EDMONTON - If you’re a die-hard Edmonton Oilers fan, you have probably gathered with friends to re-hash — even re-create — some of the great Oilers moments.

There have been many, from the first Stanley Cup win in 1984 to the high-flying tempo of the game to the 1990 Cup win, and the improbable hang-on-to-your hats playoff run in 2006 that came down to the final Game 7.

In those great memory lane conversations, names would certainly echo: Gretzky, Messier, Coffey, Kurri, Fuhr, Lowe and … well, the list goes on.

While it is a wonderful time to re-live the past, we must always look ahead if we hope to embrace today’s trends, especially with Wednesday’s significant announcement that the downtown arena project was given the green light by city council.

The Oilers took a major step in engaging fans to look to the future Tuesday night when they hosted the San Jose Sharks at Rexall Place. Sure, the Oilers lost 6-3 and perhaps could have used a pep talk from Oprah Winfrey after the first period, but alas, she was in town Monday.

Seriously, the Oilers have cleverly tied one of their current stars with the great men who paved the team’s foundation since 1979.

After four months of no hockey because of the NHL lockout, the Oilers announced several giveaways to fans over the first three home games in an attempt to apologize.

Free beverage coupons, discounted team merchandise, and autographed jerseys are some of the items the Oilers are sharing with fans.

I found the number of jerseys given away especially interesting: 93. For decades in Oilerland, the number 99 was used in many promotions, and rightly so, since it belonged to one of the greatest hockey players who will ever play the game — Wayne Gretzky.

No. 99 will always have a special place in Oilers history, but with all due respect to Gretzky, he hasn’t worn an Oilers jersey since 1988.

Fast forward to today. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is entering his second season with the Oilers. He wears No. 93 and was a first-round draft pick.

Nugent-Hopkins has the potential to be an NHL superstar and he is a specimen of today’s game: fast, slick, good hands and dazzling puck movement. He’s like Gretzky, but he isn’t.

More importantly, though, Nugent-Hopkins is part of the Oilers’ future. If the team is going to add a sixth Stanley Cup banner, Nugent-Hopkins could very well play an important role.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting: Fans who win one of the 93 jerseys can request it to be signed by any player who ever played for the Oilers. It could be Dave Dryden, Al Hamilton, Curtis Joseph, Tommy Salo or, of course, Nugent-Hopkins.

It’s an interesting way, indeed, of bridging yesterday and today.

The Oilers have showed their confidence in one of their marquee players in such a fan initiative. We also must celebrate how the Oilers are embracing the community.

The team is giving 19 fans $1,000 each and then asking the fan which local charity they would like to receive it.

It gives fans ownership if contributing to the community, and that’s a great thing in building a great future, too.

camtait@telus.net