I know, I know, I am blogging again today, but I couldn't resist putting something up. There's some good stuff happening; good Oiler stories, and I must address them before tonight's game against St. Louis begins.

- Sheldon Souray is being scouted by the Rangers. Sure, the Oilers could put him through re-entry waivers, or the Oilers could end up making a deal with New York, assuming one of their unfavorable salaries. Hmmm...Wade Redden? I am kidding. Sort of. Word is Redden has looked better in the AHL than Souray. But Redden has three whole seasons after this one, and his contract is a million more than Souray's. A Souray-for-Redden deal is not going to happen.

I do, however, wonder about a couple players the Rangers seem a little disenchanted with: Marian Gaborik and Chris Drury. Obviously, Gabby for Souray or Drury for Souray isn't going to happen without other assets being involved. Gaborik and Drury are good enough to add value if they are healthy. Souray is, well...I'll be kind and refer to him as a risk. For the Rangers to get involved in a deal like this, they'd have to be getting something of value back. Would the Rangers accept Souray and, let's say, Andrew Cogliano for Drury, considering Souray and Drury would both become UFA's in 2012? Obviously the ask would be much higher if Marian Gaborik was the player involved, as he has three years left on his deal after this season, and his offensive skill is unquestioned. I have no idea what the market value of Marian Gaborik would be right now. He's having an okay season in New York, with 33 points in 40 games. He's similar to Ales Hemsky...sort of a Hemsky who shoots more...and he's similar in terms of injury issues. If Gabby is healthy, he's a point-a-game player, and his value is significant.

This type of trade suggestion is complicated to consider. Obviously, the Rangers have some sort of interest in Souray if they are scouting him. Souray hasn't played well in the minors, but he's the kind of player who wouldn't try to hard if he felt unappreciated, which he certainly is by Edmonton.

Gaborik and Hemsky on the same line. There's something to think about. Perhaps the Oilers could trade for Marc Savard as well to center the line, forming the most brittle trio in NHL history.

- Jason Spezza. Don't look now, but the Spezza rumors to Edmonton are back. The only way I could understand the Senators dealing Spezza is if the return from Edmonton would be a number of quality younger assets. Ottawa has depth issues at all positions, so a move involving Spezza has to be a numbers deal.

Jason is still young, and he has four years left after this season on his contract. Aside from his contract situation being somewhat acceptable considering his talent level, Spezza would give the Oilers the legitimate #1 center they are craving. There could be some legitimacy to a deal between the clubs.

Here's a concept: Could the Oilers deal their #1 overall pick in 2011 for Spezza? I am not joking about this. My dad has this saying about a bird in the hand being worth something valuable. Look, I made a George-Bush quote! The Oilers are looking at drafting either Adam Larsson or Sean Couturier with their first pick. Larsson has been described as a potential future Nick Lidstrom, but everyone knows defensemen are harder to predict in terms of development. Larsson could be Lidstrom, or he could be Erik Johnson, the young defenseman in St. Louis who was picked #1 overall, and has taken forever to find his game. Sean Couturier is often compared to Vincent Lecavalier, but in some ways, Spezza is a more offensively-gifted version of Vincent.

I suppose it would take more than just the Oilers #1 pick to get Spezza, but the Oilers should not, under any circumstances, be parting with Hall, Eberle, Paajarvi, Omark, Pitlick, Lander, Petry, Hamilton, Dubnyk or Marincin. I am not sure I would support Hemsky or Penner plus the #1 pick for Spezza either.

Would you take four years of an almost sure thing #1 center (Spezza), or would you take seven to ten years of a young player who might turn out great, or might be just good? Right now, considering the Oilers young assets already in place, I'd take Spezza. Spezza on the first line with Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle? Massive.

Enjoy the game tonight, friends.

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