I hope you folks log into Nextsportstar.com tomorrow morning at 9:30am Toronto time (7:30am Edmonton), as I'll be on talking Oilers with Billy Hayes. It's been a while, my friend. I can't wait.

The question is, what will we talk about? Bill, whenever he asks me to be on, doesn't send me questions to prep. He just sends an email saying, "got time to be on the show tomorrow? Is 7:30am good?" We more or less wing it from there.

Back to the question: So what will we end up talking about? Keep in mind Hayes is in Toronto, and as I've found out, people from the 29 other NHL cities have a much different way of looking at the Oilers than I do.

Here's some predictions, with my responses.

1. The Ales Hemsky Situation - There currently is no deal for Hemsky and it sounds like the Oilers plan on using him. Of course, this situation could change in a heartbeat if someone picks up the phone and offers MacT something...anything...of value.

2. Grabovski - Oilers currently have no interest. That situation could change if they move Hemsky to free up cap room. But I suspect Grabo will sign with a different team long before the Oilers would have the ability to make him a serious offer.

3. The Defense Rests? - The Oilers currently have Belov, Grebeshkov, Ference, Smid, Petry, Justin Schultz, Nick Schultz, Potter, Fedun, Marincin, Klefbom and Larsen all competing for seven roster spots. Fedun, Marincin and Klefbom are easy enough to handle...let them play in the AHL for a year. But the Oilers would still have two guys too many. My guess is a trade will happen during training camp before the beginning of the season, but you never know.

4. The Third Line - Is terrible. Boyd Gordon was a great player to pick up, but Hemsky is not built for the 3rd line, and Ryan Jones belongs more on the 4th line and the PK. The Oilers could, in theory, deal Hemsky for one 3rd line-level winger and deal a defenseman for another, but obviously the players the Oilers want in trade just aren't there. I still can't believe the team is planning on going into the season with the forward roster they currently have. No depth and the Bottom 6 seems flawed.

5. Goaltending? - Rumors are still out there that the Oilers could look at bringing in someone like Tim Thomas or Ryan Miller. I can't see either, but I've been wrong a million times before. The issue with Miller is his cap hit more than anything else. With Thomas? Well, do we know he'd stick with the team all season? And if the Oilers did bring in someone, what exactly would they do with Dubey?

6. UFA's and Waiver Wires - I think MacT's strategy for filling roster holes is to wait until right before the season, when teams will stick players on the waiver wire. A number of teams will be hitting the cap ceiling, so they'll try to unload a player via waivers. What I don't like about this is, the type of player teams will dump will be the overpriced/overrated variety, and the Oilers don't need that. I'm not sure how much cap room the Oilers will have to work with if they don't lose Hemsky and/or a defenseman first.

7. Plot Twists - Speaking of teams with cap issues, should the Oilers find a home for Hemsky, and let's say Nick Schultz, they'll have all sorts of cap room to play with. This could open the door to a more significant trade. For example, the Braydon Coburn thing. Or maybe the Penguins will be in the mood to move a veteran defenseman. The Bruins, Wings, Sharks and Kings are all up against the cap ceiling now, and the Hawks aren't far behind. Use your imaginations. San Jose's defense looks terrible to me, especially with them playing Brent Burns as a forward. Would he waive his NTC to come to Edmonton? What would the Oilers need to give up to get him? The Wings need a D man too. Would they part with Justin Abdelkader or Darren Helm? These are quality 3rd line options, my friends.


I suspect Hayes will ask me about potential TO, or Buffalo, or Ottawa moves with the Oilers. Of the three, the Sabres are most possible. As much as I'd love to add Phaneuf from the Leafs, I don't think he's available. The Sens have no reason to make a deal...unless, of course, it's to move Jared Cowen and his contractual delusions of grandeur. I'd hate to see what the Oilers would need to give up to bring him in.

We know the Sabres are open to moving both Vanek and Miller. Vanek is an interesting name. If the Oil deal for him, I say, keep Ales Hemsky. Run three offensive lines and try to win games 1982-style. Defense is for little girls. The Sabres might also be open to dealing a few other guys; some crazy names, too. Tyler Myers has a huge contract and hasn't been living up to it, for example. If you thought the Oilers had to give up lots for Cowen, wait to you see what a Myers deal would look like.

Sigh.

The truth is, Oilers big cheese Kevin Lowe is a very cautious guy. The David Perron trade was about as crazy as he's willing to get...so don't expect anything crazy to happen between now and the start of the season. Oh, there will be deals...Hemsky needs to go, as does at least one defenseman...but those are predictable, dull moves. All the excitement, for this summer at least, is over.

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