Midseason NHL call ups are expected to plug holes while earning both ice time and respect. And on most teams, three points in four games should, at the very least, buy you a fifth game.
But not in Edmonton.
Rob Schremp has had his fair share of uninspired auditions with the Edmonton Oilers, but his latest call-up was not one of them. He had jump, he was creative and he showed poise with the puck. But most importantly, for the first time in his career, Schremp looked ready to stay. Then came the news on Monday that he was booked on a flight back to the minors where he has spent all but seven games of his first three professional seasons.
Schremp has clearly done some maturing since he was drafted as a hot-dogging member of the London Knights in 2004, or he would have been the one issuing advice in the meeting prior to packing his bags on Monday - as in, act like three goaltenders is a problem, not a fact of life.
The fact of the matter is that Schremp was not a victim of poor play this time. He was a victim of a management team that continues to drag its heals on a deal to shore up the situation in their crease that continues to house three goalies. It's not a stretch to think that if another roster spot was available right now, Schremp would not be on his way back to Springfield.
Edmonton's Top 5 leading point getters are Ales Hemsky, Sheldon Souray, Shawn Horcoff, Lubomir Visnovsky and Tom Gilbert. Only two of the five have managed to record three points in their last four games, as Schremp has. None of them have more. Yet Schremp is on his way to the minors.
Why it is taking so long for Edmonton to trade one of its goaltenders is anyone's guess. But after three months, anything short of a barnyard fleecing just won't seem worth the trouble.