The Edmonton Oilers brass will have a big decision to come up with as we roll up to the NHL trade deadline. The question they have to ask themselves is who stays? And who goes?

With a record of 64-26-27-10-1-63 they will have to consider selling off assets in the name of building for the future. Ryan Smyth, Ethan Moreau, Jason Smith, Eric Brewer, Steve Staios and Georges Laraque would all be great additions to a playoff team.

So who is available?

Ryan Smyth is said to be the heart and soul of the Edmonton Oilers. People also say he bleeds the copper and blue. But if you think of it, look at the package you could receive for him. Lowe has said that you have to keep these high priced guys on your team. But we have to remember that we are talking about Kevin Lowe here. No one is safe here in Edmonton. So maybe Smyth could be available at the deadline but it would have to take a big package for him. I say he is a keeper

Ethan Moreau is probably the most constant Oiler this year. You can not look at his stats to see how valuable he is. He is one of those players that every playoff team needs for the long stretch. He plays with hart and grit, and plays with everything on the line every night. You might think that is untouchable since he just signed a cheap long term deal that will pay him $1,500,000 in 2003-04, $1,300,000, in 2004-05 $1,300,000, in 2005-06, and $1,200,000 in 2006-07. So Moreau is a toss up. You never know how much a team will part for a player like him. I say he is a keeper.

Captain Jason Smith will likely be traded this year just because of his salary which is $2,300,000 in 2003-04. But you never know what will happen this off season with Tommy Salo likely to be parted with and his option not being picked up, there might be enough room in the payroll to sign him. He will likely be going to arbitration though. So he is another toss up. I’m not sure about this one but I think he has a greater chance at being traded then being kept.

Eric Brewer can not be traded. There has been a lot of talk about trading him but people do forget that he is only 24 years old. The Canadian Olympian will likely be an Oiler until the off season but who knows what he will be asking this summer when his contract is up? I say he is keeper at the deadline.

Steve Staios is the kind of player every team needs when they are assembling a championship contender. He just signed a three-year contract extension this year. Lots of playoff teams would love to have him but Lowe will keep him as he said “ It is very important that we keep quality athletes and people in our organization. He is an outstanding leader, he plays a gritty, in-your-face game and he also contributes to our offense." So I think he is a keeper as March 9th comes closer.

At last we come to big Georges Laraque. For a team looking to add some grit and toughness to there team Laraque would be a great addition. He is arguably the heavyweight champion of the NHL. Even though he doesn’t fight much anymore he will be there for his team mates when it gets dirty. Laraque would be a great addition to a team in the eastern conference were enforcers are extremely important. Even though he has fallen out off the favorite’s book of many people in Edmonton I don’t believe a team will pick him up at the deadline. So I think he is a keeper.

As the March 9th trade deadline creeps closer and we fall farther out of the playoff race, the Edmonton Oilers will not be selling off all of there assets. This is the first trade deadline that the Edmonton Oilers have came into were they wont have to make a deal for financial reasons. So as we tune in on that Tuesday to see who has all been traded don’t expect a huge trade from the Oilers. You may except a few trades but nothing drastic. As we will be heading into next years season with pretty much the same roster as we have here today.