The Edmonton Oilers signed their centerpiece in free agency today, signing veteran 2-way C Eric Belanger. It's a 3 year deal, $1.75M per and should be considered the best deal on a very busy day. Among the fast facts: A solid faceoff percentage (55.3% in 1300 sorties), some PP and PK time and a nickname of Belly.
He scored 13-27 in 82 games last year and would have to be considered a major upgrade at the center position. This deal very likely spells the end of the line for Andrew Cogliano at center. It might mean a move to wing or to another NHL city.
Belanger was 2nd among C's in 5x5/points per 60 in PHX (1.85); 3rd in CorsiRel; 46.6 in Zone Start and 49.4 in zone end; among Coyotes centers, he faced the second toughest opponents (Hanzal) and played with the third best options.
Likely the best bargain in free agency today.
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing day for the Oilers. Hoping for three outcomes:
ReplyDelete1. The "Mr. Dithers" title can die a deserving death.
2. Woodguy upgrades Tambellini to 4.0
3. Some of the negative-negative-negative narratives that eat up Oilers-related blog space will start to disappear.
Version 4.0. The Tambinator.
ReplyDeleteSmyth back in Edmonton. A real, honest-to-goodness, veteran C who can win a face-off. Regehr traded to the Eastern Conference. JFJ gone.
ReplyDeleteWHAT IS GOING AAAAWWWWNNNNNN?
posted this in the last thread, but if EDM knew they were going to make a push like this, wouldn't it have been smart to flip next years 1st at this years draft? Its value is a lot lower today than it was at draft day.
ReplyDeleteCogs + 2012 first, likely coulda got NJD first plus Rolston and another later pick (then drafted Larsson and buried Rolston)
still, its a good day.
I predict a strong year for Horcoff, and an extension for Hemmer.
So a vet goalie is the only item left on the shopping list?
ReplyDeleteHoly guacamole...v4.0!
Single handedly erases a huge hole in the roster, because he's top 5 in the league in faceoffs over the last few seasons. And he PK's.
ReplyDeleteThat 30 points isn't going to hurt, either. Especially since I would imagine 91 and 23 are his most likely linemates.
Do the signings today prove Tambo was intentionally tanking last year?
ReplyDeletedanny: Intending to get a haul and getting a haul are two different animals. What if Tambo flipped that pick and couldn't convince any of these guys to come?
ReplyDeleteHe made one overpayment on a one year deal to a reclamation project, so he wasn't exactly breaking the piggy bank.
It is a twitter rumor. Has to be. ;-)
ReplyDeleteOilers came close to trading Coglino and Gilbert to the Rangers for Dubinsky and a draft pick
ReplyDeleteFrom our new favorite pair of undies.
Itsy Bitsy...*clap clap*
ReplyDeleteI think the interesting thing is that the Oilers have, in the span of twenty four hours, gone from a young team with a lot of a holes to a team that's just young. Probably too young to win. But unlike last year, they're not going to lose because they don't have anyone to PK or play tough minutes or take face-offs or provide toughness, but because their guys in the top roles are probably still a little under-ripe. Little too soon to rely on Eberle to be a 70+ point player. Too soon to expect 80+ from Hall. Too soon to expect 50+ from Paajarvi and Omark. Too soon to expect quality two-way play and thirty to forty points from Petry.
ReplyDeleteBut is there really anything else that we're waiting on, other than the young guys to grow into their roles?
I think this team is non-terrible. They have gone from being a 25th-30th place team to a 20th-25th place team in a few hours. That may not sound like much, but it's actually possible to make the playoffs the following year after you've finished 20-25, less so 25-30. This is a team that I think will make the playoffs in 2012-2013. And actually being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, that, friends, is a marvelous thing.
The bar was low but the best day for Tambellini by far.
ReplyDeleteSince the draft he has added Smyth, Belanger, Barker, Sutton and Eager as well as Hordichuk for Fraser and Foster and a nothing pick. Longest contracts are easily moved, bought out or eaten because dollar amount is low. Biggest contracts done in a year.
A very very good day.
Hordichuk - Belanger - Eager
ReplyDeleteNow that's a checking line. Great job, Steve.
With Sutton too, I'm gonna have to play some NHL 11 and crush some Flames and Canucks.
Would still like to see a decent goalie option for OKC who could help out at the pro level.
magisterrex, I couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteThis is a team that will spend the first half of the season struggling to figure out their new identity. Then in January they hit the launch button and sail into the playoffs after resting their vets in the final week for the long grind ahead.
Erm, somehow I don't think the triple negative bottom line will die a deserving death for another season yet. Unrealistic expectations die hard.
Mark-Ryan: thats a good point, but i still think if the tank job has been called off, like has obviously happened, they had an opportunity to ensure the pick was top 4. Theres a bit of risk of course, but now I think we are looking in the 10th range. Larsson is a guy that was probably NHL ready too whereas next years pick might be 3 to 4 years away.
ReplyDeletepanties now saying vokoun has called the Oilers back after snubbing them earlier. LOL. but do we doubt her/him now?
ReplyDeleteUnmentionables mentions Vokoun camp calling the Oil now the buyers have dried up.... But Oil done in FA market till they can dump some contracts.
ReplyDeleteIf they sign Vokoun for a reasonable price, I'm naming my next kid Steve, boy or girl.
ReplyDeletedanny, I don't think they're out of top ten range yet, and they might as well hold on to a pick in a year that supposedly has a number of quality, high-end defenceman. I mean, there's still the perennial injury concerns, and let's not forget... sometimes good prospects stall in their production for a while. Hall might only post a 25-25-50 season, and Eberle might be in the same range. Considering these are their defacto top line players (depending on whether or not they keep Hemsky), that's probably not enough production to get them into the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteI think the over/under for where Edmonton ends up picking next year is probably 7.5. And I'm fine with that. If the defence group is as deep as it's been suggested, they can probably trade up to get the guy Stu wants anyway.
Cogs or Gags are as good as gone
ReplyDeletenice word verification: dierrea
Thank the gods that this team is going to start trying to win games again.
ReplyDeleteAlready looking forward to the season.
So if nothing else happens, do we have a shot at the playoffs? i still think there are too many if's, but we are much closer then the end of the year
ReplyDeleteWould still like to see a decent goalie option for OKC who could help out at the pro level.
ReplyDeleteSign Khudobin then call it a day.
Coglino Gagner Hemsky and Horcrap are all on the block Oilers are feeling offers for them as per Garfield
ReplyDeleteThe woman is a tsunami.
bikini saying horcs/gags/cogs/hemmer all on the block.
ReplyDeleteMight not be 4.0 yet...hrrrrm
According to Capgeek, including Belanger's 3 year deal, we still are $8.975M under the cap.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=1
horcrap? i expected better, bikini gal.
ReplyDelete8.975 is enough for a doughty offer ;)
ReplyDelete"Horcrap"
ReplyDeleteYup. This chick is definitely legit in my books.
Yesterday I was reading a thread elsewhere about media, where the consumer is really the *product* which is sold to the customer who are the advertising agencies, on behalf of incumbent goliaths who find it easier to compete on babalicious reputation rather than product quality (cf. Molsons, Labatts, and the big three).
ReplyDeleteSports of course is the business of selling hope. In the first iteration, not to the smarmy punters (fans, fanatics, and armchair fanatics). No, the first iteration is to sell hope to the *talent* so they are actually willing to sign here.
A new building, a management team that doesn't behave like the EIG strata council, stars in the making, a deep prospect pipeline, and an American government about to default on foreign debt payment to satisfy Republican anti-tax ideologues.
It's slowly shaping up into a fairly compelling VC spiel.
That cap room is without RFA's Cogliano, Peckham and Chorney, so if all three are re-signed, we'd be down to around $5-6M.
ReplyDeleteHoly shit. I can barely keep up today.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see what happens when Richards finally picks his team. The teams that don't land him are going to be scrambling after guys like Connolly and Arnott.
Lesson of the day - don't dismiss the girl in the bikini. ever.
ReplyDeleteThese new players will allow the Oil to keep the young ones learning there stuff on the farm. It also provides for some nice bait at the trade deadline.
ReplyDelete"@TheOilogosphere Please don`t follow me"
ReplyDeletehaha
Awesome.
LT
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to your summary of today's events later this evening.
If you're sober enough type one:)
I know I'm already "celebrating"
Loooooooong time coming,..
ReplyDeleteBut, seriously, I didnt really believe it would ever come!..
Oilers have trade offers rolling in hard..as per Garfield
ReplyDeleteAs per bikini...
But who are they interested in?
Also doesn't include RNH's 3.75, he may not be in EDM for the year but hard to believe he wouldn't get the 5-9 game look, if so they'd need his cap room avail.
ReplyDeleteThe depth on the Oilers increased 10 fold today. Real trasisitonal players. Lander will eventually boot Cogliano's ass outta there, same for Hartikainen to Hordichuk. The Nuge will likely do the same to Gagner/Hemsky. There are many more options and movable parts now.
ReplyDeleteso the OKA team will lok really solid this year. Maybe hey can go on a run and win it in the AHL. JVV, Lander now a lock to start the year in the minors. Haartikanen as well. And unless deals are made, no way RNH makes the big club unless he absolutely lights it up in the pre season.
ReplyDeleteLesson of the day - don't dismiss the girl in the bikini. ever.
ReplyDeleteThat's damn good advice, and can be slotted into whatever situation you find yourself and a bikini-clad girl.
Kobasew signed in Colorado while I was watching Bra and panties.
ReplyDeleteStaring might be the more appropriate verb, actually.
ReplyDeleteBack to staring:
ReplyDeleteOilers are done for the day, have had a good and productive day Now they will wait and see if any bites on the lines they have out
Hall Horcoff Eberle
ReplyDeleteSmyth Gagner Hemsky
Paajarvi Belanger Jones
Hordichuk Cogliano Eager
Omark Brule
Whitney Gilbert
Smid Barker
Sutton Petry
Peckham
Dubnyk Khabibulin
As it stands right now.....
This thread sould just be called:
ReplyDeleteVictory!
Haha just kidding.
Wonderful signing.
I thought Belanger was 30ish, not 33.
ReplyDeleteNot sure EDM will like that 3rd year when it comes, but the signing is probably worth that risk.
LT
ReplyDeleteIm putting off my trip to the lake until after Nation Radio tomorrow.
I know it will be worth it
Hey FPB what do you make of the Cole signing?
ReplyDeleteEdmonton Oilers
ReplyDeleteNHL_Oilers Edmonton Oilers
#Oilers sign D Corey Potter to a one-year, two-way contract.
43 seconds ago
Harry Potter?
ReplyDeletePotter is interesting in that his another RH shooter Dman.
ReplyDeleteOKC has
Teubert
Plante
Helmer
Fedun
Motin
That all shoot right. Unless one of those guys is making the big club.
Wasnt a fan of the oil signing jones and now Im wondering how best he fits in.. would prefer omark opposite PRV..
ReplyDeleteOilers sign D Corey Potter to a 2 way deal as per Oilers twitter.
ReplyDeleteHere is an article about Bikini Girl
ReplyDeleteand oh yeah, its worth noting, thats not a bikini shes wearing.
ReplyDeleteI think Jones will play because he can PK. The Oilers have a lot of PP options. I think Paajarvi gets his chance on the PK as well, to go along with being a PP point man option. MPS is going to be a jack of all trades type this year.
ReplyDeleteAnaheim Ducks
ReplyDeleteAnaheimDucks Anaheim Ducks
by TSNBobMcKenzie
#NHLDucks make it official, acquiring defenseman Kurtis Foster from Edmonton for defenseman Andy Sutton.
48 minutes ago
Sutton for Foster finally official per BobbyMac
ReplyDeleteAll we need now is 2 first round picks in the 2012 draft
ReplyDeletedanny said...posted this in the last thread, but if EDM knew they were going to make a push like this, wouldn't it have been smart to flip next years 1st at this years draft?
ReplyDeleteCogs + 2012 first, likely coulda got NJD first plus Rolston and another later pick (then drafted Larsson and buried Rolston)
Hindsight is 20/20. Were you willing to lay down $1000 5 mins before the draft began that Larsson would still be there at #4?
There is also no way to predict with any accuracy how July 1 is going to end up. Best laid plans often go awry. The only acquisition made today that could possibly have been a done deal prior to the draft was the Foster / Sutton trade.
liquumy predominant thought as I read itsy bitsy's tweets
Lay down for a nap and look what happens!!
ReplyDeleteWoodguy upgrades Tambellini to 4.0
I haven't done that, and I've always said he doesn't graduate to that until Hemsky is re-signed. He's a sublime talent that shouldn't be lost.
He was upgraded to v3.1 when he started adding Real NHL Players, and I think he's done a fine job today.
Very good job on Belanger, good $ and term too.
I don't even mind the Barker reclamation project as its only 1 year.
The Oilers are still a 2D and 1G from really being in the mix for a playoff spot, but as others have mentioned, there are a lot of bodies around and a 2-1 or even 3-1 doesn't seem unlikely.
Good day for the Oilers, good day to be a fan.
I think Sutton is too slow to play in the NHL, but there's only 1 year left and Foster was lost last year, so that's a wash, but Sutton is mean and that's a good thing.
I like Eager's meanness too. He will go crush your 1C if you hit his, that is my type of thug. Hordicuck is a mean type too, and for what the Oilers want, mean players who can skate a little are better, not Smac types.
I kinda feel like I shouldn't have given up my season tickets, but then I see Laforge's smarmy face telling me he doesn't have to show me team losses before taking my tax money and then threaten to move the Oilers from a top 15 revenue market in the NHL and feel ok about it again.
Jones signing looks really bad now.
Belanger: 2 way dominant physically center type, very happy
ReplyDeleteEager: Mean bastard WHO KNOWS HOW TO PLAY! Very good
Hordichuck: Mehhh
Barker: Low risk, high reward possibility
CM: At short term It's marvellous. Big rugged winger will add some mean to the Montreal top 9. And he can play hockey, so it's fine with me. Permits permutation around the top 6 (And possibly 3 scoring lines).
Maybe will cause trouble due to somewhat high salary (4,5). I think 3,5-4 would have been more appropriate.
McDonald off to the Pens
ReplyDeleteColin McDonald obviously learnt something at Providence College. Supposedly just signed a two way deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
ReplyDelete@TSNBobMcKenzie
ReplyDelete#Oilers Tambellini version upgrade not official yet - pending Hemsky extension, Brule physical, and #Woodguy being awake when it happens. #v3.1
Damn, Pens swooped Colin McDonald...two way deal for NHL minimum. Odd that we wouldn't resign him under those conditions. I understand if he wanted a one-way.
ReplyDelete"McDonald off to the Pens"
ReplyDeleteDoes that officially close the book on KP's experiment on NCAA coke machine types rolling through Oilerville?
Pittsburgh Penguins
ReplyDeletepghpenguins Pittsburgh Penguins
by TSNBobMcKenzie
#Pens sign F Colin McDonald to a 1-year, two-way contract. Full details here: bit.ly/j26p41
8 minutes ago
Damn, I should hjave started my post with:
ReplyDelete"2 way C? When did the Oilers start to need that?"
Haha!
iSite,
ReplyDeleteHaha!
Nice.
Sweet Jesus is right... I almost don't believe it. I went out for the afternoon right about the time Hordichuk was announced.
ReplyDeleteI can't honestly say I'll ever call Tambo dithers again. Great day for the Oilers!!! holy cow.
Oh I'll still call him Dithers.
ReplyDeleteIt was as if they locked up Tambo in the back room today and KLowe took over the ship.
DangerMan said...
ReplyDeleteHall Horcoff Eberle
Smyth Gagner Hemsky
Paajarvi Belanger Jones
Hordichuk Cogliano Eager
Omark Brule
I look at this lineup and Imo there's something that doesn't fit. I think Gagner could very well be gone and the Oilers roll out a lineup that fans most want to see.
Smyth Horcoff Hemsky
Hall RNH Eberle
MPS Belanger Omark/Jones
Eager Cogliano Omark/Jones
Hordichuk TBD
Renney invested a lot of time last year trying to turn Cogliano into a hockey player. Gagner+ generates a decent return.
Go get Khudobin and it'd be an even nicer day
Jones signing looks really bad now.
ReplyDelete1. 106th highest contract for wingers
2.his ccareer totals say 18-14 goals. Which ranks in the 100 range.
3.60% points goals Goal scorer for all our play makers.
Kind of a wash but good depth. Especially if Smyth is not here.
She's one of those types who aren't totally hot, but make up for it in other ways. Many other ways.
ReplyDeletecabbiesmacker: I agree with your thought on Gagner and that he is just keeping that seat warm until RNH is ready to be unveiled. But at the same time Gagner is the only RH center they have if they care about that kind of thing.
ReplyDeleteSeems like they are setting up Gagner to get their #2 Dman.
"Oilers came close to trading Coglino and Gilbert to the Rangers for Dubinsky and a draft pick.... Sather backed out"
ReplyDeleteMaybe this deal still goes through if the Rangers manage to snag Richards?
Dangerman - if Lowe were back in charge it would have been a ten year deal for someone like Upshall.
ReplyDeletesweet, hall can now stop practicing his draw...
ReplyDelete