The Cole "Dilemma"

IMO there is no dilemma, he needs to be dealt. Not for another playoff rental either. We need picks, prospects, or young players in return. As much of a pain in the ass Joni Pitkanen may have been in the dressing room, the fact of the matter is that the perceived crown jewel of the Chris Pronger trade was dealt for him. For the Oilers to go from having young and promising RFA's to an UFA who in all likelihood will walk in just 2 seasons time doesn't speak well for the teams asset management.

Simply put we do not have the prospect depth to watch Cole walk for nothing. This team needs something out of this asset. The team already has a slough of young players that they are grooming for future success, they may as well add to the stable. Whether it's through stockpiling draft picks or acquiring other teams top prospects, the Oilers have to get something for Cole.

Becoming buyers at the deadline and holding onto Cole will leave this team in its worst situation since '06-07. However the Oilers will probably hold onto him and become buyers, why would it be a surprise to anyone that the Oilers would sell their souls for another 1st round exit if they're lucky enough to get there?

$4 Million Checking Winger?

Only in Edmonton, and only under coach Craig Mactavish will you see a guy that has averaged over 20 goals and 50 points his last 3 seasons thrown into a shutdown role.

Add in that Erik Cole is an UFA at years end and that he will likely be looking for his last long term contract, and this has the makings of a horror movie for Erik Cole.

Edmonton has a poor perceived reputation as a city to some hockey players, however any hockey player will enjoy winning, playing well, and playing fun hockey. None of those things are happening at the moment.

It must be incredibly hard for a player that won the Cup on a team with a 3 scoring line approach to be saddled on the 3rd line with the likes of Captain checker Ethan Moreau and young checker in the making Kyle Brodziak.

Why can't Craig Mactavish change his approach? For crying out loud he lost to a team that had 3 scoring lines in the Cup Finals, the Avalanche give us a tough matchup, why can't he bring himself to give it a try?

Erik Cole needs a playmaker from the left side or down the middle. I believe that there was a guy that fits that bill that was a healthy scratch against Vancouver, Reddox was his name I believe? ;)

Cole will be looking to get the hell out of here as soon as possible, and because of being miscast into a checking role he may have to take a 1 year deal and try to boost his value league wide thanks to "the Craig's" approach.

But hey, at least we can look forward to Pisani centering Moreau and Cole again when Fernie returns from his broken ankle. That's a pretty pricey 3rd line, a 3rd line making that kind of coin had better be able to shutdown and outscore the best players in this league.

I guess it's better that Cole isn't playing lights out, because then we'd know what we're missing when he bolts after this season.