On Wednesday, the basketball craze that is Jeremy Lin had 13 assists. On Friday, Oilers GM Steve Tambellini will talk to a bunch of teams about dealing assist-machine Ales Hemsky, but no trade will happen. Coincidence? That Hemsky...he's the Jeremy Lin of the NHL.

Anyway, the Oilers are playing against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday. The Avs need the win if they are to keep pace with the playoff pack in the NHL West. The Calgary Flames are sneaking up on the final playoff spot much like an ugly kid has to sneak up on a glass of water. According to numerous sources, Flames GM Jay Feaster has been pulling out his remaining 12 hairs, trying to make another deal to immediately improve the Flames. Feaster; he's the Jeremy Lin of NHL General Managers right now. Watch him give up the Flames two remaining quality prospects and their 1st round pick in 2012 for Jeff Carter. So much effort and expense for a 1st round playoff exit.

Sadly, Friday's Oilers/Avalanche game means very little to the home team, who are now fighting for pride and roster spots next season. It sounds like it is possible injured defensemen Theo Peckham and Corey Potter will be available to play if needed. If available, I could see both drawing in, replacing Andy Sutton and Cam Barker on the Oilers blueline for the night. By pulling Barker out, the Oilers are giving themselves a chance to win the game. By putting Peckham back in the line-up, the Oilers are giving themselves a greater opportunity to deal him at the trade deadline. Peckham might have slow foot speed, and he can't make a pass more than three feet, but he can sure hit. You could say Peckham is the Jeremy Lin of NHL defensemen who throw hits.

I am actually kinda hoping the Oilers don't start winning a bunch of games right now. While it's almost impossible for them to finish worse than the Columbus Blue Jackets, finishing 29th would most likely bring in the 2nd overall draft pick. At best? The Oilers draft first, and at worst, they draft third. If they draft first, they take the Jeremy Lin of wingers available, Nail Yakupov. If they draft second, they take the Jeremy Lin of available centers, Mikhal Grigorenko. And third? They take Ryan Murray, who is, you guessed it, the Jeremy Lin of available defensemen.

One player who won't be back on Friday for the Oilers is center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Nuge says he feels ready to return to action, but expect the Oilers to be extremely cautious with him before he's allowed to return. Keep in mind that Nuge is the Jeremy Lin of NHL rookies. The Oilers won't risk him getting injured now that the games are meaningless.

As for the Avs, they have the cap space needed to be huge dealers at the trade deadline, but it doesn't seem like they have much ambition to add pieces. Doing little makes sense, as this is a team that has a talented, young core to build around. Perhaps we could see a blockbuster involving Paul Stastny, but keep in mind the Avs cap position. They would need to take significant salary back in order to move Stastny. I could see the Toronto Maple Leafs perhaps making a pitch for the talented center. Stastny rumors are the Jeremy Lin of all NHL trade rumors. Perhaps Luke Schenn and Nazem Kadri for Stastny? Right now, hockey media have Schenn being dealt to 32 different NHL teams.

Have I beat this joke to death yet? I'm definitely the Jeremy Lin of bloggers.

More tomorrow on Hemsky, Lin, Rick Nash, Lin, how lame the Flames are, and, of course, Lin.

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