Theo Peckham is injured.
Regardless, I still think today's Mark Fistric deal gets done anyway if you're the Edmonton Oilers. Offering up a 3rd round draft pick for a competent 5/6 defenseman who's big, throws more than 200 hits per year, and blocks shots like a demon is a small price to pay to immediately upgrade the hockey team. The Oilers just became a much harder team to play against.
An upgrade? I said "upgrade". Why would the Oilers want to upgrade?
There's something strange occurring in Edmonton right now. The players on this roster are starting to believe. Management believes. Head Coach Ralph Krueger believes. This isn't a team for the future anymore. This is a team wanting to win now.
Signs, Signs, Everywhere There's Signs...
There's some very interesting noise coming out of Oilers camp that leads me to believe more change might occur before the season begins (and if it makes sense for the team).
- Ryan Whitney is FLYING. Obviously he's healthy again, and obviously, he's a player with something to prove and a contract this summer to sign. As of yesterday, we were living with the reality that Justin Schultz would be paired with Nick Schultz as the 3/4 pairing. With Whitney looking like a machine again, it was suggested today he could be paired with Justin Schultz, and Nick Schultz would play with Fistric as the Oilers shut-down pairing. If Whitney is at his best and if Schultz is the guy we saw in the AHL, the Oilers will have a legitimate Top 4 group, and a deep six.
- People worried about Nail Yakupov's attitude need to relax. His eyes were as big as saucers today during practice. Whitney absolutely schooled him making a play at one point. Yakupov is very aware he's a rookie who needs to prove he belongs here. Or worded another way, he's fitting in well, realizing that the team is bigger than he is. He'll be fine. Today he was playing on the right side with Ales Hemsky and Sam Gagner.
- Ben Eager looks like the guy the Oilers were trying to sign last summer. Big. Ready. Scary.
- Oilers management announced that decisions on captains will be made later in the week. Dan Tencer was suggesting on Twitter that Shawn Horcoff will keep the C, but I have a suspicion he's offered to give it up.
I suspect Jordan Eberle will be named Team Captain. This is a hunch. I haven't heard anything from anyone on this one on this. Eberle is the young star everyone can agree on...He's hardworking, dependable, accountable, and nice. Everyone loves him. I heard Eberle's name mentioned last week with respect to him one day perhaps becoming the captain. Maybe the Oilers, Horcoff included, realize if the Oilers are ever going to go anywhere, it will be thanks to Eberle and players of that quality.
- I was told no one was going to force Horcoff to give up the captaincy, and if it happened it would be because it was Shawn's idea. If he's in fact done this, give him another check mark in the Cloutier Appreciation Ledger. Sometimes being a good leader is recognizing when it's time to step aside for someone else. There's hope for Horcoff in Edmonton yet.
If More is Going to Happen Before the Season Begins, It Will Be...
- I'm still hearing the Oilers mentioned with respect to Roberto Luongo. Weird? Maybe, maybe not. Devan Dubnyk is a goalie I wouldn't give up on, but he's far from being a guaranteed starter. Luongo is a world-class proven goalie and adding him would upgrade the team.
I get the feeling the Canucks can't find the deal they want for Luongo. The Oilers should be interested in dealing for him if the price is right. When I say, "price is right", what I'm actually saying is, Luongo for Dubnyk, a bad contract, and a draft pick. Anything more than that is an overpayment for a player with a horrible contract to accept.
I'll be more specific: Luongo for Dubnyk, Horcoff and a 2nd round pick. That's my trade rumor.
In Dubnyk, the Canucks get a goalie who could be as good as Schneider. There's no guarantees with Cory, either, and we know the 'Nucks are goalie shopping. In Horcoff, the Canucks get a bad contract, but they also get a center who can play well on the 3rd line. He might even be good enough to fill in for Ryan Kesler as he heals up. I can't see the Oilers giving up a 1st round pick for the 2013 draft (one filled with quality big centers), but the 2nd round pick coming from Anaheim is almost a 1st round pick. I can't see the Oilers giving up a prospect like Magnus Paajarvi, nor can I see the Canucks interested in someone like Tyler Pitlick who has proven absolutely zero as a pro.
- If...And this is a very big IF...the Oilers actually did something bold like make a move for Luongo, I believe a third deal would be in the works. The only reason the Oilers would go after Luongo is if the plan is to go for it this season...and that means, they'd need to immediately find a center to replace Horcoff on the 3rd line.
What this deal could look like is anyone's guess, so here's mine: Maybe we're not talking trade here. Maybe we're talking about signing UFA Jason Arnott. He could play successfully 15 minutes per game in a 3rd line role, and provide the Oilers with veteran leadership to boot.
This is all a bit of fun/fiction. I've been saying for a while now the Oilers would get a left-handed 5/6 defenseman, and they have. I'll be totally shocked if they make more deals before the season, but you never know. Last time the NHL came out of a lockout, the Oilers were a game from the Stanley Cup. Maybe Daryl Katz wants 2013 to be 2006 all over again.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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