"What’s happening with Mike Comrie?" A fan asked me that Friday as the Edmonton Oilers were winding down their development camp at Clareview Arena. I didn’t have an answer.

Here we are 10 days into the free agency season and we haven’t heard one definitive word from GM Steve Tambellini about his intention, or lack of same, when it comes to re-signing Comrie.

I get it Tambellini was busy with the Entry Draft leading into free agency. I get it his plate has been full while shipping out Patrick O’Sullivan, Riley Nash, Ethan Moreau and Robert Nilsson. He’s also been busy adding Colin Fraser, Kurtis Foster, Steve MacIntyre and Jim Vandermeer.

Likewise, Tambellini has been watching the prospects skate the past four days, which is fine and good. Still, I’m thinking that Tambellini should be spending some time on Comrie.

While it’s nice watching the kids take a twirl, it’s not like Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle or Magnus Paajarvi are going anywhere. At some point, if Tambellini and agent Ritch Winter don’t get down to business, Comrie might.

This is where, you’d think, multi-tasking kicks in.

My understanding is Winter and Comrie have expressed an interest in returning for a second season in this second go-round in Edmonton. I’m led to believe some members of the front office would like to Comrie return. I’m starting to wonder, given the foot-dragging, if Tambellini shares the sentiment.

Does Tambellini want Comrie back? If yes, when do the sides get down to negotiating? I’m thinking it should be sooner rather than later, especially if there’s any legs to talk I’m hearing that San Jose, Chicago and Vancouver, to name just three teams, are interested in Comrie.

While Comrie, 30, struggled with a bout of mononucleosis and played just 43 games with the Oilers last season, scoring 13-8-21, I see him as a fit with the next edition of the Oilers. With a rebuild in full swing, optimism abounds with fans and there seems good reason for it with Hall, Paajarvi and Eberle looking like they’ll make runs at roster spots.

Fair enough.

But, given the potential for this infusion of youth and the experience that has been sent packing since the season ended, the Oilers are going to need some players on the roster who know their way around the rink. I’m thinking a two-time 30-goal scorer with 568 games in parts of nine NHL seasons on his resume like Mike Duff fits the bill. We’ll find out, at some point, if Tambellini agrees.

I’m happy to say Oilersnation is a going and growing concern with Oilers fans. That’s not news, seeing as our numbers have steadily increased over the past two years or so, but I got a first-hand taste of the popularity of the website during this development camp.

I don’t spend a lot of time elbow-to-elbow with fans, so it was something new to me to hear so much feedback from people in person as we stood around and watched the players skate.

No fewer than a dozen people took the time to mention Oilersnation is the place they go for their Oilers fix during the time I spent in the rink. Two or three of them made a point of mentioning they thought snagging Lowetide was a great addition.

I’m sure there were critics in the crowd as well, but they never took the opportunity to give me their two cents worth in person like they do here on the website. Nobody razzed me about articles I’ve written about Jeff Deslauriers or about being wrong about Tyler Seguin.

Nobody walked up and suggested I don’t know what the hell I’m talking about in general, as is sometimes the case here. No surprise whatsoever in that, but I digress . . . Anyway, people are reading.

Love us or hate us, that’s a good thing.

In case anybody missed it, the Oilers have inked free agent forward Ben Ondrus. Here’s the news release:

As was the case with the signing of Brad Moran, there’s nothing here to suggest this is more than a depth signing, but Ondrus fits the bill as far as being the kind of veteran minor-leaguer the Oilers can use to help bring the kids along down on the AHL farm in Oklahoma City.

— Tambellini suggested Friday Tom Renney would be naming his coaching staff "within the week." My best information is we can expect at least one new assistant coach, maybe two. My understanding is Kelly Buchberger has a new contract, but it’s still unclear if he will stay here as an assistant or be the head man down in Oklahoma City. Hmm.

If Buchberger does have a new deal, was that deal done at Renney’s urging? Or, is it possible somebody else has their fingerprints all over the contract and it’s causing Renney pause in putting together his staff? In any case, while I haven’t been told as much, what does seem obvious is Wayne Fleming will be joining Pat Quinn on the thanks-for-coming list.

— I’m told the Oilers have yet to get down to a short list of candidates to take over from retired Rod Phillips as play-by-play man on 630 CHED. On that front, who is doing the hiring? Is it president Patrick LaForge? Is it VP of broadcast Allan Watt? Both of them? If it’s a committee-type set-up, that might explain why it’s taking some time.

— Finally, Ryan Rishaug of TSN said Friday  the Oilers are "kicking the tires" on UFA forward Aaron Asham. Makes sense. He’ll come relatively cheap, he’s tough and he’s got enough game that he could play as a third-liner. In any case, he’d fit in the bottom-six mix.