Oilers 2014 Trade Deadline Live Blog!

Welcome to the second ever Oilers Rig Live Blog! Back on July 5th, we hosted a free agent frenzy live blog with a lot of success, and hope to continue that today. Buckle up and enjoy my friends, we’ll be here all day with EVERY Oilers trade and rumor. Then tonight we’ll have the trade deadline recap show of the Oilers Rig Radio.

Yesterday, the Oilers dealt Ilya Bryzgalov to Minnesota in exchange for a 4th round pick in 2014, while the team acquired goalie Viktor Fasth from Anaheim for a 3rd in 2015 and 5th in 2014. Fasth is expected to join the Oilers today.

Defender Corey Potter is on waivers this morning, while forwards Ryan Smyth, Ryan Jones, Ales Hemsky, Sam Gagner and defender Nick Schultz are on the chopping block today. Darren Dreger reported this morning that teams have been in contact with the Oilers in regards to Gagner.

SO, without further ado, let’s get underway. Follow along on twitter @Alex_Thomas14 as well.

UPDATED 10:46 AM est: As mentioned above, Darren Dreger of TSN has tweeted that some teams have been calling the Oilers brass regarding Sam Gagner. The Oilers have had Gagner on the trade block since January, but many, self included, feel a draft day deal will bring better value.

Dreger also reported that no less than six teams have shown interest in Ales Hemsky, and it is believed one of them is the Coyotes. Bob Stauffer has hinted that the New York Rangers could be a fit for Hemsky. More as it happens.

UPDATED 10:50 AM est: First big deal of the day coming in now. Mike Russo, Wild beat writer, is reporting that the Columbus Blue Jackets have traded sniper Marian Gaborik to the LA Kings, who were looking for scoring. This likely will impact the Ales Hemsky market.

UPDATED 11:20 AM est: Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports is reporting that the New York Rangers have traded forward Ryan Callahan and draft picks to Tampa Bay in exchange for Lightning captain Martin St. Louis. Marty reportedly had requested a trade from Tampa earlier this year, while Callahan and the Rangers have not been able to come to terms on a new contract.

The deal likely takes the Rangers out of the market for Oilers forward Ales Hemsky, who was connected to the team as recently as this morning. Also, still waiting on conformation regarding the Gaborik trade to LA, which is still in the works.

UPDATED 11:37 AM est: Sources indicated to The Oilers Rig that Oilers forward Ryan Smyth likely played his last game as an Oiler last night. Smyth’s father was in attendance at Rexall Place, and he believed he son was playing his last game in the Orange and Blue. Smyth is a UFA this July, and could be a solid depth option for a team looking to make a run at the Cup this spring.

UPDATED 12:03 PM est: Oilers defender Corey Potter did not make it through the waiver wire. The Boston Bruins, a team searching for defensive help, have claimed the veteran defender. Potter was set to become a UFA, but had fallen out of favor in Edmonton. He’ll likely be the number eight defender in Boston. Potter’s claim frees up a contract spot for Edmonton.

The Buffalo Sabres claimed forward Corey Conacher off waivers from the Ottawa Senators today as well.

UPDATED 12:10 PM est: The Ottawa Senators have signed defender Chris Philips to a two-year deal worth $5 M total. Philips was rumored to have some interest from Edmonton, even though it was highly unlikely, we can now officially cross that off MacT’s list.

UPDATED 12:20 PM est: Forward Ales Hemsky has been traded to the Ottawa Senators according to multiple reports. TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports the deal is for two draft picks, a 5th in 2014 and a 3rd in 2015. Hemsky was tremendous for over a decade for Edmonton, and now gets a chance in Ottawa. Edmonton now replaces the picks they dealt to the Ducks for Fasth yesterday.

Thank you for everything Ales, and best of luck moving forward.

UPDATED 12:50 PM est: Ex-Oiler Devan Dubnyk has yet another home, as the Predators have shipped him off to Montreal in exchange for future considerations. That Carey Price injury could be a little bit more serious than we once thought. Also, the Buffalo Sabres have dumped off defender Brayden McNabb to LA in a deal that sees prospect Hudson Fasching head to Buffalo.

As for the Oilers, with the Hemsky deal done, focus looks to be turning to defender Nick Schultz and forward Ryan Smyth. Doesn’t look like they are done just yet.

UPDATED 1:07 PM est: Update from Oilers practice at Rexall Place. Veteran forward Ryan Smyth and veteran defender Nick Schultz are NOT skating today, fueling the reports that both of those players will join Hemsky as departing Oilers. Forwards Ryan Jones and Sam Gagner, both on the block, are currently skating on the ice for practice. More as it happens.

UPDATED 1:30 PM est: League wide-front news here, the Kings have finally acquired Marian Gaborik from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forward Matt Frattin and two draft picks. The Kings, one of the worst offensive teams in the NHL, get a goal scorer. An hour and a half away from the deadline. now

UPDATED 2:06 PM est: Less than an hour from the deadline. The Penguins have acquired Marcel Goc from Florida for a 3rd and 5th round pick, while New Jersey has traded Andrei Loktionov to Carolina for Tuomo Ruutu. The Oilers, outside of Ales Hemsky, have been rather quiet today. Will be interesting to see if they have anything else brewing.

UPDATED 2:26 PM est: The Edmonton Oilers have traded veteran defender Nick Schultz to the Columbus Blue Jackets according to TSN. Aaron Portzline is reporting Edmonton will get 5th round pick, and Bob Stauffer is reporting Edmonton will eat a part of the salary here.

No shock, as Schultz was not going to get re-signed. He has struggled this season mightily for the Oilers, so it isn’t really a surprise Edmonton got a mid-round pick in return.

Tim Thomas has also been dealt to Dallas, while Matt Moulson to Minnesota is picking up steam.

UPDATED 2:47 PM est: Sportsnet is reporting that the Flyers have dealt puck-moving defender Andrej Meszaros to Boston for the Bruins 3rd round draft choice in the 2014 NHL draft. The Fourth Period is reporting possibly that a Ryan Kesler deal could be close.

UPDATED 3:03 PM est: Deadline has passed! It’s now after three eastern, so we will see if anything trickles in post-deadline here. Stuff always does. The Rangers snagged Raphael Diaz from Vancouver for a 5th in 2015 at the last seconds. More as it happens.

UPDATED 3:11 PM est: Edmonton, according to TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, are done for today. Buffalo has moved forward Matt Moulson and tough guy Cody McCormick to the Wild for veteran Torrey Mitchell and undisclosed picks. That is being reported by John Vogl of the Buffalo News.

UPDATED 3:15 PM est: The Calgary Flames have traded goalie Reto Berra to Colorado for an undisclosed draft pick according to Adrian Dater. Aaron Ward reports that the Flames will NOT be trading Mike Cammalleri, while TSN reports that Ryan Kesler will not be dealt today.

UPDATED 3:18 PM est: The Predators have dealt center David Legwand to Detroit. He has waived his NTC for the deal. A Vanek trade is coming as well, await to see location.

UPDATED 3:20 PM est: Thomas Vanek has been traded to the Montreal Canadiens. No word on the cost as of now. Habs clearly thinking they have a chance to do some damage in the weak east this year.

UPDATED 3:34 PM est: Vanek to Montreal for a conditional second round pick and prospect Sebastien Collberg.

UPDATED 3:37 PM est: Rumored return for Legwand is Patrick Eaves, a 3rd round pick and a prospect to Nashville from Detroit. The final trade of the day is in, and it looks to be Jaroslav Halak to Washington as per Sportsnet.

UPDATED 3:48 PM est: Final trade sees Jaroslav Halak leave Buffalo and head to Washington in exchange for Michal Neuvirth and a late round pick. Craig MacTavish is expected to meet the Edmonton media within the hour. This concludes the 2014 NHL trade deadline live blog. The Oilers Radio radio will be live tonight with a trade recap show, stay tuned for the link. More reaction to come.