Oilers Sign Nikolai Khabibulin to 4-Year, $15 Million Contract posted by Jeff Ponder

After parting ways with goaltender Dwayne Roloson, the Oilers pulled the trick out of their sleeve and signed unrestricted free-agent Nikolai Khabibulin. 

The former Stanley Cup winner enjoyed a great comeback year last season, posting a 25-8-7 record.  This came after being placed on waivers to start the season, since GM Dale Tallon brought in unrestricted free-agent goaltender Cristobal Huet for a long-term contract.  Khabibulin took his job back in classy form, being one of the better goaltenders in the league by the start of 2009. 

The Oilers were desperately in need of goaltending help, with Roloson departing for Long Island a few hours ago.  As it stood, the only goalie under contract that could possibly start in the NHL is Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers.  Nikolai adds Stanley Cup experience as well as the right attitude to make it through the long NHL playoffs.

For the deal that both parties came to, this is a steal for the Oilers.  At an average of $3.75 million per year, the Oilers got exactly what they wanted.  If Khabibulin can play as well as he did last season, the Oilers are a shoe-in for the playoffs.Continue reading "Oilers Sign Nikolai Khabibulin to ..."

Deal Dead -For Now- Senators Trade Dany Heatley to Oilers for Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner and Ladislav Smid posted by Jeff Ponder

 **This deal was declined by Heatley since he has a no-trade clause.  He is buying time, so this deal could still be made.

Analysis:  The Dany Heatley saga has possibly come to a close.  TSN.ca is reporting that Heatley had a chance to be dealt to the Oilers Tuesday night.

The Senators are giving up their potential 50-goal scorer, but would be receiving a top-notch return.  Being selected 25th overall in 2005, Andrew Cogliano brings speed and gifted hands to an Ottawa team that lacks offensive depth.  He scored just 38 points last season, but is expected to be an NHL-caliber center for years to come.

Dustin Penner was a restricted free-agent pick-up in 2007, when Oilers GM Kevin Lowe took a plunge and signed him despite giving up their first, second and third round picks in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.  Dustin scored 84 points in two seasons for the Oilers, but his grit in front of the net and on the power-play can only help the Senators.

Smid is coming off his third year in the NHL.  Being a part of the trade that sent Chris Pronger to Anaheim, Smid is a steady stay-at-home defenseman who will stop at nothing to defend his teammates, especially his goaltender.  The Senators lacked a little bit of grit on the back line last season, so the acquisition of Smid will widen their defensive talent.  This may take some pressure off defensemen Chris Phillips and Jason Smith.

The Oilers gave up a lot to get Heatley, but it may be worth it.  Heatley is a two-time 50 goal scorer and a four-time 40 goal scorer.  He has reached the 100-point plateau twice in his career as well.  His best days came when he was on a line with Senators' captain Daniel Alfredsson and center Jason Spezza.  He had a bit of an off-year last season scoring just 39 goals, but he has proven in the past that he is effective when paired with another dynamic player.  Ales Hemsky of the Oilers has been getting praise the past few seasons of being a top-10 forward in the league, so these two skaters may find a way to make magic together.  Add a healthy Shawn Horcoff or the recently-acquired Patrick O'Sullivan at center, this could be another top line that Heatley could be a part of. 

Detroit Rock-bottom posted by Brady Fredericksen

Here, open up your wallet and grab out that $20 bill.

Look at it.

Smell it.

Taste it.

Well, maybe not taste, but you get the picture.

What I'm trying to get at is in these rough and tumble economic
times, keep an eye on that twenty. Look at the city of Detroit; if we
all gave our $20 bill to the city of Detroit, I'm pretty sure it would
still look like trash.
But really, what do you expect? The city was led by a mayor who was
more like Bishop Don Magic Juan than Rudy Giuliani.

The biggest thing Detroit has going for it is its sports teams, and
three of them are in action this spring, and they may be playing for
more than they even know.

With their city in the deteriorating state that it's in, the success
of these teams is crucial to the stimulation of Detroit, both nationally
and worldwide.

From the Tigers to the Pistons to the Redwings, these three teams are
normally the aspirin that helps fans ease away the fall's
Lions-related migraines, but that may not be the case this year.

The Pistons stumbled into the 2009 NBA playoffs as the eighth and final
seed. With an impending match-up with LeBron James and the Cleveland
Cavaliers, the prospects of the Pistons making it to their seventh
consecutive Eastern Conference finals looks bleak.

Alright, I'll be honest; the Pistons do not have any chance of
beating the Cavaliers. No, none, nada, zero.
Anyone who's watched the team can see it; they really don't look
Continue reading "Detroit Rock-bottom"

LA Kings vs. Edmonton: Report Card: B posted by Eddie Shack

Scoreboard shows only 3-1, but Kings pounded the Oilers.  Oilers totally asleep.  Mac should be ashamed.  LaBarbera hot again.  Playing big.  D-men active.  Lubo big threat.  Jackie J taking no guff.  Blakie ok.  Forwards flying.  O'Sullivan had best game of his career.  Dustin Brown playing like Eric Lindros.  Armie stringing good games together.  Plumbers did their job.  Ivo bitch slapped the Oiler kid.  New kid Purcell missed an easy chance but was ok.  Crow happy.  Lombardi happy.  Report Card:  BContinue reading "LA Kings vs. Edmonton: Report Card: B"

Oilers sign Khabibulin after losing Roloson

The Edmonton Oilers are turning to another veteran goaltender.Edmonton signed 36-year-old Nikolai Khabibulin to a four-year, 15-million deal on Wednesday. He'll replace 39-year-old Dwayne Roloson, who signed earlier in the day with the New York Islanders.Khabibulin is a former Stanley Cup winner who spent last season with the Chicago Blackhawks.He went 25-8-7 with a 2.33 goals-against average and .919 save percentage despite missing time due to a nagging groin injury. [read full article]

From FOXSports.com News for NHL

Oilers give Khabibulin $15M over 4 years (AP)

The Edmonton Oilers are turning to another veteran goaltender. Edmonton signed 36-year-old Nikolai Khabibulin to a four-year, 15-million deal on Wednesday. He'll replace 39-year-old Dwayne Roloson, who signed earlier in the day with the New York Islanders. Khabibulin is a former Stanley Cup winner who spent last season with the Chicago Blackhawks. [read full article]

From Yahoo! Sports