Monthly Archives: November 2013

Do you think that the Oilers made the right goalie move by signing Ilya Bryzgalov?

[yop_poll id=”35″]

Dineen firing first of many moves in Florida

This won’t be the last time this season the Florida Panthers make news.

“This is just the beginning of our changes that need to be made. If our players don’t respond to this, then they won’t be Panthers for very long,” fiery GM Dale Tallon told the media on a call Friday after dismissing most of his coaching staff, including head coach Kevin Dineen.

Peter Horachek takes over as interim head coach, but the players whom the longtime Predators assistant will have at his disposal in Florida could be in flux, to say the least.

We told you a few weeks back in a Rumblings blog that Tallon was looking to shake up his roster, but despite working the phones feverishly over the past few weeks, he’s been unable to make a deal, needing to find a trade partner to comply this early in the season.

It seems that the Oilers may not be done dealing

Here’s how it looks from here: the Oilers are clearing $3.5 million off their roster which opens up room to add another position player in a trade–maybe a $4.5 million defenceman like Philadelphia Flyer Braydon Coburn, somebody they were after at the draft in June.

Maybe they go after a more aggressive forward like Philly’s Wayne Simmonds. In that case, they have Ales Hemsky to dangle in any trade because he’s an unrestricted free-agent in July.

Jagr wanted to come back to Flyers

For the second summer in a row, Jaromir Jagr waited for a call that never came.

Jagr waited and waited. The 41-year-old winger finally signed a one-year with the New Jersey Devils late in July. He was hoping for a call from the Flyers, who were flirting with the upper limit of the salary cap.

 

“They didn’t have any room,” Jagr said. “Even if I signed for the minimum, they didn’t have the room. The reason I was waiting is because I was very comfortable here.”

By late July, Jagr was getting antsy but would have made concessions if the Flyers had shown interest.

“I would probably even not sign until training camp and wait to see what happens after training camp,” Jagr said. “Then I had a meeting with the Devils. I met Lou (Lamoriello, the team’s general manager), and we sit for five, six hours. He made me comfortable.”

The aging winger was also hoping to stay in Philadelphia in the summer of 2012, after a breakout year for both his linemates — Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell.

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20131108/SPORTS04/311080041/Jagr-wanted-come-back-Flyers?nclick_check=1

OILERS TRADE SMID TO FLAMES, REACH AGREEMENT WITH BRYZGALOV

The Edmonton Oilers have a verbal agreement in place to sign goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov to a one-year contract, the team announced.

Bryzgalov’s deal was contingent upon the completion of the Oilers’ trade with the Calgary Flames that cleared defenceman Ladislav Smid’s US$3.5-million cap hit off the books. It was not immediately clear what Bryzgalov’s contract was worth, but a source said recent negotiations involved talks about a pro-rated US$3-million salary.

Ryan Miller bolstering trade value, Olympic candidacy with strong start

If there has been a silver lining in this dreary season for the Buffalo Sabres, it has been Ryan Miller. The former Vezina Trophy winner is having a rather remarkable year between the pipes, which has kept the Sabres in a lot of games they probably wouldn’t have been otherwise. Perhaps more importantly, however, is Miller’s play has kept his trade value relatively high, which can only further aid the Sabres’ rebuild.

if you’re Edmonton, why wouldn’t you pick from the FLA carcass

NHL rumours: Flyers, Oilers talk Eberle trade

After the Philadelphia Flyers were shut out Thursday night, the fit has hit the shan. Not only did Philadelphia’s players hold a lengthy meeting after their 3-0 loss to the below-average New Jersey Devils, but captain Claude Giroux — goal-free for 21 games and counting — did not address the media afterward.

Ottawa Senators could trade defenceman

While Senators GM Bryan Murray and coach Paul MacLean brought in Mark Borowiecki from Binghamton to try to stabilize a struggling blueline, the club won’t be keeping eight defencemen around much longer.

If GM Bryan Murray wants to make a trade there are several in the market for defencemen. It is one area where the Senators could be dealing from a position of strength.

Which team do you think sucks the worst right now

[yop_poll id=”34″]

NHL trade rumours: Gaborik could move

Nov. 5. Hockey Central’s insiders report that changes will be coming in Edmonton, although they might not involve former No. 1 draft pick Nail Yakupov — who carries more value than New York Rangers defenceman Michael Del Zotto right now. Ales Hemsky, despite his hefty $5-million cap hit, is more likely to be dealt. Hemsky will be a UFA in July.

Oilers GM Craig MacTavish refutes trade rumours surrounding Nail Yakupov

Nail Yakupov is not going to be traded.

Nail Yakupov is not going to be sent to the press box tonight in Tampa Bay to be replaced by Linus Omark.

The Edmonton Oilers are going to take all the time in the world to develop the Russian sniper.

The 20-year-old is going to be cuddled and coddled with equal measures of tough love mixed in here and there.

Oilers and Panthers trying to make deals

The attention is on Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish, who would like to perform some surgery on his roster, but other GMs say Florida’s Dale Tallon is trying just as hard. Speaking to The Miami Herald’s George Richards, Tallon promised changes after Tuesday’s 4-3 OT loss to Edmonton. Apparently, there was a GM-wide email about Ryan Whitney’s availability last week, but it’s been widely reported many of his veterans are similarly out there.