December Deadline...

Before I start my blog, I thought I would shed my opinion on the Oiler's goaltending monster. Having 3 goalies isn't the problem... it's the fact that none of the three are taking control of the #1 job. If we get rid of one of the three (Roli), the other two (Garon & Deslaurier) are still going to lose. If the Oilers appoint a #1, he's still going to lose because he has been all year long. It's not MacT's decision to just 'name a goalie and stick with him', it's up to the players to earn the spot. What happens if we just anoint Deslaurier the starter... Do we just sit through the losing streaks until he finally gets hot? That's retarded. Right now, no one has earned the job and THAT'S why the Oilers continue to rotate goalies. Do you think MacT wants a goalie controversy on his hands? Do you think he has asked Santa for this problem? Of course not. But, since all three have been equally horrible, you have to keep playing all of them to see if one of them can grab a hold on that #1 spot. It's not the number of goalies that is the problem, it's the quality of play by the goalies that's the problem.

Alright, so, there are many theories as to why the Oilers are in a 'slump' (more like on a plane, with no pilot, with one wing, caught on fire, spiraling downward towards the ocean, which is filled with sewage waste and HIV infested piranhas) and many people and suggested one option or another, but you know what, since im Smith (and much like Justin Timerberlake on SNL, 'IM AWESOME!') I decided to put forth some trade options on some of the leagues upper-echelon talent; however, I did involve some rules as to what I would include on every deal...

1. Every player and draft pick, not named Hemsky, is available

2. Oiler fans want to win now, not 5 years from now. No draft picks. Impact players only.

3. When was the last time Kevin Lowe/Steve Tambellini made a blockbuster deal and completely raped the other teams roster? Spacek, maybe? What a great example... Not. Therefore, these deals must also be approved by the OTHER GM

4. You, the readers, will be the 'other GM'

5. Let's try to avoid dealing within our own division, we don't want to improve any rivals' chances and hamper our own

So, now you may ask yourselves, 'WHAT?! GAGNER?! NO WAY!!! HES UNTOUCHABLE!' Ok idiots, lets re-cap Sam Gagner's year, shall we? . You see that? It's a whole lot of blank nothingness. And when was the last time we ever traded away a franchise player or even a top 10 player? Never. Don't get me wrong: Dougie Weight, Jason Arnott, Bill Guerin, Cujo, Ryan Shit (I mean Smyth), are all decent players; however, none of those players really 'changed the landscape' for their franchise. What makes Gagner not in that class? He hasn't proven a thing, so that makes him expendable. Anyways, moving on with that in mind, I repeat (and it pains me to say this) anyone NOT named Hemsky is up for grabs. Plus, you gotta spend quality players to get quality players, that's just the facts of life. Now, LET'S MAKE A DEAL!!!

Deal 1 – (RW)Maxim Afinogenov & (LW)Thomas Vanek ... for ... (C)Shawn Horcoff, (LW)Dustin Penner, (C)Sam Gagner & 2 1^st Rounders

Buffalo gets: Two top 6 forwards, a possible young gem and future considerations. The Sabres are always strapped for cash (remember Briere and Drury?) and this allows them to dump about 12 million in cap room and only pick up about 9 million. Sure Vanek is a potential 50 goal man, but scoring by committee isn't always such a bad way to go (cough cough Minnesota cough cough). Horcs is a potential point-per-game player, Penner is a

power forward with 30+ goal potential, who knows the potential of young Gagner and those 1^st rounders would help re-build their farm system (honestly, go look at it, I didn't know a single name).

Edmonton gets: The impact franchise player to finally compliment Hemsky; actually, both could possibly compliment Hemsky as both are known as snipers. The Oilers have never been able to give Hemsky the trigger-man he needs to really become an elite player and Vanek is definitely one of those guys. Vanek has a decreasing salary for the future years and the Oil would have options on Afinogenov as he is a UFA this season. And really, all Edmonton did was replace Horc's new extension with Vanek's current deal (plus, Klowe wanted Vanek 2 years ago when he made that ridiculous offer sheet).

Deal 2 – (LW)Zach Parise & (LW) Patrik Elias ... for ... (D)Tom Gilbert, (G)Dwayne Roloson, (LW)Erik Cole, Jeff Petry & Rob Schremp

NJD gets: Cap space to re-sign higher priority players: Brian Gionta and John Maddon. Roli, Schremp and Cole's deals are done at the end of this year (and wouldn't Roli take the #1 job from Weekes and Clemmensen, anyway?), but I have a feeling Lou Lammarillo would be willing to re-sign Schremp and give him significant playing time; Roli too, but at a reduced rate then the 3million he's due this year. They also add Tom Gilbert to go with Paul Martin and Johnny Oduya to play in front of the game's best goaltender as it is. Gilbert is, obviously, the key to this deal for the Devils. It may seem strange that they may only keep one roster player, but with the Devils tight to the cap and players needing resigning and the fact that they are a great drafting team, I think it would make sense for them.

Edmonton gets: An exciting young player and a decreasing veteran. Elias hasn't surpassed 70 points in four years, but Edmonton has to do what it has to do to get Parise. Parise is a 2-time 30-goal scorer in only 3 seasons and is on pace for 45+ this season; more firepower for Hemsky (are you getting the jist of these deals?). Parise is signed through 2010/11 and Elias through to 2012/13, but Elias' contract (with Penner's) could hamper the Oilers (he is due 5 million every year) in future years, but whose to say we don't deal Elias or Penner in that time frame? I know the last thing the Oilers want is to add a 32 year old declining player with a huge contract, but Elias is a winner and a leader. Plus, he's Czech, much like Hemsky is. Catch the connection? Yea, I do.

Deal 3 – (C)Nik Antropov & (D)Tomas Kaberle ... for ... (LW)Dustin Penner, (D)Tom Gilbert, (C)Rob Schremp, 1^st round pick & a conditional pick

Toronto gets: Well, Burke is reunited with Penner, whom he had his most productive years with as well as a blue-chip player with an attitude problem, but a bright upside. Does Schremp remind anyone of Corey Perry? As I recall, Perry had some attitude problems and fell to the bottom of the 1^st round of his draft year and look what Burke did with him. They also get a 1^st rounder to help re-build with as well as a conditional pick based on if Edmonton can resign Antropov, say... a 2^nd if we don't and a 1^st if we do. Penner is a top 6 forward and Schremp, well who knows, but at least he would get a chance to play under Burke. Plus, there's Gilbert to replace Kaberle. Again, its simply North American guys for Europeans, but Gilbert would fit well with Burke and Wilson driving him.

Edmonton gets: A quality top line player and a complete stud to go on the back end. Antropov is a UFA, but he has improved his point totals for the past 4 years and is on the verge of being a real impact player. Kaberle doesnt need any explanation. Toronto wants to shed salary and if Edmonton acquired Kaberle, that would make Visnovsky's huge deal expendable. Not to mention, since everyone thinks the team revolves around Hemsky, maybe we should surround him with more Czechs. Oh look at that! Kaberle is one! Also, if Edmonton doesn't resign Antropov, they sure would have some cap room for someone named Hossa...

Deal 4 – (D)Andrej Meszaros ... for ... (D)Lubomir Visnovsky & a 1^st rounder

Tampa gets: The PP presence they have been lacking this season. Sure his contract is huge, but Tampa is all about spending money these days and if they don't make the playoffs this year, heads will roll. Lubo has averaged 55 points over the last 3 years and would be the puck rushing Dman Vinny and St. Louis need to increase their offensive performances.

Edmonton gets: Basically a salary dump. Don't get me wrong, Meszaros is only 23 and already an elite defenseman, but I was more concerned about getting rid of 7 million dollars of waste rather then actually improving the immediate roster (thus the 1^st rounder). But he is a Slovak, which is kkkiiinnndddaaa like a Czech!

Deal 5 – Three-Way-Deal...

ATL gets: Cole, EDM 2^nd rounder, Cam Barker, Jack Skille

Alright, Atlanta loses a LW in Kovi, but gains one in Cole (whom they can have the option of re-signing or not). They also gain a 2^nd rounder to help sweeten the deal. Now, they also get 2 top prospects from Chicago in Barker and Skille. Skille could replace Williams on the RW side.

CHI gets: Jason Williams (ATL), Taylor Chorney, EDM 1^st rounder

Jason Williams is a top 6 forward on the brink of being an impact player and returns to the team where he had his most productive year. He was on pace for 70 points two seasons ago, but has a history of injuries. A healthy season could entice Chicago to re-sign him. They also get a prospect in Chorney and if he doesn't pan out, the 1^st round pick should ease the pain.

EDM gets: Kovi, Havlat

Two game-changing players able to turn the tables of the game at any point. Kovalchuk is an annual 50-goal scorer and Havlat is a UFA with 70 point potential. Ilya is just one of those players you want on your team at all times and if Marty hadn't been so injury prone, who knows what consistent scoring he could have brought. Either way, Kovi would be here to stay and Havlat could be let go at the end of the year or re-signed, but certainly at a discount form the 6 million he is making now.

So, it turns out, Edmonton doesn't have as many trading chips as I thought they did. Take away Hemsky, Souray and (Sporer's love child) Tom Gilbert and I mean, it's basically their top 9 forwards (no one wants Brodziak, Pouliet, etc...), a few Dmen, Roli and draft picks. But look at their players... Huge contracts (Penner, Horcoff, Pisani, Visnovsky) Unproven talent (Nilsson, Cogliano, Gagner, Smid) Old Veterans (Staios, Roli, Moreau) and injury-prone Cole. So, I had to make-due with what I was given. What do you guys think? Yep... my phone has already been ringing off the hook from Brian Burke and Ken Holland with job offers...

Cheers.
-Smith