The defenceman who signed a five-year, $27 million contract in the offseason will not suit up with team for the rest of year, following arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder late last week.
Souray was placed on the injured reserve list in January after aggravating his shoulder in a game against the Florida Panthers. He originally suffered a second-degree sprain on the same shoulder in an Oilers' game at Vancouver in October.
Souray certainly wasn't justifying his monster price tag with a measly three goals and -7 in 26 games. At an average $5.4mil per season, Souray has racked up a nice $207,692 per game played this season. Of course, the Oilers knew they were getting a player with long string of injuries, right? Right?
After an impressive lockout season over in Sweden, Shawn Horcoff came back to the NHL in 2006 and put up an impressive 73 points in 79 regular season games and 19 points in 24 playoff games.
Last season, he slipped back to his levels of past production, putting up only 51 points in 80 games.
Coming into this season, fantasy players and fans alike wondered just what level of production they could expect from the versatile forward. Was he a one-year fluke, or are there better things to come?
"I view myself as a player who can give more than third-line centre minutes but I understand the situation," said Horcoff. "At this point I'm just getting myself ready to start the season."
When Penner became an Oiler after signing a free-agent offer sheet during the summer, it was assumed that Horcoff would centre that top line, just as he did in recent seasons.
"What we're talking about is five-on-five ice for [Horcoff]," Oilers coach Craig MacTavish said. "Maybe his role will be more important, more impactful for us, if he is playing on a second or third line."
The article goes on to say that Horcoff will likely see first unit Power Play time, which could help Horcoff earn a regular spot with the team's best players.
At 29 years of age, Horcoff has definitely reached his peak. Any improvement to his point totals will likely be a result of his environment, rather than his development.
SEASON GP G A PTS 03-04 80 15 25 40 05-06 79 22 51 73 06-07 80 16 35 51
If you face the decision whether to buy or trade Horcoff in your fantasy league, expect about the same production (50 points) as last season. Even with his 'demotion' to playing with the checkers, the lack of talent on the Oilers will ensure Horcoff will see his fair share of offensive ice time, but will also hold him back from achieving the heights of his 2006 season.
Desperate for an injection of offense that only a free agency syringe could provide, Lowe paid heavily for a young forward who has just 101 games of experience and one productive season under his hockey pants. Not only are the Oilers coughing up $4.3mil per season for an rather unproven commodity, they also have to give up three draft picks (a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rounder).
I understand that Kevin Lowe wants some offense, but for that much money, and those kind of draft picks, you better be getting a star. The chances are, Penner will be a solid winger, but nowhere near the kind of assets that Lowe just pissed away. The Oilers would have been better off saving these assets for another day, rather than over-spending in a desperate attempt to get SOMETHING!
"But Jes, they need the offense just to make the playoffs!"
Right, and when they try and make improvements in the future just to make the playoffs (because they are a long way away, folks), or make other moves to strengthen their team, they'll realize that they are hamstrung because they paid so much for a 2nd-line winger.
Although it's one year too late -- and what former NHL player is going to give up a fishing trip for this? -- the Florida Panthers will celebrate their Cinderella run to the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals this weekend. Panthers alumni like John Vanbiesbrouck, Ray Sheppard and Bill Lindsay will join the majority of the players (sans schedule-conflicted Rob Niedermayer and Robert Svehla) who led Florida to the Finals in only the third year of the franchise, before being swept away by the Colorado Avalanche. There's a golf tournament, player appearances and an exhibition game at BankAtlantic Center on Saturday that will give hockey fans something they've long dreamed about: another chance to witness the majestic skating of Terry Carkner on NHL ice.
In 1995-96, they finished third in their division (41-31-10, 92 points) and fourth in the Eastern Conference in the regular season, then beat in the Bruins 4 games to 1 in a seven-game series, the Flyers 4-2 and the Penguins 4-3 before losing to the Avalanche in four games in the finals.
Right winger Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the dressing room with his stick minutes before the home opener that season, then scored two goals that night, prompting Vanbiesbrouck to declare Mellanby's feat a "Rat Trick." Throwing plastic rats on the ice after goals soon became a phenomenon.
"We accomplished some pretty lofty things with a group of guys who were considered mediocre players at the time," Lindsay said.
"Mediocre players at the time?" Has history been that kind to Johan Garpenlov and Jody Hull? Florida Panthers fans have every right to celebrate this unexpected season of meteoric success, lest they fall deeper into the depressing reality that their franchise is now known more for losing Roberto Luongo and failing to make the playoffs in the Southeast Division than plastic rodents. But for the rest of us, this weekend begs the question:
Are the Florida Panthers the most mediocre Stanley Cup finalist of the last 25 years?
Lowe has found it near impossible to attract high-end free agents to Edmonton, despite a willingness to overspend in some cases, and he's already burned up valuable assets such as Jason Smith and Joffery Lupul going the trade route to improve the team.
So this becomes a classic case of desperate times calling for desperate measures.
The Sabres matched the offer, meaning the Oilers still have a need to fill, and there are other players available. There's Zach Parise in New Jersey, Mike Cammalleri in Los Angeles, Dustin Penner in Anaheim and Lee Stempniak in St. Louis.
Given how poorly the Oilers treated heart-and-soul Ryan Smyth, and the kind of bush league tactics they employ, is it any wonder why the Oilers can't attract free agents? Even the ones they managed to make a nice offer to, such as Michael Nylander, bolt elsewhere at the first chance.
Now, making RFA offers is a very expensive proposition, for both clubs. In order to make a player sign an offer sheet, the dollar figure has to be quite high. This, in turn, increases the level of compensation one would have to pay if they got the player.
OFFER $660,000 or below Over $660,000 to $1 million Over $1 million to $2.0 million Over $2.0 million to $3.0 million Over $3.0 million to $4.0 million Over $4.0 million to $5.0 million
Over $5 million
COMPENSATION None Third-round choice Second-round choice First-round and third-round choice First-round, second-round and third-round choice Two first-round choices, one second- and one third-round choice Four first-round choices
As you can see, anything over $2mil, which is takes to get most any decent player, costs at least a first round draft pick.
"I liked my time there in Edmonton. It's a good hockey town," said Tarnstrom, when reached in Sweden on Sunday. "And they showed their interest pretty early, so I was interested in going back."
Once upon a time, Dick Tarnstrom was one of the deadliest Power Play QB's in the league, even leading his team (The 03-04 Penguins) in total scoring. Then, after the lockout, Tarnstrom seemed to lose all of his offensive ability, and was a shell of his former self.
SEASON TEAM GP G A PTS +/- PPP 02-03 PIT 61 7 34 41 -11 25 03-04 PIT 80 16 36 52 -37 38 05-06 PIT 33 5 5 10 -10 7 05-06 EDM 22 1 3 4 -5 0
Tarnstrom is an interesting would-be steal for fantasy players, knowing that he has put up some monster PP numbers in the past, and will get all the offensive time-on-ice he desires with the Oilers. Those who do their research will be licking their chops to draft this ace-in-the-hole in the late rounds, now that his family problems are well sorted out.
Just beware that ...
1. Tarnstrom is a career -75 in 258 NHL games, and that will hurt you if your league uses that stat. The Oilers will give up a lot of goals against, and Tarnstrom is weak defensively.
2. The Oilers PP is going to lack a lot of firepower with Smyth, Sykora, and Lupul (not that he did much) all gone.
"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' statement read Tuesday.
"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.
Wow! I can't remember the last time something like THIS happened in the NHL. Agents don't usually bait-and-switch quite that blatently.
Without knowing the contents of the document the Oilers received, we can't quite tell if Nylander's agent agreed to an actual contract, or agreed that the money was satisfactory. I'm sure we'll find out more in the near future as this soap opera gets juicier.
I'm also sure that the NHL will 'fix' the ordeal by forcing Nylander's contract with the Capitals to stand, by hook and by crook. There is no way that Bettman will allow Nylander to go to the Oilers, nor would the Oilers want an unhappy camper on their hands.
How much is the NHL gonna pay to get out of this one?
So upset at whatever transpired when the Washington Capitals announced they'd signed the free agent to a four year deal yesterday afternoon, Edmonton Oilers GM Kevin Lowe was said to be so livid he refused to talk about it, even to a Sun Media reporter parked outside the team officies for two hours.
Lowe, who was left at the altar on the floor headed to the trade registration desk after believing he had a deal done at the NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, remains unsuccessful after two days of the free agent frenzy.
Did the Oilers have a deal in the works for Nylander, only to have the Caps sweep the centerman from right under their noses with a last-minute deal? Was this simply the media blowing their wad too early? Whatever the case may be, the Oilers have caught absolutely no fish from the free agent pond.
When the New York Islanders gave up prospects Ryan O'Marra and Robert Nilsson (plus a first-round pick in 2007) to get Ryan Smyth from the Edmonton Oilers, they pretty much wanted him for his ability to score in the playoffs ... and even just to get them there! It was a hefty price to pay, but the Islanders will willing to make such an expensive short-term investment.
Since Smyth provided everything pretty much everything asked of him, the Isles surely don't want him just to leave, now that they gave up so much to get him.
Reading between the lines, I wouldn't expect Smyth to give the Isles any special discount.
[Smyth] told the New York Daily News that he's "not leaning one way or the other" about what he described as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" as an unrestricted free agent.
While Oilers expect Smyth to be so attached to Edmonton that he'll come crawling back, I don't expect Smyth (who was negotiating hard with the Oilers) to be any different than, say, Bobby Holik. He owes the Isles no loyalty, doesn't seem to be especially enamoured with the place (or Yashin), and was probably hurt by the trade from Edmonton that he just may want a fresh start.
If your NHL club wants Ryan Smyth, they better open up their wallets and get ready to pay big bucks. Heart and soul isn't cheap, you know.
As if Oilers fans weren't depressed enough about how badly the Dustin Penner signing has turned out, or the numerous injuries to star players, or the fact that the team has little chance at making the playoffs, now we have word that Sheldon Souray (the guy who is trying to kiss Doug Weight in the picture there) will miss the rest of the regular season with yet another big injury. 
After an impressive lockout season over in Sweden, Shawn Horcoff came back to the NHL in 2006 and put up an impressive 73 points in 79 regular season games and 19 points in 24 playoff games.
Despite all of 
After Oilers GM Kevin Lowe was 
The Edmonton Oilers, desperate for some offence from their defense, 
This Michael Nylander 
When the Oilers 
When the New York Islanders gave up prospects Ryan O'Marra and Robert Nilsson (plus a first-round pick in 2007) to get Ryan Smyth from the Edmonton Oilers, they pretty much wanted him for his ability to score in the playoffs ... and even just to get them there! It was a hefty price to pay, but the Islanders will willing to make such an expensive short-term investment. 
