I mentioned it was Pow Wow Days here in Lac La Biche. Country music is traditional at these sort of events in Alberta. Last year, they organizing committee brought in rising country superstar Brett Kissel, and washed-up Canadian country legend Charlie Major. Kissel's performance went incredibly well, but Major...At one point in the show, he walked to the edge of the stage and yelled at the crowd to WAKE UP! After I finished laughing I came to the realization that maybe he had a point.
It's August. In NHL terms, this is nap month. Absolutely nothing is happening. Nothing. What in the world am I suppose to write about right now? I'm perplexed.
A number of Oilers players, if they haven't already done so, will begin arriving in Edmonton this week. The players are so trained and focused now, they have mini-camps before the real training camp begins. So players will start arriving and getting ready for what might be the most unpredictable season in Oilers history.
In August, you may hear about an Oilers roster move...but the chances of it happening are remote. There's no deal out there for Ales Hemsky or Linus Omark. Omark will play in Europe remaining in NHL limbo, and Hemsky will be at the Oilers training camp, ready to play for the team.
If there is an Oilers roster move, it will likely be a defenseman who goes. However, Oilers management have hinted that they are looking forward to some healthy internal competition for roster spots. The entire thing is a bit of a misnomer, because Smid, Petry, Nick Schultz, Justin Schultz, and Andrew Ference are all NHL-level defensemen who will be on the team. The "competition" is for the 6th roster spot, and it will be between Anton Belov, Denis Grebeshkov, Oscar Klefbom, Taylor Fedun, and Corey Potter. The job was all but promised to Belov when they signed him, so in truth, all we're trying to figure out is if Grebs or Potter is a better #7 guy. My money is on Grebs. Klefbom and Fedun will both start the year in the AHL, and the Oilers will try to lose Potter on the waiver wire.
Oh, and then there's that Philip Larsen kid the Oil picked up from Dallas. I have no idea where, if at all, he fits into this. Way too many D right now.
Quick, someone send me comments as to what you'd like me to write about. I'm bored and out of ideas. You're going to need to help me kill time until training camp arrives.
Here...I'll ask you a question that will find a way into my next blog: If the Oilers have no trades possible before the season starts, which player(s) could you see them pull off of the waiver wire? Because a number of teams, especially those up against the cap ceiling, will be letting a few decent players go as a way to dump their contracts. Who can you see being dumped, and how could the Oilers adding that player help this season?
I'll wander around CapGeek this evening to see if I can figure out which players will be available.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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