The Pittsburgh Penguins are beefing up for a run at the Stanley Cup. Within a 24 hour period, the Pens added forward Brenden Morrow from Dallas and Douglas Murray from San Jose. The opposition should be afraid...very afraid. This Penguins team is going to be tough to beat.

Both Penguins deals did a fine job of illustrating what the trade market will be for teams like the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers, who play back-to-back games today and tomorrow against Nashville and St. Louis respectively, could win themselves into the playoff race, or completely lose any chance they have altogether. Obviously, the closer to the race the Oilers are, the more likely they do nothing at the trade deadline. Should the Oilers fall off the pace, the Penguins have determined the market, and Oilers management must like what they are seeing.

Another determining factor is the potential signing of free agent defenseman Danny DeKeyser. The Oilers are meeting with him on Wednesday, and they're bringing out all the big guys. Oilers VP of Hockey Opps Craig MacTavish will be there, but I believe Head Coach Ralph Krueger, former NCAA signing Justin Schultz, and great Oilers from the past will all be involved in attempting to sell DeKeyser on coming to Edmonton. DeKeyser's agent Don Meehan just happens to be Schultz's agent, and met with the team today in Nashville. I'm pretty optimistic about the Oilers chances of landing him. 49% chance, maybe? Hey, those are solid odds. I think it comes down to the Oilers or Wings...perhaps the Wings have 51% because of home court advantage.

As it has been discussed today by various media people who cover the Oilers, GM Steve Tambellini has been meeting with Ladislav Smid and Mark Fistric's agent Steve Kotlowitz. It is believed Smid is seeking a long-term deal worth more than $3.5mil per season. It's my understanding the Oilers see Smid's value to be more comparable to what Marc Methot ($3mil per) or Barret Jackman ($3.167mil per) receive each year. I've also heard there are some concerns with Smid's play this season; that his skills moving the puck have decreased.

In any case...and I know many, many people are going to disagree with me on this...but a 2nd round pick, plus a conditional 2nd round pick for Douglas Murray is a solid return on a 33 year-old shutdown defenseman rental player. It sets the bar really high for the much younger Smid. The Oilers could easily deal, because of his age, for a quality prospect plus a conditional 1st provided he re-signs with the team involved. Dealing Smid really makes sense if the Oilers add DeKeyser and if they're outside of the playoff race.

As far as the Morrow/Hemsky comparable goes, the Penguins have thrown down the gauntlet here. Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston all like Iginla, and rumor has it another team is in the hunt and is a possible winner in the lotto: The Montreal Canadiens. Maybe the Habs have offered up Nathan Beaulieu or Lars Eller? The Flames are going to become a better team down the road if they auction off Iginla, Kiprussoff and Bouwmeester in this red-hot market.

Regardless where Iggy goes, there will be three teams looking to add Ales Hemsky. Should the Oilers move Hemsky to Chicago, I can name one asset they really like: Center Mark McNeill. Perfect type of player to run your 3rd line in the NHL. Boston's prospects are a little harder to make sense of. The Kings certainly have numerous young talents the Oilers would love to add to the rebuild. Or what about if Hemsky doesn't go to Montreal? You could see the Habs offer someone up, although getting Beaulieu out of them for Hemsky might be too much to ask for.

Here's the strange thing: I don't know what to cheer for tonight. As much as I'd love to see the Oilers make the playoffs, I think they likely won't, and the trade market over the next week is going to be hotter than any time else in the rest of 2013. That's Murray deal in particular threw me for a Fruit Loop. Two - 2nds for that guy? Crazy. I almost want the Oilers to lose because doing so will make trades happen. Bye bye vets.

I am, by no means, anti-Oiler, nor am I writing this just to get a rise out of everyone. I actually believe the Oilers have the wrong veterans on the team. News came out today that Eberle has been playing with a broken finger this season, so that explains his tough season. Nuge has been dealing with health issues too. Yakupov would have more points if Krueger game him Top 6 ice time. Gagner and Hall have been solid. Petry and Justin Schultz have been solid and I have no issues with Fistric or the other Schultz. I don't have an issue with Smid, actually, but I just believe now is the time to move him. He's just not a $3.5mil per season defenseman.

I would love for the Oilers to go into next season with a high 1st round pick added to the mix. That guy (a forward) plus Hall, Ebs, Nuge, Yaks, Gags, Maggie, Harti, Petry, JSchultz, NSchultz, DeKeyser, Klefbom, Fisty...maybe McNeill thrown in there too. Youngest team in the NHL, and a core of Type A players who have excelled at every level up until now...Guys who can succeed and want to succeed. Out with the old, and in with the new.

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