Jimmy Jeong / AP

New Oilers coach Pat Quinn will have his work cut out for him this season.

2008-'09 record: 38-35-9, 85 points (4th in Northwest, 11th in West)

2008-'09 playoffs: Did not qualify

General manager: Steve Tambellini (38-35-9, 2nd NHL year, 1st team)

Coach: Pat Quinn (657-481-180, 20th NHL year, 5th team)

Captain: Ethan Moreau

Top returning scorer: RW Alex Hemsky (23 goals, 43 assists, 66 points)

Top returning goalie: Nikolai Khabibulin (26-8-7, 2.33, .919)

Key additions: G Nikolai Khabibulin; C Mike Comrie

Key subtractions: G Dwayne Roloson; C Kyle Brodziak; RW Ales Kotalik; D Mathieu Roy

Top line: LW Patrick O’Sullivan, C Shawn Horcoff, RW Ales Hemsky

Top defensive pairing: Denis Grebeshkov, Lubomir Visnovsky

Goaltending: Khabibulin enjoyed a huge playoff with Chicago until injury scuttled his season in the Western Conference finals. Has been plagued by injury woes the past few years, which could be an issue again. The 2003-04 Cup winner with Tampa Bay has a history of playing better in contract years, so with a fat deal in hand from the Oilers, that could also be of worry.

Player to watch: G Jeff Deslauriers. If Khabibulin falters or his recurring groin issues crop up again, the workload will fall on the 25-year-old back-up who was 4-3-0 in a brief 10-game stint last season, his first NHL action. Deslauriers is a big, agile butterfly goalie, but he struggles with rebound control and can let his temper get the better of him.

Icing: Quinn brings his vast experience to Edmonton, and will have former New York Rangers coach Tom Renney as his top assistant on the bench. Quinn is fifth in career NHL games coached and wins (657). In this Olympic year, Canadians fondly remember the job he did in leading Canada to its first gold in 50 years — winning the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. Sheldon Souray powers the power play from the blue line. He scored 23 goals last season, three shy of his career best set in the 2006-07 season with Montreal. Comrie, who left Edmonton in 2003 after a bitter dispute with the Oilers, is back in his hometown following several stops elsewhere. Comrie had career highs with 33 goals and 60 points with the Oilers in the 2001-02 season.

Outlook: Quinn’s teams always seem to get better upon his arrival behind the bench, but he’ll have his work cut out for him with this club. Oilers are too young and too erratic to be part of the playoff picture.

Prediction: 90 points (3rd in Northwest, 11th seed in West)

NHL TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS Teams listed in predicted order of finish; x-playoff team ATLANTIC x-Penguins x-Flyers x-Devils x-Rangers Islanders Vote: Winner? CENTRAL x-Red Wings x-Blackhawks x-Blue Jackets x-Blues Predators Vote: Winner? NORTHEAST x-Bruins x-Canadiens Sabres Maple Leafs Senators Vote: Winner? NORTHWEST x-Flames x-Canucks Oilers Wild Avalanche Vote: Winner? SOUTHEAST x-Capitals x-Hurricanes Thrashers Panthers Lightning Vote: Winner? PACIFIC x-Sharks x-Ducks Stars Kings Coyotes Vote: Winner?

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