The trade deadline is now upon us. Many Edmonton OIlers appeared in print rumors during the run-up to the Olympic deadline and now a battered fanbase hopes that a catatonic General Manager will snap out of whatever condition he is currently in and work a miracle. All he needs to do is move some contracts, move some aging veterans, free up some cap space and restore the Oilers' image. Actually, a miracle's not necessary, the fanbase would settle for somehow ridding this team of one or two burdensome contracts and maybe finding a real NHL forward or two. I guess that would be a miracle.
After the jump, I take a look at the contract status of each of the current Oilers, their expiration, whether they're on the block and attempt to estimate their trade value at the deadline.
The Oilers are in a terrible bargaining position. They've got some toxic assets and moving any of the valuable pieces on the roster would leave a gaping hole in the roster. Expect Pisani and Comrie to be dealt, and that's about it. Given the circumstances, Oiler fans should be jubilant if Tambellini is able to move one of Moreau, O'Sullivan, Staios or Nilsson, but don't count on it.
Just another long year as an Oilers fan, that's all.