Nobody's quite certain what's ailing the Edmonton Oilers these days. After shocking the NHL and making it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2006 they lost to Carolina the Oilers have missed the playoffs the last three seasons.

If it was coach Craig MacTavish's fault, it's been addressed. He was fired in May and replaced by a two-brain trust, 66-year-old Pat Quinn and associate coach Tom Renney, who was fired last season as coach of the New York Rangers.

The remaining possibilities for the Oilers' woes are, in no particular order:

-- the Oilers are too small at forward to compete in the wild, woolly West

-- too many players have gotten way too comfortable and need to be jolted from resting on their laurels

-- the Oilers have a slew of good to very good players, but no superstar, no leader

It may be a combination of those three, or perhaps other reasons/excuses. But suffice to say, these Oilers have issues.

Two of the top four scorers this season and five of the top nine, for that matter were defenseman. On one hand that speaks to the rare collection of skill the Oilers have on the blue line. But it also says rather uncomplimentary things about the club's forwards, who simply aren't providing enough goals.

GM Steve Tambellini is expected to very active this summer. This could go many different directions.

FORWARD

The Oilers have 11 NHL-level forwards signed through at least next season Dustin Penner, Ales Hemsky, Shawn Horcoff, Robert Nilsson, Fernando Pisani, Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, Ethan Moreau, Benoit Pouliot, Patrick O'Sullivan and Zack Stortini. Price tag: $27.3 million.

Penner was supposed to be a star when he was signed away from Anaheim with an offer sheet two summers ago. It hasn't quite worked out that way. His goals have dipped from 29 his last year with the Ducks to 23 (2007-08) and 17 last season.

Hemsky is a wondrous puck-handler and one of the NHL's most talented forwards. But he gets pushed to the perimeter when games get physical.

Cogliano and Gagner two rookie stars in 2007-08 to half-steps backward last season, both of them dipping in points.

Maybe it's something in the water. Erik Cole was shipped back to Carolina after struggling most of the early season with the Oilers, then played very well and will likely be resigned by the Canes.

Tambellini can go a few different ways with this group. The guess here is that he'll bank on new coaching and bounce-back years for lots of his players rather than wholesale changes.

He has one unrestricted free agent, right winger Ales Kotalik. (The league should have a one-Ales limit per team, eh?)

There are a few interesting restricted free agents. Robbie Schremp and Gilbert Brule have not lived up to expectations, but the Oilers like Kyle Brodziak and Liam Reddox.

Steve MacIntyre and Jean-Francois Jacques figure into the mix somewhere, too.

DEFENSE

The Oilers have four NHL-level defensemen signed through at least next season Lubomir Visnovsky, Sheldon Souray, Tom Gilbert and Steve Staios. Price tag: $17.700 million.

The group will no doubt be rounded out by the resigning of RFAs Denis Grebeshkov and Ladislav Smid. Both are very good players.

It's an ultra-skilled group. Souray is the only NHLer with a shot that can rival Nashville's Shea Weber. For those of us in the non-goalie population, it's a joy to behold.

Visnovsky battled injuries last season, but he can produce points and run a power play. Gilbert is a budding star. Staois provides the club toughness on the backend, but they could use some help.

They might find it in the form of youngster Theo Peckham, who packs a serious punch.

GOALTENDER

Here's where it gets interesting.

Dwayne Roloson once the property of the Blue Jackets needs a new contract. He's an unrestricted free agent who will turn 40 on Oct. 12. The club, understandably, is reluctant to discuss a multi-year contract, even though Roloson got a late start on his career and his legs are relatively young.

It's unlikely the Oilers think Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers (great name, incidentally) is ready for full-time duty. He's likely the back-up, whether they resign Roloson or look for a replacement.

BIG PICTURE

The Oilers have 18 players signed through next season with a salary cap hit of $46.183 million.

They have a tough call to make on Roloson, and they need to get bigger and badder at forward and on defense. But with so many players signed to return, they'll likely have to make trades to make it work.

The good news is, they're one of the few clubs that have enough room under the NHL salary cup to take on a large payroll.

Marian Hossa, perhaps?

NEXT WAVE

Is this the year Brule and Schremp deliver at the NHL level? Time is running out on both.

The Oilers have two other forwards on the cusp of breaking the lineup Linus Omark and Jordan Eberle.

Peckham could be ready for regular duty, if the Oilers make room for him by moving out one of the top six. If not, he could used more seasoning in the minor leagues.

The Oilers have the 10th overall pick later this month at the NHL entry draft in Montreal.

OUTLOOK

The Oilers fired MacTavish this summer, parting ways with one of the NHL's brightest coaches and best quotes. After nine seasons, it was probably the right decision.

And it could signal that more significant moves are on the way. The idea, according to some, is to change the culture in the Oilers dressing room.

It seems unlikely the Oilers will jump into the Jay Bouwmeester free agent sweepstakes, as another skilled defenseman is hardly what they need.

But they will likely try to make a splash. If it's the right splash, they could be back in the playoff hunt after a three-year absence next season.