Edmonton Oilers

Sentimentality took an elbow in the chops less than 24 hours after the Edmonton Oilers' rousing postseason run ended with a seventh-game loss in the Stanley Cup final.

Instead of patting each other on the back for a job done almost to perfection, the Oilers's management team had to concern itself with issues of money, free agency and the business of hockey.

Here are the facts as the Oilers took a cold, calculating look at their personnel and how to be one win better in 2006-07: Edmonton has nine players who will become unrestricted free agents this summer. They are goaltender Dwayne Roloson, forwards Sergei Samsonov, Michael Peca, Radek Dvorak, Rem Murray, Georges Laraque, Fernando Pisani and defencemen Dick Tarnstrom and Jaroslav Spacek.

The Oilers also have three unrestricted free agents -- forwards Ales Hemsky, Shawn Horcoff and Jarret Stoll.

Although the National Hockey League will increase player spending to $44-million (all figures U.S.) a team, the Oilers will not be able to re-sign all of the players who helped transform them from eight-place finishers to Stanley Cup finalists.

Tough decisions will have to be made, and quickly, because players could be moved before or during the NHL entry draft in Vancouver on Saturday.

Exactly what the Oilers will do over the next two weeks is more conjecture than fact. But as always, there are suspicions based on what took place during the past two months.

Goaltending had been a concern for the Oilers, which is why they surrendered a first-round pick to the Minnesota Wild for Roloson at the league's trade deadline.

It turned out to be a shrewd move until Roloson injured a knee against the Carolina Hurricanes in the final.

Given the severity of the situation, and how he was tossed into the fray, backup goaltender Jussi Markkanen proved he could be a reliable playoff performer. The question now is: Do the Oilers offer Roloson an increase over last season's salary of $1.672-million when he's coming off a knee injury at the age of 36?

Or do they give the $850,000 Markkanen another try at the starter's job?

Yesterday's hot rumour was that the Oilers were willing to give Roloson only a one-year deal, while at least two clubs were keen to offer two years. One source said he was sure that whatever the Oilers offered, it would be more than one year, especially since Roloson looked as comfortable being in Edmonton as he did playing for the team.

The same can't be said of Peca, who once again saved his best for when it mattered most. Peca was acquired from the New York Islanders and cost the Oilers $3.99-million this season. He would have to take a pay cut to stick, and there are hints Peca and his family are anxious to return to the east.

Peca is having a new home built in Orchard Park, N.Y., which would be a convenient spot to live if you're a member of the Buffalo Sabres or Toronto Maple Leafs. Look for both clubs to consider adding a 31-year-old centre whose value goes well beyond his scoring statistics.

The absolute certainty for the Oilers is that they must re-sign Pisani, the hometown hero who almost equalled his regular-season statistics by scoring 14 times in the playoffs. Pisani is everything the Oilers want; he's experienced, but not old, a fast skater and talented. He made $611,800 this past season and it will cost more to keep him, but it's a deal that has to be made.

As for the other unrestricted free agents, the Oilers like Spacek to round out their top four defencemen (Chris Pronger, Jason Smith and Steve Staios), but are willing to bid farewell to Samsonov, who was all right in the playoffs, but hardly sensational.

The Oilers will officially be welcomed home today at a downtown rally. About 100 fans greeted the players at the Edmonton airport yesterday after police had asked people to stay away.

Ryan Smyth of the Oilers told reporters he was moved by the show of support.

"I feel like a kid again when you see all these people out here cheering for you," Smyth said. "You feel disappointed you let them down. They were a huge boost for us when the going got tough."