JDD is tops on the Oilers right now. He's posted a 1.71 goals against average and a save percentage of .951, while going undefeated in his three starts.

Head coach Craig MacTavish is likely to start Drouin-Deslauriers as long as he keeps winning and, if he continues to impress, he has a chance of becoming the team's No. 1 cage-keeper.

A more likely scenario, however, is that Edmonton's second-round choice in 2002 will see his GAA rise and his SV percentage drop.

When his numbers do come back down to Earth, Mathieu Garon will be given every opportunity to return to the outstanding form that earned him the No. 1 job last season.

After a hot start, during which he won three straight, Garon has struggled lately (3.67 GAA, .881 SV percentage).

But, even though 2006 playoff hero Dwayne Roloson has looked good this season (2-2, 2.78 GAA, .915 SV percentage), Roli doesn't have much of a future with the club, unless it's in a front office capacity.

The 39-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year and the Oilers are very unlikely to re-sign him.

Add to that Roloson's $3.5 million salary and it makes more sense for Edmonton to move him, instead of the other two heads on the three-headed goalie monster.

Garon may continue to struggle, but JDD has shown enough to indicate he'll be able to weather the storm for the Oilers. That means it will be out with the old and in with the new for the Oilers crease-dwellers.

This appeared to be the plan prior to the season, when Edmonton inked Drouin-Deslauriers to a one-way contract. Despite Garon's woes, the plan to implement the French Rejection seems to remain in place.

The tough task for the Oilers now will be to move Roloson. The injury to New Jersey's Martin Brodeur may make this easier, but the Devils will try to hold off on making a trade for as long as possible, so GM Lou Lamoriello can deal from a position of strength.

The Oilers, however, would rather make a trade sooner rather than later to free up a roster spot and rid themselves of the crowded-crease scenario.

Roloson's trade value will likely increase as the deadline nears, but don't expect Edmonton to wait that long. They won't get too much for him, but expect Roli to be gift-wrapped and shipped out by Christmas.

Editor's Note: If Garon's play does not improve over the long-haul, and JDD can't carry the load, expect the Oilers to make a move for Kari Lehtonen in Atlanta. The Thrashers have plenty of goalies in the system and Lehtonen's injury woes have made him expendable.

Rob Schremp Ready for Jumbo Step to the NHL

Ian Wilson — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 19:21:19 -0400

- photo credit: Sun Media

Highly touted prospect Rob Schremp should be able to crack the Oilers lineup this season, said head coach Craig MacTavish during the first day of training camp.

"This is the first year that I can say with Rob that he's got a real legitimate chance of staying here," MacTavish told reporters at Rexall Place.

"We're going to give him lots of opportunity to show that he belongs here."

Schremp, the Oilers' first round pick in 2004, has come into camp before with high expectations, but this is the first time MacTavish has been so publicly positive about his chances of making the team.

"We're going to play him with good players and give him an opportunity to show us the best parts of his game, which is offence," said MacTavish.

"If he can create the offence then we're going to keep him and we'll find a spot for him somewhere."

In previous years, the coaching staff has been critical of Schremp's fitness level, skating ability and maturity, but MacTavish said the former London Knight has shown great progress and should be ready to compete for a job with the big club.

Last season, the 5'11", 200-lb. native of Syracuse, NY scored 23 goals and 53 assists in 78 games in Springfield, making him almost a point-per-game player.

The 22-year-old worked hard this off-season with Oilers trainer Chad Moreau and he sounded like a mature pro player when he spoke with the media on Day One of training camp.

"Playing in junior you kind of get away with whatever you want," said Schremp.

"When people try to tell you to do things differently and you're scoring at will it's kind of hard to realize what you need to work on and I think playing in the minors over the last two years has really made me put my priorities straight and be ready to realize what it takes to be a pro."

Schremp, who was still recovering from an injury when he reported training camp last year, called his time in the minors and his summer working out with NHLers eyeopening.

Now, Schremp has to take what he's learned and open some eyes at training camp.

10 Edmonton Oilers to Watch at Training Camp

Ian Wilson — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:34:43 -0400

The Oilers rookie camp has wrapped up, and the main camp is about to start. Here are some players to keep an eye on:

10. Mystery player

Kevin Lowe has promised to bring a "surprise" invite to camp. Is it Glen Murray or Mark Parrish, or will Cory Cross get another look?

9. Sean McMorrow

The 6'4", 225-lb. Vancouver native racked up 693 penalty minutes in a year and a half in the Quebec-based North American Hockey League, including 87 fighting majors in 48 games last season. He may not be the man to address Edmonton's goon void, but he's the best bet heading into camp.

8. Bryan Lerg

The 22-year-old undrafted free agent had a solid rookie camp—scoring against Vancouver and adding a pair of assists against the University of Alberta Golden Bears—and hopes to have an even better main camp.

7. Ryan Huddy

This prospect has the pedigree (his dad is Oilers assistant coach Charlie Huddy) and his solid two-way play has impressed the Oilers so far. However, the diminutive 24-year old will have a much tougher time against the big boys.

6. Jordan Eberle

Selected 22nd overall by the Oilers in this year's draft, Eberle isn't expected to make the team this year—but neither was Sam Gagner last year. If the 18-year-old can follow-up his strong rookie camp with a good showing at the main camp, the Oilers' brass will be happy as he returns to the Regina Pats of the WHL.

5. Ryan O'Marra

The "other guy" in the Ryan Smyth-for-Robert Nilsson deal had an atrocious year last season, and he needs to show something at camp this year—or the 21-year-old centre might fade into obscurity.

4. Marc-Antoine Pouliot

The first-round draft pick of the Oilers in 2003 was headed for the scrap pile last year before a slew of injuries opened up a spot for him, and he played well enough to earn himself a job on the fourth line. But Pouliot remains offensively challenged and a good camp from Rob Schremp and Gilbert Brule could drop the centre down the depth chart.

3. Theo Peckham

Peckham appears to be the most NHL-ready defenceman not penciled into the lineup. He got a taste last year with his first NHL game, and if the hard-hitting D-man doesn't earn a spot right out of camp, he'll be the first call up if a rearguard is injured.

2. Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers

Will JDD be good enough to send Dwayne Roloson packing and take over the role of backup goaltender? Or will the Oilers go with a three-headed monster in net to start the season? Oilers fans and management will keep a close eye on the crease as they try to assess the season ahead between the pipes.

1. Rob Schremp/Gilbert Brule

I know, I know—I'm cheating by putting two guys in the No. 1 spot. But the way I see it, there's only room for one of these guys to start the season with the big club—and who knows? Maybe neither of them will make it.

The super-skilled Schremp suffered an offseason injury last year and the coaches have been worried about his skating ability for years, but this is the make-or-break season for the former London Knight. He's been training hard and is coming to camp with an NHL-or-bust attitude. We'll see if he has what it takes.

Brule, meanwhile, also has a lot to prove. The 21-year-old first-round pick of 2005 was a bust in Columbus, and some feel that he needs time in the minors to improve—but he'll enter camp with a different mindset.

If neither makes the team on opening night, they'll both be first in line when a forward gets hurt.

Honorable mentions: Alex Plante, Jeff Petry, Taylor Chorney, Ryan Potulny, Devan Dubnyk

Kevin Lowe Cleared of Tampering Charges

Ian Wilson — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:09:40 -0400

The NHL has made the not-so-surprising decision to clear Kevin Lowe of tampering charges leveled against him by Anaheim GM Brian Burke.

The Ducks asked the league to investigate comments Lowe made about forward Corey Perry in July. The former GM of the Oilers, who was promoted to president of hockey operations this summer, told an Edmonton radio station that the Oilers would gladly take Perry off the Ducks' hands if Burke needed help with Anaheim's salary cap woes.

Although the comment was made in jest, Burke wasn't laughing. Instead of ignoring the jab, the fiery GM did what he has so often during his ongoing feud with Lowe, he decided to throw a little gas on the fire.

Only this time, Burke's actions didn't just provide reporters with something to fill the sports pages with on a slow summer day. His futile attempt at getting back at Lowe involved dragging the league into a mess they wanted no part of and a case that Burke knew he had no chance of winning.

The tampering charge was an absurd allegation and a waste of NHL resources and that's why Lowe was cleared. The only surprise in the matter is that the league didn't rule sooner.

While the NHL hasn't disclosed the findings of the investigation, deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Orange County Register it's "up to the clubs as to whether they want to share that information publicly."

With a league-issued gag order in place to stop the public squabbling between Lowe and Burke, it's unlikely either team will do so.

And, what was Burke's take on the NHL's decision?

"Needless to say, we have a different view, but this will end the matter," he told the Register.

We can only hope it does end the matter, although something tells me gums will be flapping once the season gets underway.

Top 10 "Favre"-ite NHL retirements

Ian Wilson — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:45:46 -0400

10. Peter Forsberg—OK, he hasn't announced his retirement and then come back. But after sitting out most of last season before signing with the Avs—and with the foot excuse at the ready to do the same again this year—Foppa has more in common with Brett Favre than you might think.

9. Mats Sundin—Again, he hasn't said he's retiring...yet. But couldn't you just see him do it, regret it, and then un-retire with the hopes of winning a Cup?

8. Guy Lafleur—The Habs legend returned to the NHL after being inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame. He played for the Rangers before signing on with Montreal's rival, the Quebec Nordiques. His game was on the decline, but that Flower Power energy drink of his sure took off, didn't it?

7. Scott Niedermayer—He had it all: championships at every level, MVP awards, a trophy case that would make most stars stutter.

So, after winning the Conn Smythe in leading the Ducks to a Stanley CUp, it made perfect sense for him to call a press conference to declare: "Ummm... let me think about this for a while."

Anaheim GM Brian Burke waited and waited and eventually signed D-man Mathieu Schneider to a bloated contract, only to watch Niedermayer return to the lineup. His decision to come back for another season, coupled with Schneider's contract, has led to cap problems this year.

6. Teemu Selanne—See Forsberg.

5. Dominik Hasek—The Dominator announced his retirement, then returned to a Red Wing team that had Curtis Joseph and Manny Legace between the pipes.

He was promptly injured and missed the rest of that season.

Then, it was off to Ottawa to mess with the Sens Stanley Cup aspirations (perhaps Ray Emery was watching his side show a little too closely).

This year, Hasek's poor playoff performance was not enough to derail Detroit, but he was nothing more than a weak link on their dash to the Cup. He retired in the off-season—apparently for good this time.

4. Theo Fleury—He didn't officially hang up his skates, but Fleury was forced to walk away from the NHL after several substance abuse-related suspensions.

He toiled in obscurity in Western Canada's North Peace Hockey League and with the Belfast Giants in Ireland before returning to Calgary to start a concrete company. Ads for his concrete business can still be heard on Calgary radio stations.

3. Mario Lemieux—You had to know that Lemieux would do it right. Cancer and back problems chased him from the game, but he returned three years later with an All-Star season and nominations for the Hart and Lester B. Pearson trophies.

By the time he retired again at age 40, the Magnificent One had led Team Canada to Olympic gold in Salt Lake and he passed the torch of hockey greatness to Sidney Crosby.

2. Gary Roberts—Perhaps the most inspiring "un-retire" in hockey history, Roberts returned to the NHL after an 18-month hiatus. Neck injuries forced him out, but changes to his diet and training excercises made him strong enough to return. He's still playing, thanks mainly to his off-ice regimen, although a more permanent retirement can't be far off.

1. Gordie Howe—It seemed like 25 seasons was enough for Mr. Hockey, but he returned to pro hockey in 1973 to play with his sons, Mark and Marty, in the WHA.

At age 51, Howe played a full season and played in the All-Star Game with some 19-year-old kid named Wayne Gretzky. But that wasn't the last we'd see of Howe. In 1997, he signed a one-game contract with the Detroit Vipers of the IHL. His one shift meant he played pro hockey in six decades.

Edmonton Oilers 2008-09 Schedule Highlights

Ian Wilson — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:12:20 -0400

The Oilers 2008-09 schedule has been released. Here are the highlights:

Pre-Season

*Oilers open the pre-season with a home-and-home against division rival Vancouver Canucks Sept. 22nd in Edmonton and Sept. 23 in Vancouver

*Oilers play the nemesis Flames back-to-back on Sept. 30 in Edmonton and Oct. 3 in Calgary

Regular Season

*Season/Home Opener - Sun, Oct 12, vs. the Avs. Ryan Smyth returns once more to see what could've been.

*Duck hunting - the Oilers fly south to take on the Ducks in Anaheim on Wed, Oct. 15. Will there be more fireworks on the ice or in the press box? My money says Burke can't resist saying something stupid before AND after this game.

*Burning Rivalry - the Oilers travel to Pengrowth Saddledome on Fri, Oct. 17 and the Flames go to Rexall Place the next night, Sat, Oct. 18.

Flames' and Oilers' fans dislike of Todd Bertuzzi may unite them briefly, but don't expect the love to last. Oiler fans will also likely have a few choice words for Curtis Glencross.

*On The Road - the Oilers longest road trip of the season is a seven-game eastern swing which starts in Nashville on Thu, Oct. 30.

After that it's off to Carolina (Sat, Nov. 1) to renew acquaintances with the team that defeated them in the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. Erik Cole and Joni Pitkanen will get a chance to square off against their old teams, as well.

Next up, is the Flyers on Sun, Nov. 2 (say hi to Joffrey!); the Blue Jackets on Wed, Nov. 5 (all eyes on Gilbert Brule and Raffi Torres); and the Oil visit Sid the Kid in Pittsburgh on Thu, Nov. 6.

*Maple Laughs - Toronto brings the circus to town on Thu, Nov. 13.

*Detroit Cup City - Edmonton plays the defending Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings on Mon, Nov. 17. They'll get an up-close look at just how much Marian Hossa is worth.

*Kings For A Day - Former Oilers Jarret Stoll, once considered captain material in Edmonton, and Matt Greene will return to Rexall Place when LA visits on Wed. Nov. 26. D-man Lubomir Visnovsky will also show the Kings what they traded away.

*Quack Quack - The Ducks visit Rexall Place Fri, Dec. 19, where Oiler fans will have a warm cup of shut the **** up for Brian Burke and plenty of jeers for Chris Pronger. Maybe Bobby Ryan can shut them up ... maybe not.

*The Great One- Anytime the game's best player and all-time Oiler great Wayne Gretzky comes to town, it's a good day (even if he is just behind the bench). Phoenix will also have stud forward Olli Jokinen with them when they're in Edmonton on Mon, Dec. 22.

*Boxing Day Beauty - The best cure for turkey coma? Watching the Oilers knock the stuffing out of the Canucks in Vancouver on Fri, Dec. 26.

*Out With A Bang- Should auld acquaintance be forgot, New Year's Eve will serve as a fitting reminder for these two foes. Flames vs. Oilers at Pengrowth Saddledome on Wed, Dec. 31.

*Everybody Say AO, AO - Oilers visit Ovechkin and the Caps in Washington on Tue, Jan. 13.

*Home On The Range- the Oilers start their first of two six game homestands on Sun, Jan. 18 against the Coyotes. Between then and Tue, Feb. 3 they take on Columbus, Buffalo, Minnesota, Nashville, and Chicago.

*Montreal Smoked Meat - The Habs are in Edmonton on Wed, Feb. 11, giving Sheldon Souray a chance to show former teammates that booming shot of his.

*Flaming Out- Stortini hugs it out with Glencross, Bertuzzi, and Phaneuf at Rexall on Sat, Feb. 21, but it still won't be enough to make fans like any of them.

*Seen Stamkos...Sure Did- Oilers' fans get treated to superstar Vincent Lecavalier and first overall pick Steven Stamkos when the Lightning visit Edmonton on Tue, Feb. 24.

*Oh, That's What Hockey Looks Like - The Oilers get to give Toronto fans/the Center of the Universe's corporate elite a finger of their own as they thump the Leafs into submission on Sat, Mar. 7.

*Ducks Unlimited - The Oilers head to Anaheim on Fri, Mar. 27 and the Ducks come to Edmonton on Tue, Mar. 31. By this point of the season, the standings should be doing most of the talking, but somehow that seems unlikely. Maybe Smid or Penner can put an exclamation point on things.

*There's No Place Like Home- The Oilers play at Rexall for six straight games from Sun, Mar. 29 until Fri, Apr. 10. They close out the regular season with a home-and-home series against the Flames. Calgary comes to Edmonton on Fri, Apr. 10 and the Oilers head south to the Saddledome the next day, Sat, Apr. 11.

Non-Oiler games of interest

*Outdoor Classic - Blackhawks host Red Wings at Wrigley Field on New Year's Day.

*European Season Openers - Rangers take on the Lightning in Prague and Senators face the Penguins in Stockholm on Oct. 4th and 5th.

*Bertuzzi in Vancouver - Flames face the Canucks at GM Place on Oct. 9th. How will Vancouver fans react to Big Bert playing for Calgary? Two nights later, the Canucks visit the Saddledome. How will Flames' fans react to Big Bert playing for Calgary?

*Red Wings vs. Maple Leafs - Season opener for both teams, also on Oct. 9th, and this should be ugly. The outcome is already certain, but how badly will the Stanley Cup Champs destroy the whimpering Leafs in Hockeytown, USA. I don't think double-digits are out of the question and this game should signal exactly just how long of a season it will be for Leaf fans.

*Stamkos Home Debut- First overall pick Steven Stamkos makes his home, and North American, NHL debut against the Canes on Sat, Oct. 11.

*Crosby vs. Ovechkin - The Caps visit the Pens in Pittsburgh on Oct. 16th.

*Avery visits MSG - Agitator Sean Avery and the Dallas Stars take on the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 20.

*Stanley Cup Rematch - Pens take on the Wings in Detroit on Nov. 11th. How could we forget?

*All-Star Game in Montreal - The Sun, Jan. 25th game coincides with the Habs' 100th anniversary.

Horcoff signs six-year contract extension

Ian Wilson — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:51:00 -0400

The Edmonton Oilers have locked up All Star center Shawn Horcoff by inking him to a six-year contract extension.

The 6'1", 204-lb. native of Trail, B.C. will earn $33 million over the course of the contract, averaging $5.5 million per season.

“This is a great day for myself and my family. Edmonton is a great city and one that has embraced us in every way possible. I’ve spent my entire career with the Oilers and I’m thrilled about the direction we are heading in, led by our new owner Daryl Katz and General Manager Kevin Lowe," said Horcoff in a press release. "I’d like to thank the Edmonton Oilers and our great fans for making this possible.”

Horcoff, 29, is entering his 9th NHL season and the last year of a three-year deal. He recorded 50 points in 53 games last year, earning him a spot in the 2008 NHL All-Star Game before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the season.

Oilers General Manager Kevin Lowe said Horcoff "has proven himself as one of the premier players in the National Hockey League and has been and will continue to be an integral part of our organization moving forward."

The 99th overall pick of the Oilers in 1998, Horcoff was a big part of the team's 2006 post-season success, which saw Edmonton come up just short to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Horcoff had 19 points during that playoff run.

Though he has often been criticized by Oiler fans for not being an elite first-line center, Horcoff put up a career high 22 goals and 73 points in 2005-06 and before he was injured last season he was on pace for a career-best 79 points.

He is also one of the league's premier defensive forwards and relishes the role of shutting down the top players in the NHL.

Horcoff, a fitness fanatic who has been compared to Chris Chelios in terms of his off-ice preparation, was also busy this off-season helping the Oilers try to land free agent stud Marian Hossa.

Hossa eventually signed with Detroit, but Horcoff - who played with Hossa in Sweden - made several calls on the Oilers behalf to lure him to Edmonton.

Lowe, meanwhile, was relieved to get the extension done well before Horcoff became an unrestricted free agent.

"By being proactive with this deal, we avoid being in a situation where Shawn could become an unrestricted free agent after next season and the unknown free agency can bring to the organization," he said.

"Having him under contract long-term is something that has been on our radar for a long time and we are extremely pleased to finalize this deal.”

Zack Stortini Re-Signs with the Edmonton Oilers

Ian Wilson — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:57:33 -0400

Zack Stortini, known jokingly as "Huggy Bear" to Oiler fans, has embraced a three-year contract with Edmonton.

The 22-year-old right winger was reportedly seeking a salary in the $1 million per year range but the contract is only worth a total of $2.1 million (an average of $700,000 a season).

The Oilers let Stortini's linemate, Curtis Glencross, walk when they felt his salary demands were getting too high and with the signing of tough guy Jason Strudwick, it was unclear whether or not Stortini would sign in Edmonton.

But the team decided to retain the 6'4", 228-lb. native of Elliot Lake, Ont. when they announced his signing today.

“Zack had a very productive season last year and we’re looking for him to build from that," said Oilers Vice-President of Hockey Operations Kevin Prendergast in a press release. "He’s an intimidating presence on the ice and is establishing himself as an important part of our hockey club”.

Stortini's abilities as a fighter are questionable. Although he is a willing participant, fans dubbed him "Huggy Bear" because of his tendency to grapple with opponents rather than duke it out.

However, Stortini has turned himself into a pest on the ice and he proved to be an effective fourth-line player at times last season.

Stortini put up 12 points (three goals, nine assists) and 201 penalty minutes in 66 games in 2007-08. He ranked fifth in penalty minutes in the NHL last year.

Meanwhile, the Oilers also inked forward Carl Corazzini to a one-year deal.

Here's more on Corazzini from the Oilers' website:

"Corazzini is coming off a career season with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, recording career-highs in assists (36) and points (60) after collecting 24-36-60 in 80 games played.

Entering his eighth professional season in 2008-09, the Framingham, Massachusetts native has played 19 career NHL games with the Boston Bruins (12 games in 2003-04) and Chicago Blackhawks (7 games in 2006-07), recording three points (2-1-3)."

Edmonton Oilers: The Lowe-down on the Offseason Moves

Ian Wilson — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:42:21 -0400

With the addition of a power forward and an offensive-minded defenceman, the unbridled optimism which marked the end of the Oilers' 2007-08 campaign—spurred by impressive play from the team's rookies—has carried over to the offseason.

Not even missing out on top free agent Marian Hossa (he signed a one-year, $7.45 million deal with Detroit) or ongoing squabbles with Anaheim GM Brian Burke were enough to kill the buzz of Oiler fans, who are once again talking playoffs—thanks to GM Kevin Lowe's wheeling and dealing.

Gone are inconsistent forwards Raffi Torres and Jarret Stoll, along with tough defenseman Matt Greene and the enigmatic Joni Pitkanen. Inserted into the lineup are Erik Cole and Lubomir Visnovsky.

Stoll, who was sent to the Kings with Greene for Visnovsky, moves closer to his supermodel girlfriend Rachel Hunter, and hopes to resurrect his once-promising career, which was derailed by a concussion in 2007.

The 31-year-old Visnovsky, meanwhile, will try to bounce back from an off-year in L.A. in which he put up "only" 41 points and was a minus-18. He should have plenty of opportunity to do so in Edmonton.

The 5'10" blueliner is more than capable of quarterbacking the power play. With fellow D-man Sheldon Souray dropping bombs from the point, the Oil could be deadly with the man advantage.

Visnovsky should be an upgrade on 6'3", 210 lb.-defenceman Pitkanen. At just 24 years of age, Pitkanen is chock-full of potential. But many hockey watchers wonder if he'll ever realize it.

The Finn—acquired by Edmonton along with Geoff Sanderson in a deal with the Flyers for former Oiler captain Jason Smith and forward Joffrey Lupul—is a smooth skater who shows flashes of brilliance. However, he also has a reputation for being hard-headed, uncoachable, and soft.

For those reasons, Pitkanen was shipped to Carolina in exchange for Cole—a hulking winger with speed to burn.

Cole has scored more than 20 goals in each of the last three seasons. The Oiler faithful hope he can teach Dustin Penner what it means to be a power forward. Both big bodies will come in handy in front of opposing goaltenders.

Other acquisitions of note for the Oilers include Gilbert Brule, a former sixth-overall pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Edmonton native Jason Strudwick.

Brule was traded for Torres in what was essentially a salary dump for the Copper and Blue. He'll try to regain the offensive form which made him a star in juniors.

Strudwick, meanwhile, was signed for cheap, and the Oilers expect him to add much-needed muscle to the lineup. The 6'4", 225-lb. Strudwick can play both defence and on the wing.

QUESTION MARKS

Can standout rookies Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, and Robert Nilsson avoid sophomore slumps and help pace the offence? Will Penner start living up to his contract in year two of his five-year, $21.5 million pact?

Can goaltender Mathieu Garon play brilliantly over the course of a whole season? Will the Oilers stay healthy this season? Will Ales Hemsky finally assert himself as a star in the NHL? Who will see more ice time: Brule or Rob Schremp? Can Burke stop taking childish pot-shots at Lowe and the Oilers?

WHO'S OUT

Pitkanen (Carolina), Stoll (LA), Greene (LA), Torres (Columbus), Curtis Glencross (Flames), Geoff Sanderson (retirement?)

WHO'S IN

Cole, Visnovsky, Brule, Strudwick

UP IN THE AIR

Marty Reasoner, Zach Stortini

PROJECTED FINISH

First in Northwest Division, third in the Western Conference.