With Ryan Smyth gone, Ales Hemsky will have to step it up if the Oilers have any chance of making the playoffs. (Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
Backgrounder | 2007-08 NHL season
Edmonton Oilers
Last Updated Thurs., Sept. 20, 2007
Scott Morrison, CBC Sports
2006-07 RECORD: 32-43-7 = 71 points (5th in Northwest, 12th in Conference).
MOST IMPRESSIVE: They have prospects to deal and cap space with which to work.
MUST IMPROVE: They ranked dead last in the NHL in scoring with just 195 goals last season (Gretzky alone once scored 92 in a season).
NEW FACES: D Sheldon Souray, D Joni Pitkanen, D Dick Tarnstrom, G Mathieu Garon, W Dustin Penner, W Geoff Sanderson.
LEFT TOWN: D Jason Smith, G Jussi Markannen, F Petr Sykora, W Joffrey Lupul, F Toby Petersen, F Brad Winchester, D Jan Hejda.
The Oilers expect big things from Dustin Penner. (Tim Smith/Getty Images)
OUTLOOK: Last year everything completely unraveled after the trade deadline and, for a while, didn't get much better in the summer as Edmonton wasn't exactly the destination of choice for unrestricted free agents.
GM Kevin Lowe made some bold, if unpopular moves, the most significant ultimately being the signing of restricted free agent Penner, whose wallet got heavier as will the expectations he will be carrying. As he goes, the Oilers may go. It could be that simple.
It is all about bouncing back for the survivors and plugging some of the offence that was lost (remember Ryan Smyth departed much earlier) from the lowest-scoring offence. It will be a serious battle just to get to the playoffs.
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With Ryan Smyth gone, Ales Hemsky will have to step it up if the Oilers have any chance of making the playoffs. (Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
The Oilers expect big things from Dustin Penner. (Tim Smith/Getty Images)







