Smitty, Roli, Avs. CBJ on deck

So I guess because of the emotional attachment there will always be Smitty rumors, well at least for a few more years anyway. I heard from a very reliable source that Smyth actually wants to return to Edmonton and there have been secret talks in the past between him and Lowe and now the Avs camp and Tambelini are taking, but it is back and forth right now and could go nowhere. After a big loss to Chicago last night, you better believe that Colorado is looking for an answer and they know part of the answer is a better goalie. Is Smitty trade bait in that mix? The biggest thing for the Oilers is that Smitty wants a contract extension so he can finish his career in Oil country but Edmonton is not so sure about the current contract and how it will fit in. They want the player for the right deal but they do not want the contract or the long term deal. Long term deals are tricky – just ask the New York Islanders…

As for Roloson being in the trade mix - now would be the right time to shop him. Teams are looking for goaltending and need to make a move now before they lose even more spots in the standings. A team like Colorado for example cannot afford to slip at all as they are in such a tight conference. They need to make a goaltending decision and make it quick. Can they lose Smitty? Probably. That said…do the Oilers need him? Can we lose Roloson? Right now the Oil need to ride the hot hand and that hot hand is Roli. They do however have to give Garon another chance to get the #1 job back and long-term it would be good to trade Roloson and have Garon play well, be the #1, and get him a contract extension later this year.

I am just passing on what I am hearing but I say we do not need Smitty. We do not need another “Smitty.” What the Oilers need is what I have said they need for the last two years – a highly skilled, legitimate first line center. A guy that is good for faceoff wins, 80+ points, and makes a difference every night. Some say Horcoff is turning into that guy but he is not there yet. It is hard to say who the Oil would even get. They probably will not get anyone. All I know is that the only place for Smitty now would be on the 3rd line and we would have to give up Brodziak – the Oilers best faceoff man right now.

Ottawa is looking for goaltending but again, who would the Oil get and who would they give up? It would not be a 1-for-1 unless it was a guy like Vermette. He is a good faceoff guy and can score too.

Either way the Oilers are looking good the last two games and have improved in the weak areas. All the more reason just to wait and see unless there is an crazy awesome deal on the table for Roli. I predict an Oilers win vs CBJ tomorrow. Roli will get the start with Garon starting the next night vs. the Pens.