I go to Vegas for the weekend and return home with a dislocated finger, a lighter wallet, a heavier suitcase and much to my chagrin the Oilers haven’t announced who they are drafting.

I’m stunned.

Maybe it’s the lack of sleep that had me thinking four days away from the Tyler or Taylor debate that something might have changed. As the fog from a fun-filled, sleep-deprived weekend in Vegas slowly evaporates reality kicks in and I realize of course nothing has changed in the TVT debate.

And why would it.

The countdown is on, even though Wanye and Bingofuel haven’t fixed the Nation countdown counter, and by Friday most fans will be thankful it is over. But will the moment match the hype for Oiler fans?

Months of waiting will culminate with a short “The Oilers would like to thank the city of LA and the Kings organization for putting on a great event. With the first choice in the 2010 entry draft, the Oilers are proud to select from the ??”

At about 5:04 MST on Friday you will either be boasting to your friends that you called it, or screaming that Steve Tambellini just ruined the future of the team. For many of you there is no middle ground, it’s either Taylor or Tyler.

Hall really impressed the Oilers during his interview last week. He knew Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson and Jordan Eberle’s stats, was knowledgeable to the history of the franchise and displayed lots of leadership qualities.

Seguin was also impressive, but I get the sense Hall might have graded out slightly higher. As Friday approaches, it seems that Hall is the name Tambellini will announce, but that’s only a hunch. I’m on the record as stating I’d take Seguin , and I won’t change that, but some of the whispers I’m hearing make me think Hall will be the call for the Oilers.

Being a Predators fan must really suck. You consistently lose players as UFAs, trade away high-priced veterans, yet your team is never bad enough to get a top-five pick. David Poile is a great GM. Rather than lose guys for nothing, he at least gets something. Dan Hamhuis wasn’t going to re-sign with the Preds, so Poile gets a conditional pick and Ryan Parent.

Parent didn’t look good for Flyers in the playoffs, but the Preds develop D-men better than anyone right now. Parent was originally drafted 18th overall in 2005 by Poile, so if anyone can get Parent to live up to his potential it will be Predators.

Paul Holmgren must have another trade brewing, and it has to be one of his big-ticket forwards heading out of town. Rumours are swirling that Jeff Carter is the most likely candidate, because he is better at centre and the Flyers have Mike Richards, Daniel Briere and Claude Giroux in the middle.

Tambellini should be on the horn to Holmgren and kick some tires. A 40-goal scoring centreman with size is exactly what the Oilers need. The Flyers can’t take on a lot of salary in any deal and they don’t have a first round pick this year.

The problem for the Oilers is they don’t have a lot to offer up. Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano wouldn’t make sense, because the Flyers don’t need a centre. I don’t see them giving up MPS, but I wonder if they would deal Jordan Eberle, Ladislav Smid and the 31st pick?

Trading Smid would hurt because the Oilers don’t have much depth on their blueline, but he is cheap and the Flyers need one more D-man. Eberle could fit in on the wing in their top nine and they get a future pick. The only concern with dealing for Carter is that he is an RFA after this season. It could be a risk, but every move and every draft pick involves some risk. I’d take the chance.

The Oilers released their pre-season schedule today, and you can guarantee that Taylor or Tyler will be playing their first game in an Oiler uniform on September 23rd. There is no way they would debut either one on the road in Vancouver and it’s very doubtful they would play him back-to-back nights. I suspect the Tampa Bay game will be sold out with fans actually in their seats for a pre-season game.

Opponent::Vancouver Canucks

Location: General Motors Place

Game Time:  TBA

Opponent: vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Location: Rexall Place

Game Time: 7:00 PM

Opponent: Vancouver Canucks

Location: Rexall Place

Game Time: 6:00 PM

Opponent: Phoenix Coyotes

Location Rexall Place

Game Time: 7:00 PM
  
Game 5:  Friday, October 1
 

Opponent: Calgary Flames
 

Location: Rexall Place
 

Game Time: 7:00 PM
 

Opponent: Calgary Flames

Location: Pengrowth Saddledome

Game Time: TBA