MacTavish will have himself one busy off-season

It was the same old same old on Monday morning at Rexall Place. Another end of season address from the Edmonton Oilers General Manager...with one difference. Craig MacTavish did not pull any punches. He made it very clear, that this organization needs to make some major changes, if they are to take that next step and become a perennial playoff team. The job is obvious but finding those necessary answers, may not be so easy to acquire.

Theo Peckham and the Edmonton Oilers

To be completely fair, Theo Peckham has no one to blame but himself for the situation he currently finds himself in. Once the NHL and NHLPA decided to finally come to their senses and put an end to what was ultimately a pointless lockout, Peckham showed up to the Oilers abbreviated training camp overweight and out of shape. Simply unacceptable for any player in today's NHL...unless your first name is Dustin and your surname is either Byfuglien or Penner. 

Upgrading Oilers D will be priority number one for MacT

A couple of days back, this very space focused on some of the possible options General Manager Craig MacTavish might have at his disposal, in looking towards improving the mix within the Edmonton Oilers forward group. While some feel that there are few legitimate targets among the so-called available forward group, the possible targets on defencemen  are far fewer in number.

Game 36: Edmonton 8 Calgary 2

With Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby currently on the shelf with a broken jaw, you would be hard pressed to find a better player in the entire National Hockey League than the Edmonton Oilers Taylor Hall. After lighting up the Calgary Flames with a career high five point performance, the former first overall selection finds himself seventh in league scoring and his team currently holding down the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Oilers will target Mark Streit on Deadline Day and via Free Agency

With only hours remaining until the 2013 NHL Trade Deadline, General Manager Steve Tambellini and the Edmonton Oilers have remained nothing more than spectators during this year's so-called "frenzy". Like nearly every other team in the league, Tambellini and company would love to get their hands on New York Islander blueliner Mark Streit.

Moving Whitney sends the wrong message

When head coach Ralph Krueger decided to not dress defenceman Ryan Whitney for seven of eight games during the last half of February, the veteran blueliner looked to be all but finished as a member of the Edmonton Oilers. Four weeks later, that no longer seems to be the case, leaving General Manger Steve Tambellini in a very tough position, heading into the NHL Trade Deadline.

Time for the Oilers to reunite the kids on the power play

Ralph Krueger's decision to separate what was formerly his top line of Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has proved to be an effective tool in kick starting the Edmonton Oilers offence at even strength. Some had wondered, myself included, why the move had not been made earlier but in hindsight, that answer is obvious, no Shawn Horcoff.

Game 27: Detroit 3 Edmonton 2 (OT)

For forty minutes, the Edmonton Oilers played a perfect game. Unfortunately for them, two periods of hockey rarely wins you a game and almost guarantees you a loss against a team like the Detroit Red Wings. Pavel Datsyuk did what Pavel Datsyuk does, scoring the OT winner, and Jimmy Howard was outstanding, turning aside thirty shots, in helping the Wings to a crucial 3-2 come from behind victory in Friday night NHL action.

Game 25: Edmonton 6 Chicago 5

The day after calling a  players only meeting with his struggling teammates, Edmonton Oilers captain Shawn Horcoff made his long awaited return to lineup on Sunday night in Chicago. Apparently those words did not fall on deaf ears, as the Oilers pulled out a thrilling 6-5 victory over the first place Blackhawks.

Oilers would be foolish to not shakeup roster until the off-season

With the Edmonton Oilers in the midst of what has now become a yearly tradition of plummeting down the Western Conference standings. The vast majority of those in Oil Country are calling for the dismissal of one or all three of head coach Ralph Krueger, General Manager Steve Tambellini and President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe.

Smid - Schultz pairing could be just what the Oilers need

Heading into the 2013 campaign, the Edmonton Oilers plan was to have rookie blueliner Justin Schultz play alongside veteran Nick Schultz. While early results were very positive, not surprisingly, the pair have struggled in recent weeks. 

Game 22: Columbus 4 Edmonton 3 (SO)

It was another day off the calender that was coupled with another important point lost by the Edmonton Oilers and their flickering hopes of competing for a playoff spot for the first time since 2006. Shootout goals from Artem Anisimov and Mark Letestu proved to be the difference, as the Columbus Blue Jackets edged the Oilers 4-3 in Tuesday night NHL action.

Game 20: St.Louis 4 Edmonton 2

The Edmonton Oilers saw themselves jump out to a two goal first period lead in St.Louis on Friday night against the Blues. Typically, that sort of start almost guarantees a road team to take home points of some sort. However on this night, there was nothing typical about the Oilers performance over the final forty minutes of action.

Oilers Whitney continues to struggle to find his game

To be fair, Edmonton Oilers defenceman Ryan Whitney is in an almost no-win situation. The veteran blueliner has not only been robbed of much, if not all, of his mobility due to continual ankle problems but also had the misfortune of giving Oilers fans a glimpse of the player he could have been. Unfortunately for everyone involved...he will never be that player again.

Game 8: Colorado 3 Edmonton 1

So much for ending their three game road trip on a positive note. Despite a third consecutive strong showing from netminder Devan Dubnyk and an early goal from rookie Nail Yakupov, the Edmonton Oilers were completed outclassed on Saturday afternoon.

Game 7: San Jose 3 Edmonton 2 (SO)

Funny what a difference twenty-four hours and an opponent willing to play the game can make. After sitting through what was easily the dullest game of the year on Wednesday night in Phoenix, the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks managed to treat hockey fans to one helluva tilt.

Game 6: Edmonton 2 Phoenix 1 (OT)

An overtime power play winner off the stick of Nail Yakupov and another stellar performance from netminder Devan Dubnyk, helped the Edmonton Oilers sneak past the Phoenix Coyotes  2-1 in Wednesday night NHL action.

Oilers handover leadership roles to Eberle, Hall & Schultz for 2013

With head coach Ralph Krueger hinting on Monday afternoon that a possible change would be coming to the Edmonton Oilers leadership group sometime before Sunday's season opener in Vancouver, many fans were wondering if the time had come for captain Shawn Horcoff to be replaced as the club's captain.

Oil Notes: Oilers acquire Fistric from Dallas and debut Yakupov on left wing

The Edmonton Oilers first day of practice had few surprises but did feature the anticipated debut of  Nail Yakupov at left wing, playing alongside Sam Gagner and Ales Hemsky. Whereas off the ice, General Manager Steve Tambellini was able to make a bit of a splash on the trade market, acquiring rugged blueliner Mark Fistric from the Dallas Stars, in exchange for Edmonton's third round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Oilers will be in tough, even with an abbreviated NHL schedule

After one hundred and thirteen days, the National Hockey League and NHLPA finally came to their senses on Sunday morning and put an end to what was arguably the dumbest work stoppage in sports history. While it is absolutely mind-boggling to think this agreement took this long to reach, at the end of the day, the start of the 2013 NHL season is only days away from getting under way.