2007 – 08 Edmonton Oilers season The 2007 – 08 Edmonton Oilers season began on October 4 , 2007 . It was the Oilers ' 35th season , 28th in the National Hockey League . This season also marks the debut of the Edmonton Oil Kings , a Western Hockey League expansion team purchased by the Oilers after the team spent several years attempting to buy and relocate any existing WHL team to the Alberta capital . 2007 off - season . With major rebuilding necessary , the Oilers began the NHL free agency period on July 1 , trading Joffrey Lupul and Jason Smith to the Philadelphia Flyers for defencemen Joni Pitkanen , left winger Geoff Sanderson and a third round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft . Petr Sykora , having become a free agent , left the Oilers franchise and signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins . Jan Hejda , also a free agent , left for the Columbus Blue Jackets . The Oilers made a call to Ryan Smyth ' s agent early in the morning on July 1 stating they were interested in making an offer . Smyth wound up signing with the Colorado Avalanche . Netminder Mathieu Garon was signed on July 3 , 2007 , as the backup goaltender to Dwayne Roloson . It has also been reported that the Oilers had agreed to a contract with free agent Michael Nylander through his agent . While the Oilers were expecting a signed contract from Nylander and his agent , they later found out that he had signed with the Washington Capitals . The Oilers are currently pursuing their legal options on the matter . Matt Greene signed a two year contract , Raffi Torres signed for three . On July 5 , the Edmonton Oilers Offered restricted free agent Thomas Vanek from the Buffalo Sabres a 7 year contract worth $ 50 million . The Buffalo Sabres quickly matched the Oilers offer . On July 12 , the Edmonton Oilers signed unrestricted free agent Sheldon Souray to a 5 year deal worth $ 27 million dollars . On July 20 , the Oilers signed Newly acquired defenceman Joni Pitkanen to a one year , 2 . 4 million deal . On July 26 , the Oilers offered Anaheim Ducks Forward Dustin Penner , a restricted free agent $ 21 . 25 million over 5 years . This is the second restricted free agent the Oilers have attempted to sign this off - season . The Ducks declined to match the offer , officially making Penner an Oiler . On October 2 , 2007 , the Oilers announced Ethan Moreau as the 15th Captain in team history . 2007 – 08 regular season . On February 19 , 2008 , Denis Grebeshkov scored the 8000th goal in the Oilers ' franchise history . On February 26 , 2008 , the Edmonton Oilers set a new NHL record for 13 shootout wins in a season , previously held by the Dallas Stars at 12 wins . Oilers goalie Mathieu Garon has stopped 30 of 32 shots and is 10 – 0 in shootouts . On March 4 , 2008 , Gilbert surpassed Paul Coffey and Marc - Andre Bergeron for the Oilers ' franchise record for most goals scored by a rookie defencemen with his 10th goal on the power play against the Nashville Predators goalie Dan Ellis . On March 18 , 2008 , the Oilers scored eight goals for the first time in five years in an 8 – 4 win over the Phoenix Coyotes . April , 2008 , Oilers fail to place in the playoffs . Regular season . Game log . October . Record : 5 – 8 – 0 ; Home : 3 – 3 – 0 ; Road : 2 – 5 – 0 November . Record : 6 – 6 – 1 ; Home : 4 – 4 – 0 ; Road : 2 – 2 – 1 December . Record : 5 – 6 – 3 ; Home : 1 – 4 – 1 ; Road : 4 – 2 – 2 ; January . Record : 7 – 5 – 1 ; Home : 4 – 2 – 0 ; Road : 3 – 3 – 1 ; February . Record : 7 – 5 – 0 ; Home : 6 – 1 – 0 ; Road : 1 – 4 – 0 ; March . Record : 10 – 4 – 1 ; Home : 5 – 2 – 0 ; Road : 5 – 2 – 1 ; April . Record : ; Home : ; Road : ; Playoffs . The Oilers failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season . Player stats . Skaters . " Note : GP = Games played ; G = Goals ; A = Assists ; Pts = Points ; PIM = Penalty minutes " Goaltenders . " Note : GP = Games played ; TOI = Time on ice ( minutes ) ; W = Wins ; L = Losses ; OT = Overtime / shootout losses ; GA = Goals against ; SO = Shutouts ; SV % = Save percentage ; GAA = Goals against average " Transactions . The Oilers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2007 – 08 season . Trades . " * Later traded to the New York Islanders " Draft picks . Edmonton ' s picks at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus , Ohio . The Oilers have three first round selections in this draft : 6th overall , the 15th pick , acquired in the Ryan Smyth trade , and the 30th pick , acquired in the Chris Pronger trade . Farm teams . Springfield Falcons . After shipping their prospects out across several clubs , the Oilers have signed a deal with the Springfield Falcons to be their American Hockey League affiliate in 2007 – 08 . The Falcons will be the Oilers first full time AHL affiliate since the Edmonton Road Runners were suspended following the 2004 – 05 season . Stockton Thunder . The Stockton Thunder of the ECHL remain Edmonton ' s secondary affiliate .