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Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:04 pm EDT

Desperate Oilers run into the Bulin Wall; Gill sails to Montreal

By Greg Wyshynski

(NOTE: Don't forget about Puck Daddy's 2009 Free Agent Frenzy Chatter Box)

After losing Dwayne Roloson(notes) to the New York Islanders, the Edmonton Oilers needed a goalie and found the biggest name on the market: Nikolai Khabibulin(notes), signed for $15 million over four years for a $3.75 million annual cap hit (Via TSN).

That's quite a market correction for the Bulin Wall, as his cap hit last season with the Chicago Blackhawks was the gargantuan $6.75 million number that made him immovable.

Lowetide's immediate take:

I think we should prepare ourselves for a trade that sends dollars away later tonight. No immediate word about whether or not this kills the Heatley deal.

He's a veteran NHL goaltender, and this would be considered an overpay.

Khabibulin's birthday: Jan 13, 1973. Roloson's birthday: Oct 12, 1969. Hey, they're paying for youth!

Was this a desperation move or was Khabibulin Plan B after losing Roloson? Sure, you're locked into a guy who is going to turn 37 next season for the next four years. But Roloson's cap hit was $3.667; is this really overpayment?

Bottom line is that Edmonton has gone from the city where the TSN boys said no one wanted to play to the city that might end the night with Nikolai Khabibulin and Dany Heatley(notes). Money (and talent going back to Ottawa) talks.

Other signings of note since the last update ...

• New Jersey Devils part-time savior Scott Clemmensen(notes) heads to the Florida Panthers for three years and $3.6 million. Doesn't get a chance to be a starter, but Craig Anderson(notes) had 27 starts last year. Good spot for him. So who backs up Brodeur next season?

• GM Bob Gainey continues to endear himself to the Montreal Canadiens fans, signing Jaroslav Spacek(notes) to a 3-year, $11.5 million deal from the Buffalo Sabres (some said overpayment; Kevin Allen likes it) and the USS Hal Gill(notes) for two years, $4.5 million from the Pittsburgh Penguins (TSN). Gill as the Komisarek replacement?

• Erik Cole(notes) remains with the Carolina Hurricanes, which is expected because he's shown he doesn't want to play anywhere else. Two-year deal with a pay cut, worth $2.9 million against the cap.

• Winger Mike Rupp goes to the Pittsburgh Penguins from the New Jersey Devils for two years and $825,000. OK as a depth signing; but if that's supposed to be a Fedotenko replacement, adjust expectations accordingly, Pittsburgh.

• Finally, Ian Laperriere(notes) goes from the Colorado Avalanche to the Philadelphia Flyers for three years, and $3.5 million per season (TSN). Three years? Too much. But a character guy, without question; and 19 points with 163 penalty minutes basically qualified him as a Flyer anyway. Lappy's happy. He and Scott Hartnell(notes) might have something to discuss:

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35 Comments

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  1. Eben A
    1. Posted by Eben A Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:20 pm EDT

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    Isn't Laperriere $3.5 mil for 3 seasons?
    Otherwise Philly, already almost at the cap, would really need to work some magic.
  2. Fox
    2. Posted by Fox Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:23 pm EDT

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    The funniest part of all this is the poster who has spent the last 8 months on these threads blasting Bob Gainey for doing nothing (you know who you are). How are those halcyon days of doing nothing looking right now, eh? Pining much for the bygone nothings of yore? Be careful what you ask for....
  3. Fred
    3. Posted by Fred Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:28 pm EDT

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    From what I've heard it's actually $3.5 million over the 3 years, which amounts to about $1.16 million a year for Laperriere.
  4. Slacker
    4. Posted by Slacker Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:35 pm EDT

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    I guess Lappy is our Knuble replacement. Less scoring, obviously, but probably the same in "veteran leadership" terms. 3 years at 35 might be too long, but if you think that Knuble got 2 years and he's 37 and we're all crying about him leaving, then I guess we got younger. :P
  5. Alexei Kudashov
    5. Posted by Alexei Kudashov Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:40 pm EDT

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    Cammalleri to the Habs ...Ha .. No Jerome on that club . Just that shjtbum Gomez ..
    Carey Price is a stiff too ..
  6. Max G
    6. Posted by Max G Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:42 pm EDT

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    we in colorado will miss lappy. it's the only jersey i ever bought. it's too bad he had to go to the fliers though...
  7. Craig
    7. Posted by Craig Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:51 pm EDT

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    Mike Rupp to Pitt? Goddard and Rupp on the same line? When Pens play the Flyers, it could be a contest to see who could beat up Riley Cote the most in one game.
  8. habs1rule
    8. Posted by habs1rule Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:52 pm EDT

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    @2...You know I have dealt with alot of sick and annoying posters on this site, and either went toe to toe with them, or showed them the hand...But you are a sick sniveling idiot "Supremo Uno"...When did Habs fans ask Gainey to make "Assinine Moves"...Now go to Mommy, tell her to change your diaper, give you your meds, and put on those 'Special' Jammies, the Jughead ones with the feet..Because Loser, You need a Naptime!!
  9. habs1rule
    9. Posted by habs1rule Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:52 pm EDT

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    Please let the last day be 'April Fools"..
  10. David R
    10. Posted by David R Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:16 pm EDT

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    Khabibulin was a stud for the Hawks last year and Huet was pretty good as a backup. I just hope that Huet plays as well in a full time role as he did as a back-up. What terrifies me is Crawford between the pipes. He was brutal as Huet's backup when Khabibulin was hurt. Heaven help the Hawks, or maybe just Hossa.
  11. Erich E
    11. Posted by Erich E Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:20 pm EDT

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    Habs have to be considered one of the biggest winners on this day. That team might be a force to be reckoned with. Cammalleri, Gill, Spacek and Gomez are all good pickups.
  12. Fox
    12. Posted by Fox Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:24 pm EDT

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    I am truly humbled to be so exalted among your detractors, for they are legion.
    Habs fans didn't ask, you did; and at the time, you were bashing the team pretty hard and its fans harder, throwing your considerable weight behind the opposite conference bandwagon du jour (which, overburdened by either expectations, the refs, or your enormous rear end, came up just short). Well, Gainey is awake, and he is making moves, and entertaining me in the process; maybe I am not the one who would be better served with a nap? I don't do diaper play, but the rest is within my range.
  13. Magnet-Crotch
    13. Posted by Magnet-Crotch Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:28 pm EDT

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    I'm a fan of a team that has had Sakic, Roy, Forsberg, Foote, Blake, Hejduk, etc...and I own a Laperriere jersey. Sucks to see him go, but this probably makes sense for the Avs.
  14. rock
    14. Posted by rock Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:30 pm EDT

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    $8mill for Gomez, $6mill for Cammelleri, $4mill for Spacek, and $2.25 for Gill. Has Gainey ever heard of a salary cap? Are any of our own free agents going to be signed? Wouldn't it make sense to have waited on Gomez to see if you could land Cammelleri? I am sure Koivu would have settled for less than $8mill, and he is willing to be a 2nd-line centre, or even 3rd if necessary. Will Kovalev settle for $4mill and play with a linemate out-earning him?
    Well, it is going to be a long off-season waiting to see how things turn out. It appears we are in for interesting times...
  15. Matt R
    15. Posted by Matt R Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:31 pm EDT

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    Fox, pay no attention...I've done my best to tune her out, as we all should.
    As a Habs fan, I can't say I'm thrilled so far. This team needed to get tougher, bigger up the middle, and find someone who can put the puck in the net that is actually a right-handed shot. Like everyone else I was shocked at the acquisition of Gomez, who is basically a slightly-healthier version of Koivu for way more money.
    Losing Komisarek to the Leafs hurts, even if his toughness is a tad overrated. Gill and Spacek give us a bit more overall depth at the point, but someone has to step up alongside Markov on the power-play (if not Spacek, hopefully Weber breaks out; he's a right-handed shot and I already mentioned they need more of those...it's either that or O'Byrne, barring a jump from the OHL to Montreal from Subban).
    As for Cammalleri? I think I like that addition. Again, he's not big, but he'll give some more options up front, provided he stays healthy. They have roughly $6-8 million more to spend (already taking into account raises for the RFAs), so if Tanguay/Kovalev can be convinced to come back for cheap, things don't look terrible...although it still doesn't solve the two most pressing needs I mentioned at the start.
    Just keep tuning the troll out Habs fans...she rarely gets her facts right, and her idea of being a "fan" of a team is consistently pointing out its flaws rather than trying to see the good things.
  16. i4ni
    16. Posted by i4ni Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:38 pm EDT

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    Habs should just sign Gionta and have at least one proven scoring line with Gomez/Gionta duo. They kicked some rear in NJ together. Might as well reunite that chemistry and add Camalleri to the left side of that line.
  17. Patrick
    17. Posted by Patrick Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:02 pm EDT

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    Reunite Gomez & Gionta? Hmm. Gainiey's tried that before when he was in Dallas with Pierre Turgeon & Scott Young. As a Stars fan, I don't want to think about those days. (Or last season for that matter, but that can't possibly be blamed on Gainey....)
  18. zman1201
    18. Posted by zman1201 Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:21 pm EDT

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    Looks like Chi-Town excepts to score alot of goals and expects Cristobal Huet to actually stop a beach ball next season. As for Hal Gill leaving the pnes and Scuderi possibly leaving that kinda sucks, but we have alot of defensive talent and with Bill Guerin taking another tour with the pens well be fine. Just gotta get ruslan back into high gear!
  19. goaltender41
    19. Posted by goaltender41 Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:53 pm EDT

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    GOALIE STUFF:
    Anyone ever get an explanation on Khabibulin's "injury" in the Playoffs? Just wondering what Edmonton is paying for, for four years. Who's gonna tend goal in Chicago now? Huet didn't really seem ready to carry the weight, and Crawford looked shaky (though the Playoffs isn't the best test unless your last name is Dryden...).
    Did I read right, that Anderson ended up in Colorado? Does that make Clemmensen the starter in FLA? Whither Vokun?
    Who's the starter in St. Louis now - Conklin or Mason?
  20. Brian C
    20. Posted by Brian C Wed Jul 01, 2009 7:56 pm EDT

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    I like signing Gill, absent the other deals. Great defensive defenseman that will be the shut down D they've needed. He's a cup champ, and that isn't going to come cheap, and 2.25 mill seems about right for Gill. Still, he's no Komisarek, he's no Streit or Souray. He's not the final answer, just one piece. Spacek is a good pick up, but his cap hit is too high for his age and his ability.
    I really like the Cammelleri deal IF they can resign Tanguay, Lang and/or Kovalev. I think these moves are an attempt to convince those guys to return. Kovalev at the right price.
  21. Fox
    21. Posted by Fox Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    @zman: assuming that the Pens preference is to keep Scuderi, Gill was gone the minute the ink dried on Goligoski's contract. Well, unless you could get Montreal to trade for Eaton, I suppose (I wouldn't have thought so Monday, but times change).
    @Matt: Hmm, good in the room, plays tougher than Spacek, more offense than Gill, and shoots right-handed? Isn't that Craig Rivet?
  22. breakaway
    22. Posted by breakaway Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:28 pm EDT

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    So in the past week the Flyers have signed two of my least favorite players in the entire NHL. Great. Good thing they're my second team or I'd be foaming at the mouth right now.
  23. habs1rule
    23. Posted by habs1rule Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:40 pm EDT

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    @16,,,Rock,,If you told me yesterday the Habs spend $20 mill dollars on four players, and two were fowards and two were defenseman...I may have said Vinny, Havlat, Zubov and lets say Gill for toughness...When I see Gomez, Cammalleri, Spacek and Gill...O really feel violated.
  24. i4ni
    24. Posted by i4ni Wed Jul 01, 2009 8:45 pm EDT

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    Well, looks like my prediction came true. Gionta to Montreal for $5 million per. Still a better deal than the Rangers just made with Gaborik, ouch.

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