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I am sorry if this blog is completely inadequate. I was at the Gogol Bordello show in Edmonton, and the place was hot, packed, and noisy. That was, perhaps, the best live show I've ever witnessed, and the crowd beat itself black and blue. I've covered in bruises and am extremely hung-over, so I apologize if this blog is bad...well, worse than usual.


Omark - Linus Omark is in Edmonton right now, attempting to negotiate his freedom so he can sign with a different NHL club. If Omark and his agent can figure out a deal, they're a better GM than Craig MacTavish. Omark has been the immovable object for some time now. If the Oilers squeeze a 5th round draft pick out of this, they'll be damn lucky.


Hemsky - Ales Hemsky's birthday today, so the Oilers Facebook page is pretending to like him. As for the player, there's no smoke and no fire when it comes to trade rumors. Fans are going to need to relax. There's likely a deal for Hemsky out there, but it likely won't occur until the end of training camp...maybe as long as the NHL trade deadline. My fear, which is the same one plenty of you have, is that Hemsky is going to get hurt, and then, it really will be impossible to move him. He goes UFA next summer and the Oilers won't be re-signing him.


Prospect Lists - I've been seeing a number of bloggers posting articles rating the Oilers prospects. Of course, anyone can blog. So who do you listen to? Here's a tip: Any blogger that has Oscar Klefbom rated below Darnell Nurse as a prospect has absolutely no idea what they are doing. When Nurse goes to a World Junior championship and is the dominant defenseman at the entire event, then I might consider moving him ahead. People still don't quite fully understand what the Oilers have in Klefbom, do they?


Speaking of Prospect Lists - People have different ways of dealing with it. A few go with player age. If I was doing a list, I'd say any player who has more than one NHL-season worth of games in the big league is no longer considered a prospect. I'd likely also factor in age and years of pro experience. In my mind, newly added Anton Belov is not a prospect. He's 26 and he has fives years of pro. He's a veteran.

If I had to make a very quick and dirty Top 10 list of Oilers prospects, It would be something like...ummmm...1. Klefbom 2. Nurse 3. Marincin 4. Lander 5. Hartikainen (although him leaving to play in Europe makes me feel like pulling him off this list entirely). 6. Rajala (why isn't he 2" taller and 10lbs heavier?) 7. Fedun 8. Khaira 9. Kessy 10. Gernat

The scary bit about this list is, Oilers prospect depth is actually not that great. Klefbom and Nurse will be NHL players of significance. Marincin has all the tools, he just needs to fill out and to continue working with coaches. Lander might not have the skating or the hands to be in the NHL...We're still figuring him out. Hartikainen is never coming back. Rajala could be the sleeper in this group, as he put up incredible number in the AHL last year. Fedun you just get the feeling isn't ever going to stick with the team. Shades of Taylor Chorney. Khaira was pulled out of college and signed to a contract for a specific reason, so I think he could become a player. Kessy looks like a big, physical forward the Oilers could fit into their future Top 6, and Gernat is huge, can skate, and has some serious skills, but he also takes huge risks on the ice and seems to make some poor decisions with the puck. In Klefbom and Nurse, the Oilers have two definite future NHL players, but there are question marks surrounding everyone else.


Mason Raymond - I was told a month ago that the Oilers had absolutely no interest in Raymond. Perhaps with the lack of a Hemsky deal, combined with the Oilers difficulty in finding depth forwards of quality, the situation has changed? I'm not convinced. I got told Craig MacTavish is done for the summer. Perhaps if Omark can trade himself, that changes things a bit...But I don't expect the Oilers roster to change until right before the season starts. You could see two or three deals before the home opener.


Loose Ends - Yes, I will finish off Trade Wars, for those of you complaining. Only one deal left to make there. And yes, I will post a blog rating the 21st to 30th Most Interesting NHL teams. I've been teasing you folks a bit, making you wait. Don't panic.

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