With the Edmonton Oilers not trading Ryan Smyth before the February 27 trade deadline, it’s likely that general manager Steve Tambellini will be turning his attention to pending unrestricted free agent Ales Hemsky.

Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal suggests that the Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and maybe Washington Capitals all have interest in the 28-year-old, and could be moved “if he would agree to a short-term deal for a couple of seasons for $4.5 million US to $5 million a year.”

But that is unlikely to happen since Hemsky wants a long-term deal along with perhaps a promise that he will maintain his first-line status if he re-signs.

I think it’s important for everybody. It’s your life. The security you can have signing a long-term deal, that’s probably the best option you can do. I’ve been here for a long time, for 10 years and worked hard to become a free agent.

Of course, you want to know what your role will be. You can’t just stay here if you’re going to be on the third or fourth line. I’d like this (negotiations) to make sense for both sides but, in the end, it has to make sense for me. I keep saying this: I like it here, I have so many friends here, I love the guys in the locker room, I like the coaches and love the city, but it has to make sense for me.

Whatever contract they want to sign me to, they should know what they’re getting, you know? If they trade me, they will have to get a replacement. At least they know what they’re getting. If they feel they’ll go this way or this way, I’m all right with it.

As far as Tambellini goes, he would not tip his hat one way or the other in regards to what plans he has for Hemsky.

He’s been a good player for the Oilers, and we’ll see what happens.

The Oilers general manager did say that he will continue to speak with Hemsky’s agent to see if the two sides can come to an agreement on new contract.

We’ve spoken with Ales’ agent for quite some time. I mean, last year he missed a significant amount of time. He rehabbed well. We spoke over the summer. We’ve had recent conversations.

I would expect to have, you know, probably more conversations up until closer to the deadline. I’m not really here to discuss what we’re talking about, but we’ve had good communication.

Asked whether Hemsky was part of the Oilers’ future going forward, Tambellini was evasive.

I think as a manager you always have to have your feel for what’s happening right now and what the team looks like.

You also have to have a plan in place for the organization of identifying what your core is going to be and what that’s going to look like, what it’s going to cost to keep that core.

Things can change along the way in the next few years. We’ve got a lot of high-end, talented, skilled players that we’re excited about and I know people are excited about. There’ll be issues. When it gets to that point, there will be hard decisions, but those are good problems. It means you’re getting better.

Form the sounds of it, Hemsky is a goner.

It’s official: the Edmonton Oilers are not trading pending unrestricted free agent forward Ryan Smyth.

Because Smyth owns a no-trade clause in his contract, he would have had to give his consent before the Oilers traded him.

However, neither side wanted to part ways.

SportsNet’s Mark Spector reports that Smyth met with Tambellini Tuesday morning and agreed that the veteran will not be going anywhere before the February 27 trade deadline.

A lot of things were up in the air. Then we got back here (to Rexall Place from practice at a suburban rink) and he wanted to chat, clear the air, settle everything. I’m staying put, this is where my family and I call home.

It’s a nice feeling to hear that he wasn’t interested in moving me. It’s nice to know they’re interested in keeping me around.

In fact, Smyth wants to re-sign with the Oilers beyond this season.

I’d love to sign an extension at some point.

Smyth tells Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal would like to get that out of the way before February 27, if possible.

My ultimate goal is to sign a new contract with the Oilers, ideally before the trade deadline. Yeah, I want that.

Though that doesn’t look like it may happen. Smyth says that there have been no talks about a contract extension between the club and his representatives yet.

We (agent Don Meehan, Smyth and Tambellini) haven’t haven’t had that conversation at all. He hasn’t come to me, I haven’t approached him. Hopefully, in the next few days, we can talk and iron things out.

Perhaps the Oilers are still trying to evaluate what they should do with Smyth, though, as previously reported, the club loves having his veteran presence around their young players.