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Spillage! July 23 Edition

July 23, 2012, 12:42 AM ET [136 Comments]
Richard Cloutier
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
We'll start today's episode of SPILLAGE! by asking on here the same question I asked on Twitter: What number will Nail Yakupov wear in 2012/2013?

Obviously, #10 would be great, but Shawn Horcoff is sorta using it. Unless the new CBA has a "Amnesty" clause allowing the Oilers to dump Horc's contract, he'll still be an Oiler. Besides, during development camp, Yaks said he has picked a number to wear, and he won't be revealing what it is until the season starts. That means #10 is out.

What about the other number Pavel Bure (Yakupov's favorite) use to wear: #96? I'm not sure. The Oilers have a few guys wearing numbers in the 90's. And then there was that #99 chap. #96 is too close to #99, isn't it?

Here's what I'm thinking: Yakupov will wear #8.

Why? For one thing, single digit numbers are cool. The Great Eight?

Also, Yakupov's agent Igor Larionov wore #8 in Detroit. Have you seen Igor's daughter? How can a guy named "Igor" have daughter that looks like that? Alyonka myself every time I think about her.

So that's the number I'm predicting for Yakupov: #8. Because it's cool, because it honors Larionov, and because Alyonka will like it. Chicks will dig it.

- What kind of week can we expect from Oilers GM Steve Tambellini? It might be an active week, actually. Much depends on what happens with Shea Weber, and if there are aftershocks. I don't expect the Oilers to acquire any of the "big names" that are floating around (Shane Doan, Rick Nash, Bobby Ryan), but Ales Hemsky is absolutely in play, and could be dealt once those three guys have new places to live. Hemsky and a second asset could be moved to add a Top 4 defenseman.

- I keep hearing the reason the Oilers want to move Hemsky is to make room for Magnus Paajarvi. Maggy and Sam Gagner have similar situations, as they are younger players who need a full season to show they belong as key pieces of the future Oilers contender-quality team. We all know Hall, Eberle, Nuge and Yakupov are four of the Oilers long-term Top 6. We need to find out this season if Paajarvi and Gagner are the two missing pieces.

- Perhaps Nashville matches the Weber offer, and that's the end of the situation...for this season, at least. When you think about it, that sounds like the most likely outcome. Nashville matches, and the situation goes away.

But what if they don't match, and they instead either make a deal with Philly or deal off the 4 - 1st round picks from Philly to acquire some immediate help? Keep in mind the Preds will be in a strange cap position if Weber leaves. What are the Preds...something like $12mil below the cap floor with 18 contracts counting against the cap? They need to add salary. Aside from losing Weber, the team will be forced to deal for some expensive players just to keep in line with the cap. I know what some of you are thinking, "but the new CBA..."

The new CBA, when it's hammered out, will force players to take a big paycut, and the cap number will shrink. I don't actually believe team's cap positions will change much from where things are now: There will be a cap floor, and teams below the floor now will still be below the floor under the new CBA.

- You know what I'd love to say: The Preds will deal for Rick Nash to get the team to the cap floor, regardless what CBA the league is functioning under. Sad thing is, there is no way Nash will allow himself to go to Nashville.

- Speaking of Nash, it still has to be the Rangers for him, doesn't it? I'm hearing the Rangers don't want to give up any of their "future" core. It could be a deal with players like Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov. Players with last names like Del Zotto, Kreider, Callahan, Stepan, and McDonagh aren't going anywhere.

- If Weber goes to Philly, I am willing to bet my $2.54 allowance that Shane Doan will go there too. Certain teams are ripping out their spleens trying to load up for next season. Philly, Penguins, and Rangers will all be extremely interesting to watch in the NHL East. Minnie, Dallas and Calgary will be extremely interesting to watch in the NHL West.

- I agree with Matt Barry: Why would the Kings make any major deals going into next season? They won the cup. They've kept their roster this summer. There is absolutely no reason to change anything or to make a huge deal. Kings rumors are stupid.

- The only deal that might make sense involving the Kings is to move Jon Bernier, because he wants to go to a team where he can play. However, the offers for Bernier will be underwhelming. He might be talented, but he has almost no experience in the NHL. It's hard to know what kind of value you should place on a player like that. It will be something like Bernier to the Leafs for Nazem Kadri? A real lame deal for both sides.

- You have to think at some point the San Jose Sharks are going to do something huge. If you want to know a team that needs Roberto Luongo, this is it. Sooner or later the Canucks are going to need to give Luongo away, as no team is going to offer anything of value for him. Hey, it's their own fault...no one made them sign a 47 year contract with the goalie. I have no sympathy for the Canucks and their fans. Ever.

- Speaking of contracts, can we get a little love for Steve Tambellini? He hasn't made a mess of the Oilers this season, signing all sorts of bad, long-term deals. Maybe the Dubnyk contract was too much cash, but it's only a two-year deal. Not exactly the end of the world if it doesn't work out. And who knows, it might just work out. I don't mind Dubnyk.

- Some dope said to me, "what difference does it make to the Flyers if Chris Pronger is healthy or injured next season?" Well, it's like this: If he's healthy, he can play. If he's hurt, he can't. If he can play, the Flyers can move a different D man with a big contract to make room for Weber and/or Doan.

Duh.
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