Should We Stay or Should We Go?

Since the late 90s to 2005, the Oilers never really re-built, or went for it all. In 2006, we saw that Kevin Lowe wanted to put a contender on the ice, he traded for Chris Pronger and Michael Peca. Peca may not have lived up to all the hype, but he did a very solid job, and Pronger exceeded all expectations. During that year, the Oilers had struggles in goal and in terms of defensive and offensive depth. So in January of 2006, Lowe traded for Jaroslav Spacek and Dick Tarnstrom. Both moves were absolute steals. So the only big question mark was goaltending. And on trade deadline 2006, KLowe traded for Dwayne Roloson. Giving up a 1st round pick and a conditional 3rd seemed like a big price to pay at the time. Considering how a lot of fans weren't sure of whether or not we'd actually make the playoffs. Then we traded, Reasoner, Yan Stastny and a 2nd for Sergei Samsonov. Seemed like a steal at the time. Considering how Reasoner was a 4th liner, and Rem Murray had replaced him and Yan Stastny was just another AHLer, the only thing of significant value was the 2nd rounder. And that turned out to be Milan Lucic. Of course, we edged out a Cloutier-less Canucks to make the playoffs that year in the second last game of the season. And ended up going all the way to the Cup finals. But we decided to go for it that year.

In the 2006-2007 season we were forced to give up several major pieces of the 06 Western Champions. Losing Chris Pronger was a major blow. But during the year, we played okay. Hovering around 9th being at 10th or 11th, this year KLowe had no idea what to do. Negotiations with fan fav Ryan Smyth were going bad, and we traded him. Since the trade we won 1 game for the rest of the season. Giving us the 6th overall pick in the draft. Giving us Sam the Man. In that season we decided to re-build.

But the following off-season was a head scratcher. Having major young pieces like, Rob Schremp, Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, Robert Nilsson and Ryan O'Marra seemed like a good core to build around. With budding superstar, Ales Hemsky not yet at his prime it seemed perfect for another year of re-building. We traded for young puck mover, Joni Pitkanen. We overpaid for Sheldon Souray, in order to put Edmonton on the map for free agents. But the offersheet to Dustin Penner. Of course, we knew Dustin was a great young player on the Cup winning Ducks, but the cost, a 1st, a 2nd and a 3rd. So were we going for it or were we still re-building? Giving up a 1st would not exactly help your rebuilding cause. But in an interview during the year KLowe said he thinks we were somewhere in the middle. Nilsson, Gagner and Cogliano all made the roster and it looked as if we were gonna have a very competitive roster.

But injuries began to pile up. The teams below us began to rise. And soon enough we were finding ourselves digging out of the basement. But a late season surge got us in 9th place, almost enough to get ourselves a playoff spot.

This offseason, we traded for Lubomir Visnovsky and Erik Cole. Two proven veterans. So do we plan on being contenders this year? Or be mediocre? Or still rebuilding? With these two vets showing our younger guys how it's done.

So you've gotta let me know. Should I stay or should I go?!