Hello friends, and welcome to the free agent frenzy 2013. I’ll be updating this blog all day with the latest rumors, signings and trades involving the Edmonton Oilers. It’s been a busy 24 hours in Edmonton, and I expect that to continue today with a few signings and possibly a trade or two.
Recapping yesterday, the Oilers used a compliance buy-out on forward Eric Belanger, and then traded Shawn Horcoff to Dallas for defender Philip Larsen and a 2016 7th round pick. That trade was made official this morning.
The Oilers have over $20 M in cap space to play with, and with MacTavish promising moves, things could get really interesting. At this hour, the rumors are flying.
Rumor out there had the Oilers signing goalie Jason Labarbera as the team’s backup, and also signing Will Acton to become a minor league depth player. Neither signing has been confirmed yet, but both make a lot of sense.
As for Ray Emery, TSN is reporting he is signing a one year deal in Philly, so don’t expect him in Edmonton. We’ll see what happens throughout the day. I’ll be updating this blog at every little piece of info, and updating my twitter page @Alex_Thomas14. Feel free to join the conversation with your thoughts, I’d love to hear them!
Update 12:00 P.M. est: Aaaaaaand we’re off! The doors are open and the frenzy has begun!
Update 12:06 P.M. est: The Oilers have been informed they are OUT of the running on forward David Clarkson. Sounds to me like the contract was simply too rich for the Oilers. Also, sounds like Andrew Ference is signing in Edmonton. More to come
Update 12:15 P.M. est: Andrew Ference is a done deal in Edmonton. Four years at $3.25 M per season. Ference is a GREAT guy and a real character in the locker room. He’ll be a true leader in Edmonton. As for role, I’d be most comfortable with him on the Oilers third pairing. I believe a deal is coming too. More as it happens!
Update 12:30 P.M. est: Looks like the Oilers have signed goalie Jason Labarbera to a one-year deal. Here is the Oilers new back-up goalie. Good veteran on what appears to be a cheap deal. Solid move.
TSN is reporting Edmonton is trying to sign Boyd Gordon, would be a good add and Edmonton’s new third line center.
Update 12:36 P.M. est: Oilers have officially signed goalie Jason Labarbera to a one-year deal to be Edmonton’s back-up. The Oilers have also agreed to terms on a three-year deal with center Boyd Gordon. Gordon is a solid defensive center and will become Edmonton’s third line center. Horc’s replacement.
Hearing Edmonton is also talking to fourth line winger Eric Nystrom.
Update 12:54 P.M. est: Boyd Gordon, Jason Labarbera and Andrew Ference all fill holes for Edmonton and improve the team. Oilers are NOT done yet. Hearing they are still talking trade with the Flyers, most likely about defender Brayden Coburn. A Hemsky deal could happen sooner rather than later too.
I’m expecting the Oilers are going to move along Nick Schultz at some point too. As for free agents, Eric Nystrom and Max Lapierre are the options right now for the Oilers on that front.
Looks like Clarke MacArthur is off to Ottawa, and that he is no longer an option for Edmonton.
Update 1:10 P.M. est: Oilers have agreed to terms with 6′ 4” Finish forward Jesse Joensuu to a two-year contract. A big body with some speed here. Could be a good depth move for the team, and a possible fourth line forward. Not a bad move.
Update 1:54 P.M. est: Clarkson is off to Toronto. We have known for awhile that the Oilers were out here. No real shocker here.
Ference, Labarbera, Gordon and Joensuu are all Oilers today, and I still don’t think they aren’t done. I think the Oilers are still in the market for a top four defender, and signs still point to a deal with the Flyers. Also sounds like Ottawa could be interested in Ales Hemsky, and I wouldn’t be shocked if that is where he goes.
Update 2:31 P.M. est: Been a slow last hour for Oilers news, but we could see that pick up once again somewhat soon. The Oilers are talking to multiple teams right now, and they are looking for a top six LW and a top four left-shot defender. Will be interesting to see where they go for that. As I have said, I do not believe they are done yet.
Labarbera will make $1 M on his his deal, and Gordon will make $3 M per year on his three year deal.
Update 2:45 P.M. est: Bob Stauffer is reporting that Jesse Joensuu will make $950 K per year on his two year deal. Small cap hit and small risk on that deal.
The Oilers have also signed center Will Acton to a two-year contract. Small deal, and most likely a minor league player, although there is an outside chance that he is on Edmonton’s fourth line.
Update 3:24 P.M. est: Eric Nystrom is off to Nashville, and will not be coming to Edmonton. Oilers are still talking trade, but nothing yet. Been quiet for a while now in Edmonton.
Update 3:32 P.M. est: Non-Oilers note, the Sens have acquired Bobby Ryan from the Anaheim Ducks for forwards Stefan Noesen, Jacob Slifverberg and a first round pick. That’s a huge move for the Sens, and one that gives them a legit young star.
From an Oilers point of view, this should take Ottawa out of the running for a possible Ales Hemsky trade. There is more coming from Edmonton today, I’m sure.
Update 3:56 P.M. est: ESPN’s Pierre Lebrun is reporting the Montreal Canadiens are close to making a trade for some toughness. The Oilers and Habs have talked today, and Ben Eager does make some sense moving out east.
That being said, Eric Engels speculated that the Habs could be after defender Brayden Coburn and forward Max Talbot.
Update 4:03 P.M. est: Habs have acquired George Parros from Florida, so it looks like that Eager rumor is dead. Goalie Anton Khudobin has signed in Carolina on a one-year deal. Khudobin was a candidate in Edmonton for the role that Labarbera was signed to.
Update 4:39 P.M. est: Craig MacTavish will speak to the media 6 P.M. est about his moves in the last 24 hours. I’d suggest that Edmonton is done for the moment, but certainly not done for the summer. I think the Oilers still need a top four defender, an NHL center, and a top six left winger. We’ll see how MacTavish approaches that.
I’ll try and update this with my thoughts on Mac’s press conference once it concludes.
Update 4:49 P.M. est: Oilers weren’t done I guess. They have signed forward Ryan Hamilton to a two-year contract. Hamilton comes from the Leafs organization and played under Dallas Eakins. Another AHL/NHL tweener, and I expect him to mainly play with the Marlies this season. That said, wouldn’t be shocked if he got some fourth line duty.
More after MacT’s press conference.
Update 6:30 P.M. est: Press conference has concluded with some interesting quotes from MacT. I’ll have a full reaction blog to his quotes and my thoughts on today’s moves a little later on tonight.
Short story: MacT pretty much said they need more toughness and they are not done yet. Today was a good start, but it’s clear the 2013/14 Edmonton Oilers are just taking form.
Thanks for joining me today everyone! Had a blast!
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