This blog is for all of you who like to say how terrible the Oilers management team is.

Right, so yesterday a bunch of websites wrongly stated that contracts for Ethan Moreau, Patrick O'Sullivan and Robert Nilsson were bought out by the team. Nope.

What has in fact occurred is Moreau and his salary have become part of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and O'Sullivan was dealt to the Phoenix Coyotes for physical defenseman Jim Vandermeer. The only buyout needed was for Robert Nilsson, so the amount of cap damage done to Edmonton is very minimal.

"But Richard, what about the size of Vandermeer's contract?"

Yep, he gets $2.3mil this season, but the Oilers get a good, solid, mean defenseman to protect Taylor Hall et al. Talk about turning O'Sullivan flavored lemons into lemonaide. At $2.3mil Vandermeer is overpriced, but the Oilers would have went out and signed someone similar anyway. The Oilers continue to get bigger as this off-season continues.

The Oilers now have some serious cap space. Yes, they have a big stack of RFA's to sign, and Hall is going to require a top-dollar contract ($3.85mil per season)...but at least financially, the Oilers will be in reasonable shape going into July 1st, and that makes me smiley. I know the team said they won't be going after any big UFA names or old guys, but I can't help but wonder if a major trade is in the works. More on that later.

On the subject of RFA signings, a number of you voiced displeasure and disagreement for the cap numbers listed for players like Gilbert Brule and Sam Gagner. As I stated in the blog, the numbers listed came from Oilersnation.com, and I believe the explanation behind the low numbers is that players like Gagner might be better off signing a low one year deal now, expecting their stats to improve this season...come next summer, they could sign a long-term deal worth more money. It makes total sense in the case of a player like Gagner, who has only scratched the surface of his potential in Edmonton.

There are rumors all over the place that Sheldon Souray will tomorrow become a member of the St. Louis Blues, with Eric Brewer coming in return. I love this trade if it happens. Brewer is a good 3rd or 4th defenseman...has a decent shot, can move the puck, and has decent size. Perhaps the Oilers could sign him to an extension if he works out, and if not, they could unload him as a rental at the trade deadline. I like Brewer's game when he played in Edmonton before, so I would like to see him return.

Should the Brewer/Souray deal occur, and with the addition of Vandermeer, the Oilers blueline suddenly looks sorted out:

Gilbert - Whitney
Brewer - Smid
Vandermeer - Chorney

All of this can occur, and the Oilers will still be millions below the cap. Cherry. Maybe the Oilers will get totally lucky, and have the 'Bulin Wall's contract off the books as well.

Which brings me back to the subject of a major trade involving Edmonton. And yes, I am going to talk Jason Spezza again. Contrary to what Ottawa fans keep saying, there isn't a big market for a player like Spezza. Not because he sucks, but because he makes $7mil per season. Most teams who have serious cap space do so because they need to keep their numbers low. Teams on tight payrolls aren't going to be offering the farm for a $7mil player. Teams like the Boston Bruins, who are spending to the cap limit, can't trade for a player like Spezza either because of the cap issues it would create. Which means a team like Edmonton, who is in the middle of the cap game and who has an owner who's cheques don't bounce, are the most likely destination for a Spezza if the Senators want/need to move him.

Ottawa fans keep saying things like, "they Oilers would need to give up Hall, or Paajarvi, or Eberle." No. I say no in part because the Oilers aren't going to give up those players, and in part because Spezza and his $7mil contract isn't worth any of those players. Sorry, he isn't. I don't think Tambellini would deal 1-for-1 Spezza for Hall, Paajarvi, or Eberle. The Oilers obviously have been paying attention to what has occurred in Chicago: Yes, they won the cup, but the cap situation there is a mess, and the championship team that was is being forced to, at least in part, dismantle. No GM wants that to happen, and that's why a $7mil per season cap hit is a detriment in the modern NHL. If you are making that kind of scratch, you better be named Malkin, Ovechkin or Crosby or it isn't worth it.

Edmonton really needs a #1 center. And looking at the moves happening defensively, the Oilers are really not that far away from challenging for a playoff spot. The team is definitely open to moving Dustin Penner and Andrew Cogliano. They might be open to moving Ales Hemsky for the right return, and the same could be said about Ladislav Smid. Also, the Oilers could move the #1 draft pick for next season if they believe they have the horses to make the playoffs.

The Spezza to Edmonton thing is definitely feasible and should not be discounted.

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