Maple Leafs GM may tempt Oilers with Gardiner for the first overall selection

With the 2012 NHL Entry Draft only ten days away, the buzz around what the Edmonton Oilers will do with the first overall selection is starting to pick up steam. Will they keep it and call the name of Nail Yakupov, giving them a fearsome foursome upfront or do they look to trade the pick and move down? Those are their options. Can't see them taking anyone but Yakpov with the first selection, meaning the potential of the Oilers making a move does exist. Not surprisingly, Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke seems to be making the most noise about acquiring that top pick.

Oilers bring MacTavish home

In announcing that the Edmonton Oilers had decided to bring former head coach Craig MacTavish back into the organization, General Manager Steve Tambellini and company have made their decision on who that final piece to their front office team would be. It was no secret they were looking to add another hockey mind to the Tambellini/Kevin Lowe combo in the front office and bringing in MacTavish to be the club's vice-president of hockey operations was a sound move. Some look at this is nothing more than another one of  the "old boys" being brought back but I would beg to differ.

Oilers need to turn the page and not re-sign Smyth

Many fans are eagerly awaiting news of Ryan Smyth re-signing with the Edmonton Oilers. However, the longer we go without news of Smyth putting his signature on some sort of extension, the less likely it is to occur. In all honesty, from an organizational stand point, Smyth deciding to finish his playing career elsewhere might just be the best possible news they could receive…even though it would leave many unhappy people in Oil Country.

Oilers fans should expect more of the same from Eberle

 
When one looks at the first two years of Jordan Eberle's career, there really isn't much not to like. The talented winger has made an almost seamless transition to the NHL game, after a brilliant junior career. He not only starred for Team Canada at the World Juniors but also won the CHL player of the year in 2010. The former Regina Pats standout was and still remains, an absolute stud and his early success in an Edmonton Oilers jersey should surprise no one.