Mark Spector

Mark Spector is a columnist for sportsnet.ca

Luke Schenn in Edmonton? Not for the asking price that one fan suggests.

The cold has Oilers' fans holed up with plenty of time to hammer out trades for their beloved team.

Been mighty cold out here in the West, so that's our excuse as to why we haven't cleaned out the ol' inbox lately. It's a good way to spend a Friday though, so let's get after it.

Question No. 1

Brandon writes, "Hey Spector, the Oilers look like they need a shake up via trade. Who should go, who should they look at? And who's available?"

Brandon's e-mail came before the Oilers' four-game win streak. But they won't shake anything up in Edmonton until the trade deadline. Then, if they can unload some veteran players - Ethan Moreau, Steve Staios, maybe even Sheldon Souray - they will.

The Oilers have that killer double whammy going on: they are capped out, and not a particularly good hockey team. The faster GM Steve Tambellini can clear up some payroll space, the quicker will be the building process.

The worst thing that could happen in Edmonton - as has plagued the Maple Leafs over the years - is if they crawl near a playoff spot come March. They need to focus on the future.

Question No. 2

After we took a shot at soccer players, Towersofdub came at us hard: "Why make the insulting comment to soccer players? You might not notice, but they don't get the benefit of a bench to go to so they can rest up for a shift or two."

Yes, so they rest on the stretcher whenever possible. Look, we've got no problem with the sport, but soccer players have made their own bed on this issue.

No athlete in any other sport feigns injury as regularly as a soccer player does. So much so that the sport itself has mandated they be hauled off on stretchers to speed up the game. Does any other sport have stretcher bearers on each sideline waiting to haul off the bodies? And have you seen those soccer players leap off the stretcher once the medics put it down?

Find me another sport where that happens, and I'll show you a sport with as many divers as soccer.

Question No. 3

Homosa writes, "Would love to see a trade between Oilers and Leafs. Marc Pouliot for Luke Schenn. (Pat) Quinn would get a defenceman with sandpaper. Leafs would get the centre they need to play along side Kessel."

Nice try, Oilers fan. Pouliot is a first-round pick who hasn't panned out, while Schenn is one who certainly will, despite a rocky sophomore season. That trade will never happen.

Question No. 4

Of course, not all of you think your sportsnet.ca columnist is the smartest guy you know.

Like Todd, who pens, "your an idiot."

Well, our Todd should have consulted with his Grade 3 teacher before he tried to spell "You're."

Question No. 5

Alex says, "Do you think all suspensions should start after the injury, or just for Ovechkin? Should a player sit out till the player he injures recovers?"

This has become the trendy solution: to hold the offending player out until the injured player returns. It just can't work though - there are too many variables.

What if you elbow a guy who has had 10 previous concussions, and he can not return - ever. Is your career over too? What if you commit the first knee on knee of your career - you have no priors - and the other player already has a loose knee and is done for the year?

And, frankly, I don't want Alex Ovechkin to be kicked out for the year just because he does something dumb. He is worth the price of admission.

The current system is not perfect, but Colin Campbell's imperfection is the best solution, for my money.

Question No. 6

And finally, our assertion that the best place in Canada to relocate an NHL team is right in Toronto. Play them out of the Air Canada Centre, we say. Toronto could clearly support another team.

Penned one of our eagle-eyed readers, "Two hockey teams in the ACC? They are still looking for the first one."

Ouch!