Thursday's Snow Bunny

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As per great request, Elishia is back...

Hanging out with miss liberty

I will be gone this week - I'm heading to NYC tomorrow! You won't be hearing from me, because I'm cheap and roaming charges are a crock (stupid crooked phone companies).

I will be checking out the hot spots, central park, statue of liberty, time's square, broadway, wall street, and someone mentioned yesterday that I was on crack; I hear Harlem is a good place for that...oh and I'm definitely hitting up Tom's Restaurant (the cafe that was in Seinfeld).

Before I go, I will leave one last post - because we can't miss this weeks Snow Bunny now can we? So come back tomorrow.

Brule signed for 2 years

Having just analyzed Gilbert Brule's situation, it comes to no surprise that the Oilers have signed him to a pretty decent, but reasonable, raise.

The Oilers avoid salary arbitration and awarded Brule a 2 year deal worth $1.85 million per year. It's likely the two parties met in the middle with this one. With the recent Canucks signing of Mason Raymond to 5.1 million over two years; it would have lowered Brule's asking price and allowed the Oilers to fast track this signing.

The Oilers should trade Hemsky.

 In all reality, the Oilers are not contending this upcoming season - nor is it likely they will be favorites in two seasons from now either. Ales Hemsky has two years left on his contract and will earn 4.5 million this season and 5 million the following season; he has a cap hit of 4.1 million. (And we say he's underpaid?)

Logically, the Oilers would be best off trading Hemsky while he is still desirable for other teams. He is at the point in his career where he is well into his prime, he will be 27 this upcoming season, he has an affordable cap hit for two more years and the Oilers aren't going

Is Brule worth 2.5 million?

As we wait for Gilbert Brule's arbitration hearing it's easy to think that Brule is going in with all the ammunition he needs. Brule's last year salary of $800,000 is sure to jump up considerably. Do I agree with it? Not at all; but since the arbitration hearing will

Oiler snid bits

Steve Yzerman and the Tampa Bay Lightning continue to make news. It has been a long time since we've heard so much buzz coming from this organization. The lightning snagged two ex-Oilers in Marc-Antoine Pouliot and last years assistant coach Wayne Fleming. Pouliot will add depth to the forwards and Fleming brings 30 years of experience to the Bolts. Pouliot signed a 1 year, 2 way contract. Terms of salary hasn't been released, but I can't see it being much more or less than his 825,000 NHL salary that he was signed to last year.

The fact that the Oilers signed JF Jacques over Pouliot

Thursday's Snow Bunny

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NHL rejects Kovalchuck's contract

Just hours after introducing Ilya Kovalchuck to the press the NHL has rejected Kovalchuck's 17 year, 102 million dollar contract. The NHL ruled that it circumvents the salary cap.

It makes sense to reject such contracts, but at the same time something needs to be written in stone explaining what can and what can not be accepted. Another issue I have are previous contracts which were obviously circumventing the cap. Hossa, Zetterberg and Pronger come to mind.

 I agree with the rejection, but the NHL just keeps proving that they are incredibly inconsistent on their rulings. Be it suspensions or in this case a free agent signing. They need to have clarity and they need to stand by them at all times.

Kovalchuck will appeal, this will be his only opportunity to reach this kind of money.

(see previous post for Kovalchuck's contract details)

Kovalchuck signs (contract details listed) and Gagne traded

A couple of events happened today, a big trade and a huge signing regarding the two biggest fish on the market. Kovalchuck finally signed on the dotted lines making his return to the Devils. Kovalchuck's contract is detailed to be 6 million for the first 2 years, then 5 years at 11.5, 10.5, 8.5, 6.5, 3.5, and finally 750, 550, 550, 550, 550, 550 (source: Star Tribute). An average of 6 million. Next was Simon Gagne being shipped to the Tampa Bay lightning, in return the Flyers received Matt Walker and a 4th round pick for the 2011 draft.
                                                                                   
Let's take a closer look at the Kovalchuck signing. Here we have a

Oilers week in a nutshell

This week proved to be a busy one for the Oilers as they made some minor tweaking within the organization. There was nothing too exciting for fans, but rather some added depth and the rounding off of the coaching staff. This leads us to believe the frame work of the Oilers is now established.

First off, welcome back Steve Smith to the Edmonton Oilers. He was brought on board as part of the coaching staff and will look after the defense. Steve played a lengthy NHL career and won 3 Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers. I know every apathetic fan is already calling out the old boys club is back in full force again, with Kelly Buchberger staying on board as well. However, I like the signing of Smith. He was a tough son-of-a-bitch back in his playing days and should bring that concept to the back end of a team that greatly needs it. Recently he was part of the Chicago Blackhawks championship as a pro scout and did spend the 1997season

WWW.ETOWNHOCKEY.COM

We're making some changes. No longer do you need to remember the ridiculously long www.etownhockey.blogspot.com; we are now simply known as www.etownhockey.com.

If you still use the blogspot url, no worries -- you will be forwarded to the new domain but be sure to bookmark the new url.

Thanks.

(PS: Unfortunately all of our comments have been lost since we brought the site over to the new domain. Nothing is stopping you from adding new comments though...)

This weeks Snow Bunny

 

Say Hello to our first local entry to Raine's Snow Bunnies. Elishia is a 21 year old local beauty with great style. She keeps busy with many hobbies. She's your true Albertan girl who likes Hockey, baseball, football, snowboarding, skateboarding, quading, dirt biking, fishing, hunting and partying.

Elishia has big dreams and hopes to accomplish many of them in the next few years. She's working towards getting herself a big home, a nice ride and a good career.

And her favorite team?

"The Oilers although they didn't do so hot this year." 

Well, we all hope they can turn that around for this coming season.

This is my hockey

This is hockey people. It pisses me off when I hear the whining and sniveling coming from the casual hockey fan about violence in Hockey. I found myself entering a conversation the other day about the re-acquiring of Steve Macintyre. A guy known for his fisticuffs, hard hits and nothing much there after. This conversation between these dimwits started off with them stating that the Oilers screwed up the team by getting rid of Nilsson and O'sullivan and then "replacing" them with guys like Macintyre and Vandermeer. "Goons who have no place in hockey." "It sends the wrong message." "I don't want my kids playing hockey because it's getting too violent."

Well, that's just

Eberle ready for stardom

The Oilers didn't screw this one up, they got it right all along. The development process with Jordan Eberle has been handled incredibly well. The 22nd pick of the 2008 draft is well on his way to NHL stardom.

Already Jordan's resume is a compilation of success at every level. Be it his 216 goals in 60 games as a

Ladies night -- babe of the week

Thursday is ladies night. Every Thursday will be a piece of eye candy for fellow Etowners. Of course, we're always looking for local products...but we're not that picky. So send your pic to etownhockey@hotmail.ca to have your picture featured as the babe of the week.

What we need:

A steamy picture
Your name
Your hobbies
Your ambitions
And the sports teams you cheer for

enjoy

Be sure to check in next week as we have lined up a local product from Red Water, Alberta.

Khabibulin's court case post poned

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin's July 7th court date, for impaired driving and excessive speed, has been put off until July 21st. If convicted, Khabibulin can face a sentence anywhere from 30 days to the maximum 1 year.

It's unkown what the Oilers and Khabibulin's contract details, but one would assume there would be an "out" clause if their goaltender were to be sentenced to prison. Given the quantity of good goaltending available on the free agent market, it may be sweet victory to see the Oilers get out of this bloated contract. It would be another step in the right direction for a proper rebuild.

Oil Change

 As we all know, this off-season has been a busy one for Steve Tambellini. There has been many changes and there have been hints for further changes. However, I think we are close to what we will likely see this fall --  for the exception of Sheldon Souray and his trade request. That may prove to be difficult given his salary cap and past injuries. The Oilers will likely need to take back similar salary and/or sweeten the offer by packaging him up with a guy like Andrew Cogliano.  If the Oilers do indeed deal Cogliano, as rumours keep speculating, expect Mike Comrie to be resigned.

Let's take a look at where we currently stand on the depth chart.

How do you feel about the current line up, and what further changes do you think may occur?

Update: Hall Signing

Hall has signed a 3 year contract worth $900,000 per year along with the possibility of earning $3,750,000 per year when factoring in the bonuses. These are the numbers we predicted earlier today as it is the same numbers we saw with the John Tavares signing last year.

For those concerned about the cap; to my understanding bonuses do not count against the current years cap. However, they will impact the following years total cap limit for that team.

Halladay

Nearly 2 hours from now (12:00 pm mt) Hall and Tambellini will be holding a press conference that will signify a new era in Oilers hockey. Hall is to sign a contract with the Oilers today. A contract that will likely be similar to the one John Tavares signed last year, a three year entry-level contract worth $900,000 per season in salary and guaranteed

No Trading Souray?

Now that Souray cleared waivers, it's clear that a suitable trade isn't available. It's likely the Oilers will need to accept a poor contract and possibly an undesirable player to boot. Leading to another problem of it's own, a trade that could haunt the Oilers for years to come. However, in the best interest of the Oilers, they shouldn't make that trade...not yet anyways. What other options are there?

First, Let us take a quick flashback and partake in the events that is now a grumbled Souray. The guy went through a string of injuries, the first being the severe concussion and the first of 2 meetings with Jarome Iginla. That concussion was immediately followed by a law suit worth millions of dollars; courtesy of his