On the road in Chicago. It's gonna be a bloodbath.

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Man, I was hoping we'd at least finish out of the bottom 5 this year.

I didn't think we would finish last again this year but if Gilbert is out for an extended time we very well may

What's up with RNH being out as well? Bottom five could be a lock.

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Horcoff looked injured tonight, and Smid was in pain.

Truth be told I feel worse for OKC who is having an amazing year and can't keep any defense down there right now because the Oiler's defense can't stay healthy. Just brutal.

Yeah the team is just getting run down. Part of the price you pay for actually trying on defense.

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Hemsky showed to me that barring some sort of miracle mentally, that he's likely never going to be a top end player.

That display of fear on the icing call at the end can only be explained as someone who is terrified of hurting himself again and doesn't want to get hit.

He needs to be traded to any team that will take him.

I couldn't tell if it was fear or if he was just completely gassed. Either way I felt like it was a cop out but in the grande scheme of things I don't mind it. It was maybe two-three minutes earlier he went into the corner and banged with Seabrook on the forecheck. I'm not killing him for one play. I haven't seen a trend that he's going to be acting like less of the fearless player he has in his career but maybe he just really doesn't want to be the first guy in to the corner so he can protect his shoulder. That's a trend I'll be looking for over the next few games.

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Hope you're right. He's been one of the VERY few bright spots on the Oilers roster the past decade and when he's on he's ON. I'd certainly love for him to get it all together again.

I really think he'll be traded though.

Yeah I really wonder about that. I think he can be a part of the solution in Edmonton though. At some point you can't keep trading vets and he does still set a solid example for the young guys even if he will never be 100% again. The guy was a playoff warrior when the Oilers went on that run. I'd like to see him get a shot at that again for the Oil. And with the injuries can the Oilers really afford to deal away more players?

It is entirely possible that a decision will have to be made between keeping Hemsky and Gagner long term. If the Oilers cannot convince Hemsky to sign an extension or at least have positive talks in that regard and they fall right out of the playoff race then he probably gets dealt. But maybe similar talks are happening with Gagner and those could be going any number of ways. Or maybe both are dealt. I think long term there is room for one and personally I would rather keep Hemsky. Throw the right players around him and he doesn't need to put his body on the line.

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