We’re deep in the summer dead zone, and the lack of Oilers news has given me the chance to formulate a few Random Thoughts that I can use your help in figuring out. This week, I’m thinking about the NHL schedule, what Stan Bowman’s plan is for Edmonton’s remaining cap space, and who will wear the “A” that used to sit on Darnell Nurse’s chest.

THE BATTLE OF ALBERTA DOESN’T MATTER ANYMORE

I know the Flames stink these days, and I know the Battle of Alberta doesn’t have the same juice it did when the Oilers broke the franchise during the second round a few years ago, but I’m still stunned the NHL couldn’t find one late slot on a Saturday night for these teams to square off in the last year at the Saddledome. We were hoping to get our tetanus up to date and put together a bus trip down to Calgary for one last night at the dome, but instead, the schedule gave us Wednesday, October 28th at Rogers Place, Wednesday, March 3rd in Calgary, Tuesday, March 23rd in Calgary, and Monday, April 5th back here in Edmonton. Not exactly bus trip ideal, ya know? All I wanted was one Saturday night in Calgary that let us load up a bus full of Nation Citizens, and haul everyone three hours south for one last ridiculous night at the Dome before that place gets rightfully replaced.

Instead, the schedule makers gave us four weekday games that will still be fun enough to watch but certainly don’t give us the chance to clear a weekend, get together with a great group of people, and make some poor life choices in another city. Then again, maybe I’m still thinking the rivalry means more than it does at this stage, and maybe the league looked at the Flames’ rebuild, Edmonton’s Stanley Cup dreams, and the........

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