Petry and the Oilers are involved in talks for a new contract, according to the Oilers web site.This seems to be a reversal from just a couple of weeks ago when general manager Craig MacTavish seemed content to let Petry play out the final season of his deal. Whether or not Petry gets dealt by the deadline will more than likely come down to whether or not the team can re-sign him.

Petry (ribs) will sit out Friday's game against the Wild.He'll be replaced in the lineup by Keith Aulie. The Oilers are listing Petry as day-to-day, but his participation in Friday's morning skate suggests he's not due for a long-term absence. In fact, he could be back in the lineup for Saturday's match with the Ducks.

Petry (ribs) indicated the he felt better Thursday after leaving Wednesday's game against the Bruins with the injury, Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal reports.The blueliner hopes to be available for the Oilers' next game Friday against the Wild, though his status likely won't be determined until earlier that morning. Even if Petry ends up missing the game, it appears he's not looking at any sort of lengthy absence. That's something of a relief for the Oilers, who are believed to be interesting in trading Petry prior to the Mar. 2 deadline.

Petry suffered a rib injury in Wednesday's game and will not return.The extent of Petry's setback is uncertain, so it remains to be seen if it will prevent him from playing in Edmonton's next game Friday.

Petry is expected to be traded before the March 2 trade deadline, according to the Edmonton Journal.Petry and the Oilers have not scheduled any negotiations to work on a new contract. It seems that general manager Craig MacTavish has soured on Petry for whatever reason even though one could make the argument that Petry has been the team's best defenseman this season. Petry won't fetch a top pick or prospect in a deal, but defenders are always in demand at the deadline and he should be able to bring back a decent piece should the Oilers indeed go in that direction.

Petry picked up an assist and two PIM in Thursday's 4-3 overtime win over the Canadiens.Petry's numbers on the season (13 points, minus-25 rating over 55 games) are far from outstanding, but his steady play in his own zone could make him a popular trade target for contending teams as the deadline approaches. While a potential move to another team would surely help his plus/minus rating, he's unlikely to deliver enough offense to emerge as an intriguing fantasy option in most formats.

Petry could be trade bait for teams that are in need of a defensive defenseman, according to the Edmonton Journal. Petry will be an unrestricted free agent in July so the Oilers, who are already in trade mode, could be thinking of trading him and getting something back rather than losing him to free agency. Petry won't bring back a top pick or player but something is still better than nothing.

Petry was credited with an assist in Tuesday's loss to the Red Wings. The blueliner typically tops the 20-minute mark in ice time most nights for the Oilers, but he's usually tasked with staying in his own zone. With nine points and a minus-18 rating over 40 games, Petry doesn't offer much value in fantasy circles.

Petry scored his first goal of the year Thursday against Ottawa, and it was a big one -- a game-tying tally in the third period that completed the Oilers' comeback from a 3-1 deficit to force overtime. It's a nice moment for Petry, helping his team get a point in the overtime loss, but his lack of scoring prowess and regular minuses -- his minus-1 Thursday pushed him to minus-5 in the last four games -- make him hard to roll out in fantasy.

Coach Dallas Eakins said Petry (undisclosed) isn't dealing with an injury and will be a healthy scratch Tuesday versus the Kings, Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal reports. Eakins cited Petry's abbreviated training camp due to a shoulder injury as the primary reason for the Oilers giving him an early rest. Darnell Nurse will take his spot in the lineup Tuesday, but look for Petry to assume his spot on the top pairing with Andrew Ference in Wednesday's match against Arizona.