Despite reports out of Edmonton of the Oilers signing Michael Nylander, it was the Washington Capitals who landed him.
The Capitals announced Monday they’d signed Nylander to a four-year deal. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
Nylander spent parts of the 2002-03 and 2003-04 season with the Capitals, but had his best seasons with the New York Rangers centering another former Capital, Jaromir Jagr, who earlier today expressed his disappointment that Nylander wouldn’t be returning with the Blueshirts.
Nylander had 79 and 83 point seasons in New York with Jagr, and Caps GM George McPhee is betting he’ll have the same offensive magic with superstar winger Alexander Ovechkin.
McPhee had previously addressed the need for a puckmoving blueliner and another scoring forward yesterday in signing Tom Poti and Viktor Kozlov, but bringing in Nylander is his best move yet, providing Ovechkin with the experienced supporting cast he’d lacked over the past two seasons.
McPhee still has other areas in his roster to improve, but by addressing his biggest needs over the last two days, he’s made the Capitals a much better hockey team than it was last season.
As for the Oilers, the search for unrestricted free agent talent willing to play in Edmonton continues…
Is there any other division that has done more to get better this offseason? It looks to me like the Southeast has a minor lead over the Atlantic right now. As yet, every single team in the SE has gotten better, except for the Lightning.
I always find the second day fo free agency to be funny, after the feeding frenzy of the first day.
Spector, have you heard anything about where former lightning F Ruslan Fedotenko will end up? He's a great player who's struggled with injury the last few years, I bet someone will pick him up and make their team a whole lot better.
When I read on Hockeybuzz.com and TSN.ca this morning that the Oilers had reportedly signed Nylander, my first thought was "Great, now we've got TWO guys (Ales Hemsky is the other) playing for the Oilers at whom we can shout 'SHOOT'!"
Personally, I didn't see this as a great fit, and I'm actually somewhat glad to see that potential signing fall through for the Oilers. I think Nylander is much more valuable to the Capitals and Ovechkin.
This move likely takes Mike Comrie off the radar screen for the Capitals. Mikey's running out of teams and might have to consider a return engagement to Edmonton... (shudder)
Last edited by Matt_McCallum on July 2nd at 2:30 PM.
Huge for the Caps. Now I wonder if Kozlov will even need to play center. McPhee said he would get A.O. some help and so far I think he's done alright. Makes me cringe for Oilers fans though.
They have been overshadowed by the Rangers and Aves but have quietly put together a great offseason
THey have signed 3 solid players. They have there superstar now they are putting talent around him. The Caps are quietly going to get into the playoffs.
Matt are you an Oilers fan. what a shock
Last edited by True_kings_fan on July 2nd at 2:34 PM.
I am extremely sad on this day, i would've loved and i was betting that the Habs would sign him. He would've been the center we're looking for for a couple of years to ignite some fire under Kovalev! Whoelse is left for the Habs now Spec? Who do you think can help us?
Well at least the habs got Hammer there for when Souray leaves. Nylander going to washington is pretty cool, going to make him a lot better, just wondering who's going to be the other winger for the hockey pool this year, washington is going to have a lot more fire power.
As for him not wanting to play in Edmonton, can you blame him. Now this doesn't mean he absolutly didn't want to go there, but if you had a choice to play there with Hemsky, or in washington with Alex the great...where would you go.
The oilers just suck...the only reason lowe is there is because he was there during the dynasty...doesn't seem that qualified. But I'm glad they suck, makes the flames look that much better
For example, if the Oilers had signed Smyth at the deadline I'd have been happy he was going to stay with my club, but still appalled at the price and the term.
Likewise, when I saw the potential signing of Nylander on the web, my first thought was "That makes two pretty passers on the first line -- but who's going to put the puck in the net?"
I don't want the Oilers to make a signing for the sake of making a signing. If they're going to get somebody from the free agent market, I want it to be the right fit.
Frankly, unless we're getting someone of the quality of Preissing -- Hey, TSN.ca doesn't have that deal listed on their Free Agent Tracker; there's still hope! -- I'd rather roll the dice with current crop of kids we've got on the blueline and give them some playing time.
As for forwards, we're deep at centre (yet another eyebrow raiser over the potential Nylander signing) but could use some help on the wings. Again, we've got kids in the minors who are not quite ready who we could slot in, but I think we'd be better off keeping them on the farm.
McPhee probably has done the best job of the 2nd tier clubs this free agency period. If he can land another top 6 forward his club will be a very competitive hockey club.
The Edmonton Oilers just released this statement concerning Michael Nylander on the www.EdmontonOilers.com website:
The Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club is compelled to clarify the unfortunate and unprecedented circumstances surrounding the Edmonton Oilers and Michael Nylander.
On Sunday, July 1, 2007, Kevin Lowe, Oilers General Manager, and Mr. Mike Gillis, Certified Agent for Michael Nylander, negotiated and agreed to a multi-year NHL Standard Players Contract, starting in 2007/08. Mr. Gillis confirmed same to the Oilers in writing.
The Oilers then proceeded with preparations to announce Mr. Nylander’s contract agreement on July 2, and concurrently continued with the process of negotiating with other free agents based upon Mr. Nylander being an important roster ingredient for the future.
However, while the Oilers were expecting the returned, signed agreements from Mr. Nylander and Mr. Gillis, the Oilers discovered through public announcements made mid-afternoon on July 2, that Mr. Nylander had subsequently entered into a long-term contract with the Capitals.
The Oilers can find no precedent for such conduct in our history. The Oilers are examining and pursuing every course of action available in the best interest of the team and our fans.
For legal reasons, the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club will not be discussing the details any further at this time.
Last edited by Matt_McCallum on July 3rd at 4:01 PM.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
