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Summer's over. Was it long enough for you? For me and everyone else involved with and around this Oilers team, it certainly was. The last time the Oilers played a hockey game was 144 days ago, a 4-3 OT loss to the Colorado Avalanche. I remember it like it was yesterday, with the soon to be retired Adam Foote getting away with murder in the OT period before David Jones scored the winner. When our college football broadcast signed off that night, it was the fifth year in a row that we settled in for a long summer. Finally, the end is in sight. , Jordan Eberle all debuted at the Young Stars Tournament in Penticton last year. Next weekend, the rookies head to Penticton for the Young Stars tournament. The weekend after that, main camp is in full swing. And, finally, on the 20th of September, a game! The college football real deal doesn't start until October 9th, but we've been almost six months without puck and we'll take what we can get!Of course, the Oilers pre-season will be more intriguing than most, highlighted by the arrival of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins) and that number might be five if RNH shows well, while two of the top six defensemen are fresh. The players and coaching staff wanted an influx of more veteran - college football transitional- players to help them take a step forward; they got exactly what they asked for.We know that over the course of the next six months, we'll get to watch this team mature and develop as they take steps towards becoming a winner. Ultimately, the question is, how long will it take? Can the team jump from 15th to 8th over the course of one off-season? The merits of both sides of the argume college football nt will be hashed and re-hashed many times before the Penguins hit town next month, but I've identified some key questions whose answers will be crucial to the conclusion.Will Ryan Nugent-HopkinsHistory would suggest that the answer is yes; rare is the occasion that first overall draft choice is sent back to Junior. Nugent-Hopkins dominated the WHL with 106 points last year in just his second Juni college football or season, showcasing an innate playmaking ability and sense for the game. There's little or no question that he'll be an offensive force in the NHL one day soon, but the argument for a third year of Junior plus the World Junior experience will loom strong.Will Nikolai KhabibulinWith his off-ice issues finally put behind him, perhaps a poor start to his Oilers career can be moved past as well. Aft college football er being felled by injury in Year 1, Khabibulin struggled to a below average season in Year 2 while watching Devan Dubnyk healthy? re-sign or be traded?. Speaking with him in July, he says he feels better and stronger than he ever has. If he's right, and comes back with the consistency he usually displays when healthy, he should easily be on track for a 70+ point season. He's a pending UFA, though college football , and a rebuilding Oilers team probably can't take a chance if he's not signed to an extension by the trade deadline.Will Taylor HallWhen Tom Renney and I last spoke, we found ourselves in agreement that Taylor HallNowhere to go but up, as they say, this team will need to be much better in the special teams if they want to make a playoff push this season. Dead last on both units in 2010-11, the te college football am has added a couple of key weapons to make a jump. On the PK, Eric Belanger is as learned as they come in Net Presence 101.Will Cam BarkerA former third overall pick (behind Ovechkin and Malkin once upon a time), Barker got off to a good start in his NHL career with Chicago before having it go off the rails following a trade to Minnesota. He was a favorite of coach Joel Quenneville in Chi-Town, college football but basically fell apart in the State of Hockey en route to being bought out by the club in June. He's got all the tools, and certainly should have the motivation, and he'll get every chance to play in the top 4 with the Oilers.Who will win the 14th forward job?, Teemu Hartikainen, Ryan O'Marra...the list is almost never ending. And that's just if Ryan Nugent-HopkinsJeff Petry does need to clear w college football aivers, so maybe he gets the nod as D7 to start the year. Or maybe newcomer Colten TeubertFollow Dan Tencer on Twitter | @dantencer college football
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