Thank you Jebus

from Sportsnet...

The Oilers swapped defencemen with the New York Islanders on Sunday, sending Marc-Andre Bergeron to Long Island for Denis Grebeshkov.

I don't care if they locked him in his hotel room and quickly left Toronto, just getting rid of this guy is something that should have been done long ago.

Unfortunately this effectively highlights the waving of the white flag from Oilers management, displaying their concession of any hope for making the playoffs. Being that there is nobody to fill Bergeron's skates, and believe me, it wouldn't take much, they are clearly retooling for the future. Not that this should be any surprise to anyone, obviously Kevin Lowe saw last night's loss (and Minne's win) the same way as I did: au revoir playoffs.

So this is basically a return to the "not so old" day's, ie. the pre-Pronger/Peca days, when a struggle for a playoff position was only met with either futility or a first round exit. Because let's be honest, the team can't score and it certainly can't defend like it did with Peca/Pronger. If it weren't for Roloson, we'd be in Philly territory.

The only possible surprise left waiting is what happens with Ryan Smyth. Hopefully the Bergeron deal is not an indication of what is to come.