NHL Report: Oilers Prospect Well Not Running Dry

The Edmonton Oilers made a strong statement as far as their rebuilding program is concerned when they traded long-time Oiler Ryan Smyth to the New York Islanders. The Oilers have plenty of young players who have stepped in this season and have produced amicably. The trade gives them a strong future but a playoff appearance is out of the picture for this season. McKeen's was on hand for a recent contest featuring the Oilers and files these reports.

Matt Greene – Defence

The strides he has made in his game have been astronomical .. has emerged as one of the Oilers young, premier defensemen capable of logging in excess of 18 to 21 minutes a game and shutting down the opposition's top players .. his long wingspan and mobility serve him well at a distance, but smaller, faster players will beat him down low .. he could make improvements to his foot speed and needs to make adjustments quicker, by planting his feet and establishing his position .. for the most part his long reach bails him out of trouble .. not overly active in joining the rush or being a puckcarrier .. plays the boards well and uses the glass when he is in trouble .. will never be confused for a point producer .. has some good size and decent strength but it doesn't translate to a heavy shot and is more prone to making a pass rather than shooting it .. will eliminate the opposition by playing them tough along the boards and when he learns to make a play afterward he will be better suited to join the rush .. factors to be an integral part of this young blueline and his development has been rapid at the pro level.

Ladislav Smid – Defence

Acquired in the off-season from the Ducks, Smid brings a steady calming presence to the backend .. despite his age, he shows remarkable maturity to his game .. is very enthusiastic often trying to do too much, though he is able to recover .. has deceptive speed with a quick first step .. offensively he has been coming along, but point totals are not a reflection of his true skills .. is not afraid to jump the play and with time he will become smarter and more selective when deciding to join the rush .. could be a very healthy point producer and a viable fantasy player, however like most defenseman it will take time to get accustomed to the league

Jan Hejda – Defence

The Prague native enters his first season in the NHL .. has played the past four consecutive World Championships for his home country - the Czech Republic .. plenty of experience on the international stage and the larger ice surface has really helped his skating, as it is one of his best assets .. does not boast breath-taking speed but has great mobility, skating well both forward and backward and is smooth with his pivots .. his hockey sense prevails in most situations as he plays a very smart game and is not fooled by slick individual moves, and is able to separate the puck from his man with good body positioning .. often elects to hang back as his speed prohibits him from joining the rush, but is usually partnered with an offensive defenseman so he can focus on his defensive responsibilities, allowing free reign to his partner .. makes great adjustments to recognize changes in play and as a result has become a favourite of coach MacTavish ..

Joffrey Lupul – Right Wing

Acquired in the huge off-season deal that involved Chris Pronger .. has not been playing to potential as his point totals have suffered greatly from last season .. has been playing with Sykora and Torres .. possesses great individual skills, his playmaking and puck skills have improved, however he is bumped off the puck too often and must learn to make a quicker play with the puck .. has a very lethal shot and will try to use it often .. defensively he has not adapted to the system, often gliding back to get into the defensive zone and his lazy habits such as failing to identify his man, are a reflection of his team worst plus/minus .. should be able to rebound next year, as the loss of Smyth should open up more room for him on the PP.

Raffi Torres – Left Wing

Amidst plenty of speculation that he would be traded, Torres remains an Oiler .. brings an ultra-feisty and mean streak to his game as an aggressive player who likes to take the body .. was successful in making some decent passes to spring the offence .. decent puck skills, his play is more effective when driving the net and causing a disturbance in front .. is an ok skater, he builds up good speed in a few strides but first-step quickness still needs work .. effectively moves around and tries to find his spots on the ice, his style usually opens up some room for himself .. has shown improved commitment to his defensive game this season .. continues to produce at a half-a-point clip, which looks to be his offensive ceiling.

Patrick Thoresen – Left Wing

The Norwegian born Thoresen has struggled to stay in the lineup with recent demotions to the minors and a plethora of young Oilers eager to make their mark, namely Brad Winchester .. a complimentary role player who has the skill set and sense to play with talented players, as he does not look out of place .. has a nice stride but surprisingly limited speed, only one gear of quickness .. helps on the backcheck and is a team player doing whatever it takes to win .. willingly challenges forwards and sacrifices his 5-foot-11, 185 pound body .. not overly gifted in terms of his hands and displays some flashes, but consistency is a big issue ..

Marc-Antoine Pouliot – Centre

Started the season with Wilkes-Barre where he averaged over a point-per-game before being called up to the Oilers organization .. a smart player who struggled early to adapt to the speed of the game, but has made some changes in his play warranting increased ice time .. a player that has to be viewed several times as he has a very unassuming skill set .. has not been able to capitalize on his scoring chances but the fact that he is in the right place is a compliment to his game .. strong on his skates working the puck down low and makes plays on the half boards .. has shown a steady improvement and it is very possible he could be a top-six forward as early as next season.