The Edmonton Oilers have signed goaltender Mathieu Garon to a two-year contract. He'll replaced the recently departed Jussi Markkanen as Dwayne Roloson's backup.
Garon was once considered starting-goalie material but his stock declined during his two-year, injury-filled tenure with the LA Kings. Now he'll be relegated to riding the pine with the Oilers.
The Columbus Blue Jackets signed forward Jiri Novotny to a two-year contract.
Novotny was believed a blue-chip foward with the Buffalo Sabres heading into last season but failed to crack the roster and wound up dealt to the Washington Capitals. He should have ample opportunity to rejevunate his stalled career with the Jackets.
The Minnesota Wild signed center Eric Belanger to a three-year, $5.2 million contract.
He'll replace Todd White, who signed with Atlanta as a free agent, coincidentally the same team that Belanger played with last season. Belanger's been a reliable checking forward, albeit a much-travelled one over the past season, bouncing from LA to Carolina to Atlanta before landing with the Wild.
The Vancouver Canucks signed forwards Brad Isbister and Byron Ritchie.
Both are depth signings for the cap-strapped Canucks, although Isbister could possibly be seen as a reclamation project. Once touted as a promising power forward, Isbister has bounced around several NHL teams but never sticking for long. At this point in his career, however, he's considered fourth-line material.
Dany Sabourin won't have to worry about battling Nolan Schaefer for the backup goaltender spot with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Minnesota Wild signed Schaefer today to a multi-year contract.
Schaefer was buried in the San Jose Sharks system prior to his trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and isn't likely to see much playing time with the Wild this season, as their tandem will be Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding.
Sabourin's former club, the Vancouver Canucks, quickly found a replacement to back up Roberto Luongo by signing former St. Louis Blues netminder Curtis Sanford to a one-year, $600 K contract.
Wow, $600K to open and close the door for his teammates for more than 70 games next season. Sorry, I know that's catty. Sanford's a good guy but isn't likely to see much playing time next season with the Canucks. Luongo will play 65-70 games next season for sure.
The Tampa Bay Lightning's bargain shopping in the UFA market continued with their signing of defenseman Brad Lukowich to a three-year contract.
Lukowich was part of the Lightning's 2004 Stanley Cup championship team. He's a defensive blueliner who at 31 still has some good hockey left to give, and shouldn't find it difficult to re-acquaint himself with his former team.
The Anaheim Ducks re-signed Brad May to a two-year contract.
Sorry to see Garon go but he did get his fair shot at #1. I think he has a lot of ability and when he's on, he's up there with the best of them.
But the ability to play at a consistently high level (while staying healthy) is why guys like Brodeur, Giguerre, Hasek, and to a certain degree, Turco are in a small group by themselves.
Oh, drat! For of all the times for True_Kings_Fan to have gone off on holiday! The Oilers FINALLY make a quality free agent signing, and he's not around to rub his nose in it!
Three days into the signing period and all we've accomplished is Richard (Filters Don't Like My Common Name) Tarnstrom, Denis Grebeshkov and Mathieu Garon. Thank goodness Brad Isbister is off the market, or Kevin Lowe might be tempted for a do-over!
This guarantees Jussi Markkanen is out the door. You were a good solider, Jussi. We'll miss you, and I'll always remember how you came within 60 minutes of becoming a legend in this town. (Well, okay, technically THAT town, since I'm now living in THIS town, but you know what I mean.)
With Garon's injury history I don't know if this is much of an upgrade for the back-up position, but this signing should guarantee that both Drouin-Deslaurers and Dubnyk stay down in Springfield next season and get some badly needed development time. And the two-year deal gives us a bit of an overlap as Roloson's deal has two more years to run as well.
Edit: There are now rumours that the Garon deal sets up a trade. Are the Oilers moving Roli?!
Last edited by Matt_McCallum on July 3rd at 2:52 PM.
Garon was a good pick up for you guys. He's gonna be missed. He was our best netminder(stats don't lie) last season, and the year before. It's funny how one injury last season makes everyone forget that our team was very successful with him in net two seasons ago. Now he has to prove himself AGAIN in Edmonton. He will definately deliver as a backup. Best of luck to him in Edmonton.
Last edited by kings_fan_27 on July 3rd at 3:01 PM.
The canucks are quietly, setting up there team. Sanford is a nice replacement for sabby, Ritchie is real pest, Isbister might pay off, he`s real cheap if he doesn`t. my line up looks a little thsn most but here goes: sedins and naslund #1, Morrison, shannon and Pyatt #2, Isbister, Kesler, Burrows #3, Cowan, Ritchie, Linden/Hansen. Our D is fine too Bourdn willbe the #1 call up and Ohlund/salo,mitchell/bieksa, Krajcek/Edler will do fine, unless a fella is brought in to take fitzpatrick role.
the cup is Vancouver bound baby!!
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.
That has to suck for the oilers, but as a flames fan I can't help but grin. Its really unfortunate when stuff like this happens, because it could happen to any team and any player. I honestly think that Lowe is a horrible GM. The oilers brass has to step in and take a look at things. The hay day of the dynasty boys is done. They need a new GM, a new coach, and a bonafied all-star player to generate fans, other players and the media. People are starting to forget about edmonton, and not because they win all the time...far from it. In closing....FLAMES RULE!!!!!!!!
A quick follow-up as I was looking for additional information:
* I'm on record as saying that when I read of Nylander being signed by the Oilers I didn't think he was a good fit. I stand by that.
* Not knowing all the details of the situation, I don't think the Oilers have much of a case. They have a signed fax from an agent -- essentially a handshake -- but until they've got the signed documents back, they don't have a deal. That said, there is an ethical issue of Nylander or his agent informing the Oilers the deal is off or that they are still negotiating.
* You'll recall Nylander had an agent who'd worked out a deal with the NY Rangers, and then Nylander fired the fellow and the deal was off. Looks like the same sort of thing may have happened here (without the new agent being fired in the process).
* Say what you want about being an Oilers fan, it ain't dull!
Last edited by Matt_McCallum on July 3rd at 4:32 PM.
Well Edmonton has signed a good backup, and upgraded the defense, but the hole left by Smyth departure is still there and that says we're getting nowhere. Why didn't they resign Sykora?
Minnesota builds the best trapping team of all time! Yawn. Wild sign Belanger who might skate into the the offensive zone about 6 times a game. The Wild surely didn't pick him up, becuase of his killer instincts infront of the goal or his ability create offense. Nope, the Wild need another role/Scheme player for the trap. I was hoping the Wild would go after more offensive talent, but I guess the Rangers picked up all the talent in the off season. Look forward to another year of the Trap.
I certainly hope Isbister is not really playing on the Canucks' second line. He's fourth line material all the way, third on his best day. You might want to hold off on those championship plans if he's actually playing on line two.
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.
