MARKKANEN
RETURNS TO FINLAND
July
30, 2007
Former
Oilers' goaltender Jussi
Markkanen has signed an undisclosed one-year
contract with Jokerit of the Finnish Elite League. Markkanen had
a record of 5-9-1 with a 3.15 GAA and .886 save percentage in 22 games
with the Oilers last season. |
 |
|
Markkanen
|
|
KATZ
ISSUES PRESS RELEASE DISCUSSING HIS BID TO BUY OILERS
July
24, 2007
Rexall
owner Daryl Katz has issued a press release discussing his bid to buy the
Edmonton Oilers from the Edmonton Investor's Groip. Katz has made
three bids to buy the team outright in recent months, the most recent of
which is believed to be for $170 million. The Board of Directors
of the Edmonton Investors Group will reportedly vote on this bid on Aug.
7.
Katz's
press release reads:
| There
has been a lot of discussion in recent weeks about my interest in acquiring
the Edmonton Oilers. While it's not appropriate for me to discuss the details
of my offer publicly, I do want to share my reasons for wanting to buy
the team and try to address at least some of the questions Oilers' fans
and Edmontonians are asking.
The
first point I want to make is that I have a lot of respect for Cal Nichols
and the Edmonton Investor Group. They did a great thing when they came
together to buy the team and keep it in Edmonton. They have maintained
a real community feeling ever since, and just over one year ago they came
agonizingly close to bringing the Cup back to Edmonton. As an Edmontonian
and as a fan, I'm grateful for everything they've done. As an owner, should
that come to pass, I intend to ensure their contribution is recognized
and remembered.
At
the same time, I know there are a number of people within the ownership
group who would like to exit their investment and pass the torch to a new
generation of leadership. I want to provide that leadership while
preserving
the great Oiler traditions and maintaining a strong sense of community.
I was
born in Edmonton, I live in Edmonton and I grew up here with the Oilers
during the glory days. I want to own the Oilers because they are Edmonton's
hockey team, because I want to build a winning team, and because I think
there is an opportunity, through the Oilers, to do great things for the
City.
From
a business perspective, the Katz Group and especially our Rexall brand
have benefited from our association with the Oilers and Rexall Place, and
I think there's a real opportunity to build on that success.
To
be clear, I am committed to building a winning team here in Edmonton, and
I would play to the salary cap every year to help make sure that happens.
I am also prepared to make a significant additional investment of time
and money towards the development of a new downtown arena facility for
the team and the City if that's what the people of Edmonton want.
Likewise,
I have initiated preliminary discussions with representatives of the University
of Alberta about building a world-class hockey training facility on campus
for the benefit of the Edmonton Oilers, the U of A and hockey in Western
Canada.
Finally,
I appreciate the many expressions of support I have received from within
the ownership group, across the city and around the NHL. If I'm successful
in acquiring the team I will be more than happy to make myself available
to the media to answer your questions directly. There is no great mystery
in any of this, other than the sound business practice of trying not to
negotiate a transaction in public. To that end I have offered to meet with
all of the owners privately to further explain my offer and answer their
questions. I've had several productive discussions already and look forward
to others in the weeks ahead. |
NEDVED
SIGNS WITH CZECH TEAM
July
19, 2007
Former
Oiler centre Petr
Nedved has signed an undisclosed one year contract with HC Sparta Prague
of the Czech League. Nedved, who was an unrestricted free agent,
scored just 1-4-5 in 19 games with the Oilers after being claimed off waivers
from the Philadelphia Flyers last January.
STARS
SIGN WINCHESTER AND PETERSEN
July
6, 2007
Former
Oiler left winger Brad
Winchester and centre Toby
Petersen sign one-year contracts with the Dallas Stars. Both
players were unrestricted free agents. Winchester scored 4-5-9 with 86
PIM in 59 games last year, while Petersen scored 6-9-15 with 4 PIM.
HEJDA
JOINS BLUE JACKETS
July
5, 2007
Former Oiler defenceman
Jan
Hejda has signed an undisclosed two-year contract with the Columbus
Blue Jackets. Hejda, who was an unrestricted free agent, scored 1-8-9
with 20 PIM in 38 games with the Oilers.
OILERS
ADDRESS NYLANDER DEBACLE
July
3, 2007
The
Oilers have issued the following statement about their failed attempt to
sign unrestricted free agent centre Michael
Nylander:
.
| 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. |
 |
|
Smyth
|
|
NO
HAPPY HOMECOMING - SMYTH JOINS AVALANCHE
June
2, 2007
Oilers
fans hoping for a return of Ryan
Smyth were disappointed to hear that he has signed a five-year, $31.25
million contract with the division rival Colorado Avalanche. Smyth
was leading the Oilers in scoring with 31-22-53 in 53 games when he was
traded to the New York Islanders at the deadline when a deal on a contract
extension could not be reached. Smyth scored 265-284-549 in 770 career
games over 11 seasons with Edmonton. |
SYKORA
SIGNS WITH PENGUINS
July
2, 2007
Former Oiler right winger
Petr
Sykora has signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the Pittsburgh
Penguins. Sykora, who was an unrestricted free agent, was the Oilers'
leading scorer last season with 22-32-53 in 82 games. |
 |
|
Sykora
|
|
HOWSON
NEW GM OF BLUE JACKETS
June
14, 2007
Oilers Assistant General
Manager Scott
Howson has been named as the new General Manager of the Columbus Blue
Jackets. Howson had been with the Oilers organization since 1994-1995
when he started out as the GM of the American Hockey League’s Cape Breton
Oilers. He became Assistant GM with the Oilers in 2000. The Oilers
have made no mention of when a replacement for Howson might be named.
TRUITT
NAMED ASSISTANT COACH IN SPRINGFIELD
June
13, 2007
Oilers announce that Jeff
Truitt has been named as assistant coach with their AHL affiliate,
the Springfield Falcons. Truitt has spent the last three years as
head coach of the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, where he had a record of
113-76-18-9.
OILERS
RENEW ECHL AFFILIATION AGREEMENT
May
31, 2007
OILERS
TO HOLD DEVELOPMENT CAMP
May
30, 2007
The Oilers will hold a Development
Camp for some of the team’s top prospects from June 4 to 9. The 13
players attending
the camp are Sebastien
Bisaillon (D), Taylor
Chorney (D), Andrew
Cogliano (C), Robby
Dee (C), Glenn
Fisher (G),
Stephane
Goulet (LW), Colin
McDonald (RW), Ryan
O’Marra (C), Theo
Peckham (D), Jeff
Petry (D), Bryan
Pitton (G),
Liam
Reddox (LW) and Cody
Wild (D).
|
OILERS
DEVELOPMENT CAMP SCHEDULE
|
| Monday,
June 4, 2007 |
| 9:00 a.m.to 11:00 a.m. |
On-Ice Testing (Millennium
Place; Sherwood Park) |
| 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
Off-Ice Workout (Foote Field;
University of Alberta) |
| Tuesday,
June 5, 2007 |
| 9:00 a.m.to 11:00 a.m. |
Off-Ice Workout (Foote Field;
University of Alberta) |
| 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
Off-Ice Workout (Rexall
Place) |
| Wednesday,
June 6, 2007 |
| 9:00 a.m.to 11:00 a.m. |
On-Ice Workout (Millennium
Place; Sherwood Park) |
| Thursday,
June 7, 2007 |
| 9:00 a.m.to 11:00 a.m. |
On-Ice Workout (Millennium
Place; Sherwood Park) |
| 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
Off-Ice Workout (Foote Field;
University of Alberta) |
| Friday,
June 8, 2007 |
| 9:00 a.m.to 11:00 a.m. |
On-Ice Workout (Millennium
Place; Sherwood Park) |
| 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
Off-Ice Workout (Rexall
Place) |
| Saturday,
June 9, 2007 |
| 9:00 a.m.to 11:00 a.m. |
Off-Ice Workout (Rexall
Place) |
DUCKS
SUCCESS NETS OILERS A FIRST ROUND PICK
May
22, 2007
With
the Anaheim Ducks qualifying for a berth in the Stanley Cup Final this
season, the Oilers will now receive the Ducks' first round pick in the
2008 NHL Entry Draft. The conditional pick, which was acquired in
the Chris Pronger deal, would see the Oilers receive Anaheim's pick had
the Ducks made it to the finals during the three years remaining on Pronger's
deal. The Oilers also acquired Anaheim's first round pick (29th or
30th overall) in this year's draft, as well as their second round pick
in the 2008 draft in the trade.
OILERS
ROOKIE CAMP TO BE HELD IN YELLOWKNIFE
May
18, 2007
The
Oilers have announced that their annual rookie camp will be held in Yellowknife,
NWT from Sept. 6 to 9.
GEOFF
WARD NAMED COACH OF SPRINGFIELD FALCONS
May
14, 2007
Geoff
Ward has been named as head coach of the Springfield Falcons, the Oilers'
new American Hockey League affiliate. Ward was the head coach for
the last three seasons that the Oilers had an AHL franchise, starting in
2002-2003 with Hamilton and then moving on to Toronto for the 2003-2004
season and finally Edmonton for the 2004-2005 campaign. Ward has
an AHL head coaching record of 83-80-24-8 in 195 games.
OILERS
TO PICK SIXTH OVERALL IN NHL ENTRY DRAFT
Apr.
10, 2007
The
Chicago Blackhawks won the NHL draft lottery, moving up from selecting
fifth overall to first overall in the NHL Entry Draft in Columbus on June
23. The Oilers draft position remains unchanged, and they will draft
sixth overall.
.
|
Draft Order
|
|
Team
|
GP
|
Record
|
Points
|
Draft
Position
|
| Chicago |
82
|
31-42-9
|
71
|
1st overall
|
| Philadelphia |
82
|
22-48-12
|
56
|
2nd overall
|
| Phoenix |
82
|
31-46-5
|
67
|
3rd overall
|
| Los Angeles |
82
|
27-41-14
|
68
|
4th overall
|
| Washington |
82
|
28-40-14
|
70
|
5th overall
|
| Edmonton |
82
|
32-43-7
|
71
|
6th overall
|
| Columbus |
82
|
33-42-7
|
73
|
7th overall
|
Edmonton
is also currently drafting
15th
(NYI) and 30th
(ANA) overall *
|
|
*
Anaheim pick dropped to 30th overall after Ducks won the Stanley Cup
|
. |
.
|
FOUR
MORE OILERS NAMED TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS
Apr.
3, 2007
Four
more Oilers have been added to the rosters of teams that will be competing
in the 2007 IIHF World Men’s Hockey Championship. Centre Toby
Petersen and defenceman Matt
Greene have been added to the Team USA
roster, left winger Patrick
Thoresen will play for Norway and defenceman
Ladislav
Smid will suit up for the Czech Republic.
ROLOSON
NAMED TO TEAM CANADA
Apr.
3, 2007
Oilers
goaltender Dwayne
Roloson has been named to the roster of Team
Canada, which will compete at the 2007 IIHF World Men’s Hockey Championship
in Moscow from April 27 to May 13. Roloson joins Eric Brewer,
Rick Nash, Shane Doan and Mike Cammalleri as the first five players to
be named to the team by GM Steve Yzerman. |
 |
|
Roloson
|
|
|
