2005 EDMONTON OILERS PREVIEW

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2005-06 Edmonton Oilers preview

(MySportsbook.com) - The Edmonton Oilers fell just short of a postseason berth in 2003-04. GM Kevin Lowe wants to make sure that doesn't happen again.

Edmonton was one of the big winners of the NHL'a abbreviated offseason, as Chris Pronger and Mike Peca entered the fold. Both players headed to Alberta via trade.

Pronger, of course, is a former Hart and Norris Trophy winner who, when healthy, is the prototypical defenseman for the 21st century. He has mammoth size and knows how to use it, and he can contribute offensively. Peca, a two- time Selke winner, is among the league's top two-way forwards.

Both players were team captains on their last club, giving the Oilers some more intangibles as they try to get back into the postseason.

That was pretty much it in terms of additions for Lowe. As for losses, Eric Brewer went to St. Louis in the Pronger deal, and Mike York headed to Long Island in the Peca trade.

The Oilers were one of those small-market teams that Gary Bettman was trying to help during the NHL lockout. Well, the salary cap has leveled the financial playing surface, leaving the Oilers without excuses.

FORWARDS - Peca will likely be the first-line centerman for the Oilers, sparking the thought that his offensive numbers may shoot up. While he is best known for being a terrific defensive forward, he has racked up at least 40 points in seven consecutive seasons. That includes 25 goals and 35 assists in 80 games during the 2001-02 campaign.

Ryan Smyth will probably flank Peca's left side. He was Edmonton's leading scorer in 03-04 with 23 goals and 36 assists. Those were actually down numbers for the 29-year-old, who also beings terrific leadership qualities to the table.

However, Smyth has rarely put up the kind of numbers to be considered a true go-to-guy. And that is what the Oilers need, a 35-40 goal man. Right now they have a lot of forwards who are good for 15-20 goals, but not much more.

Ales Hemsky, the team's first-round pick in 2001, was an offensive machine in juniors but has yet to erupt in two NHL seasons. In 03-04 the dynamic talent tallied 12 goals and 22 assists in 71 games, and he spent the lockout playing in his native Czech Republic. Last season he netted 13 goals with 18 assists in 47 games for Pardubice HC.

Shawn Horcoff tallied 15 goals and 25 assists in 80 games for the Oilers in 03-04, his fourth in the NHL. However, if his showing playing abroad during the lockout is any indication, we may see his production spike. Last season for Mora IK in the Swedish Elite League, he potted 19 goals and 27 assists in 50 games.

Radek Dvorak will be counted on to provide some veteran stability on the second line, as he enters his 10th NHL season. In 03-04 he posted 15 goals and 35 assists in his first full season with the Oilers after being acquired from New York. Dvorak has been a consistent producer since breaking in with the Florida Panthers as a teenager, and he can be extremely dangerous in the right situation. In 2000-01 with the Rangers, he and fellow Czechs Jan Hlavac and Petr Nedved developed tremendous chemistry and he responded with 31 goals and 36 assists.

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DEFENSE - Pronger may never duplicate is 1999-2000 season when he finished a staggering plus-52. However, the 14 goals and 40 assists he posted in 03-04 for the Blues isn't too much to ask. He can dominate in any area of the ice, whether it's with a thunderous check or a key power-play goal.

Pronger and Jason Smith give head coach Craig MacTavish a pair of bangers to run his defensive rotation around. Smith will again serve as the Oiler captain, and he is a combined plus-62 in the six seasons since he was acquired by the club. He isn't flashy but can contribute offensively, but his main responsibility is logging 20-25 minutes per-night to shut down the opposition's top guns.

Steve Staios didn't do much early in his career with Boston, Vancouver and Atlanta, but his career has blossomed since heading north. In 03-04 he posted six goals and 22 assists in 82 games, recording a plus-17 rating as well. He has become a solid option for your second defensive pairing.

Veterans Cory Cross and Igor Ulanov will also be in the fold. Ulanov isn't the intimidating hitter he once was, but he had what was perhaps his best all- around season with the Oilers in 03-04. The now 36-year-old registered five goals and 12 assists in only 42 games, checking in at plus-19.

Marc-Andre Bergeron will be a youngster to keep an eye on. He is a former 101- point defenseman in his junior days, and he should get his first taste of full-time NHL action this season. He's only 5-10, 190 pounds, but his value as an offensive threat makes up for the deficiency. In 59 career NHL games he has tallied 10 goals and 18 assists.

GOALTENDING - Ty Conklin will enter a season as the starter for the first time. In 03-04 he appeared in 38 games (35 starts) and went 17-14-4 with a 2.42 goals-against average and .912 save percentage. Conklin has also been active for USA Hockey, including a stellar showing at this year's World Championships. Conklin is 29 as the new season approaches and this will only be his second full season.

Jussi Markkanen re-joined the Oilers after spending the beginning of the last season with the New York Rangers. He appeared in 33 games between the two clubs, going 10-14-3. Markkanen's 05-06 season is expected to be delayed, as he suffered a broken collarbone in early September.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - The Oilers have certainly made upgrades with the addition of Pronger and Peca, but the team's attack still lacks that big-time pure goal scorer. In addition, the inexperience in net may cause of concern until Conklin shows he can handle a full-time workload. All this being said, the Oilers have enough in the stable to earn a playoff berth. However, anything more than a seventh or eighth seed might be asking too much.

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