$925,000 question answered - Schultz to the Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers have won the Justin Schultz sweep stakes and have signed him to a two year entry level deal.The former Wisconsin All-WCHA defender was one of the most sought after free-agents this year.

Chris Johnston, Edmonton Journal --- Justin Schultz was able to pass the baton off to Zach Parise.

After being courted by NHL teams at the Newport Sports offices in suburban Toronto for much of the week, Schultz agreed to terms with the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday afternoon. The first big free-agent decision of the summer came several hours before the floodgates were set to officially open at noon ET Sunday and left Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini in a celebratory mood.

"What a way to start the free-agent period," Tambellini told reporters in Edmonton.

It gave Schultz plenty of time to clear out of Don Meehan's high-powered agency before Parise's expected arrival on Sunday. The former University of Wisconsin defenceman took advantage of a loophole in the collective bargaining agreement to become a free agent and garnered plenty of interest.

Matt Kassian vs. George Parros

I think this is the reason that the Wild have sent Brad Staubitz down to Houston and probably the reason we will never see Staubitz in a Wild uniform again. The emergence of Matt Kassian has made Staubitz expendable. Maybe the Wild can trade him to a team that needs toughness.

Related articles

• Dion Phaneuf plants Zack Kassian into the boards. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Wild continue dominance over Oilers (canada.com)

Shanny blows up "Car Bomb"

Let's see, Daniel Carcillo has been suspended nine times by the NHL, this is the third time that Carcillo has been suspended this season. Do you see a pattern here? Either the league is picking on Carcillo or he hasn't learned his lesson.

NEW YORK – Chicago Blackhawks forward Daniel Carcillo has been suspended for seven games and will forfeit $66,158.54 in salary for boarding Edmonton Oilers defenseman Tom Gilbert during NHL Game #571 in Chicago on Monday, Jan. 2, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

Carcillo, who was suspended on Nov. 28, 2011, is classified as a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Accordingly, he forfeits his salary based on the number of games in the season (82), rather than the number of days (185). The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 7:23 of the second period. A major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct were assessed on the play.

Carcillo will miss games Jan. 5 at Philadelphia, Jan. 6 vs. Colorado, Jan. 8 vs. Detroit, Jan. 10 vs. Columbus, Jan. 12 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 14 at Detroit and Jan. 15 vs. San Jose. He will be eligible to return Jan. 18 vs. Buffalo.

Carcillo will forfeit in salary what some people don't make in one year. It's not quite clear whether Carcillo will have to be healthy before he can begin to serve is seven game suspension, because Carcillo was severely hurt on the play and was placed on the injured reserve list. In this situation, I must commend Brendan Shanahan for throwing the book at Carcillo.  

Related articles

• Bourque, Carcillo suspended for 'reckless' hits (thestar.com)
• Dan "car bomb" Carcillo suspended indefinitely (mvn.com)
• You can't say dumb with out Carcillo (mvn.com)
• Carcillo to have hearing for dangerous hit on Oilers' Gilbert (tsn.ca)
• Carcillo to be suspended for 6th time (cbc.ca)

Dan "car bomb" Carcillo suspended indefinitely

This is going to be the third suspension of the season for Dan Carcillo, you would think this guy would have learned by now. How long of a suspension would change his on ice behavior? I say throw the book at this buffoon, 5-10 games, if Carcillo is injured he should have to serve his suspension after he comes back from his knee injury.

Jesse Rogers ESPN CHICAGO -- News that Blackhawks forward Dan Carcillo is suspended indefinitely for his boarding of Edmonton defenseman Tom Gilbert can't be a shock to anyone who follows the Hawks or Carcillo. He will be able to state his case to the league at some point and then he'll finish serving his third suspension of the season. And this all happens after he recovers from his injuries.

That's one costly hit.

After talking with hockey people around the league on Tuesday, the consensus is Carcillo will get 4-6 games for the blow. No more.

Related articles

• You can't say dumb with out Carcillo (mvn.com)
• Dan Carcillo gets ejected for hit on Tom Gilbert (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• Carcillo to be suspended for 6th time (cbc.ca)
• Watch Dan Carcillo earn himself a probable date with Mr. Shanahan with this hit on Oilers Tom Gilbert (hubballsbubble.wordpress.com)

Matt Kassian works Darcy Hordichuk X2

The Minnesota Wild have been pushed around a lot as of late so the Minnesota Wild called up Matt Kassian from the Houston Areos to send a message. The Wild Forward Matt Kassian absolutely destroyed Edmonton Oilers forward Darcy Hordichuck twice.

At least three Wild players -- including Marek Zidlicky, Pierre-Marc Bouchard and most recently Jared Spurgeon -- have been run at in recent games. Yeo has been talking about players standing up for teammates. Just a week ago, in a very physical loss in Edmonton, the Wild got pushed around a little. For this rematch -- the sixth and final game between the two teams -- Kassian got the call. [Star Tribune]

Weise hit on Plante - no suspension.

This is the hit that Vancouver forward Dale Weise put on Edmonton defenseman Alex Plante. The NHL has ruled that this was a shoulder to shoulder hit, and I concur. The head coach of the Edmonton Oilers Tom Renney wasn't very pleased with the hit and said that a suspension might be in order.

Asked about the hit by Vancouver forward Dale Weise on Edmonton d-man Alex Plante in Monday night’s game, Edmonton Oilers head coach Tom Renney suggested a suspension might be in order.

“Pretty tough hit. Maybe a little sabbatical,” Renney said.

“He came pretty hard. He had a pretty full head of steam up. And he was after one thing, and that was to hurt and hit the kid.”

Martin Havlat injured on line change

Former Wild and current San Jose Shark forward Martin Havlat has been known as being a soft player that get injured a lot, but this is just a freak accident. Havlat was traded to San Jose in the trade that brought Dany Heatley to the Wild. We hope that Havlat isn't hurt too bad.

Another hot dog shootout goal by Linus Omark

I guess you could classify this video as a must watch, Edmonton Oiler prospect Linus Omark is at it again, this is the latest video that has been circulating around the Internet showing off Linus Omark's shootout skills... I have already seen some of the comments; some fans are impressed with the latest display, others fans are not impressed.

While it's obvious that Linus Omark has a lot of offensive talent and great hand eye coordination, I could see how some might think this is hot dogging and showing up an opponent. Personally I think it's creative and the NHL needs more flashy stars, I would rather see this than a bunch of diving frauds. Posted below is a video compilation of Linus Omark highlights from the 2009-2010 season.

#believeinboston - The Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup

I honestly don't know what to say, I am experiencing all kinds of emotions, I am sure many Boston Bruins fans are especially the ones that are my age... I have followed the Boston Bruins since the 1988 season when I was stationed at Fort Devens, Massachusetts as a soldier in the U.S. Army, a woman I was dating at the time introduced me to the Boston Bruins, I have followed them religiously since. As a Boston Bruins fan I have witnessed the lean years and I have seen some very bad Boston Bruins teams come and go. I can remember the cup runs in the late 1980's and early 1990's that ended in bitter defeat at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers.

Fast forward to this years Stanley Cup playoffs, the so called "hockey pundits" the "flat bellied experts" never gave the Boston Bruins a chance, they had all but given the Stanley Cup to the Vancouver Canucks before they had even played a game in the Stanley Cup Finals. Yeah! How did that work for you? The Boston Bruins not only won the cup but they out scored the Canucks 23-8, breaking it down further, Tim Thomas stopped 201 of 209.  In the four games that the Bruins won against the Canucks the Boston Bruins made Roberto Luongo look human.

I believe that the turning point in this series was when Aaron Rome knocked Nathan Horton out with this bush league check. The Canucks woke the sleeping bear and ended up losing four out of the last five games.

Related articles

• Boston Bruins Win Stanley Cup (npr.org)
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• The Boston Bruins are the 2011 Stanley Cup Winners! (slog.thestranger.com)
• Boston Bruins Stanley Cup 2011 champions: Bruins win the Stanley Cup: Video (globaltvbc.com)
• Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins LIVE UPDATES: Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 (huffingtonpost.com)

Raffi Torres Hit elbow Jordan Eberle

Check out this obvious elbow by the Canucks Raffi Torres on Oilers winger Jordan Eberle. How many games does Torres sit for that hit? I am going with two games. What do you think?

Linus Omark shootout goal

Check out this goal by Linus Omark the rookie from Sweden was playing in his first NHL game and he scored this highlight goal beauty to help the Edmonton Oilers win the shootout against the Tampa Bay Lighting.

Oilers assign Pitlick

This happened over the weekend when I was out but it's news worthy because it's technically another one and done player in the WCHA that left College Hockey to sign early and was sent down to a WHL team that owned his rights after he failed to make the Edmonton Oilers. I know there were rumblings that Pitlick was leaving school anyways, because college really wasn't for him or something like that.

NHL.COM --- Edmonton Oilers General Manager Steve Tambellini announced today the club has assigned centre Tyler Pitlick to the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League.

Pitlick, 18, played in 38 games for Minnesota State in the WCHA collecting 19 points (11G, 8A). The Minneapolis, MN native was drafted by the Oilers in the 2nd round, 31st overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Khabibulin going to the crowbar hotel.

Edmonton Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin is going jail for thirty days for being found guilty of driving under the influence. I think this is the right decision. I am glad that the Bulin wall was wasn't able to use his celebrity status to weasel out of the DUI charge.

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin was sentenced to a month in jail on Tuesday for driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding.

He must also complete an alcohol program and pay fines and surcharges of $1,507.60.

His lawyer says an appeal of the conviction has been filed so Khabibulin's sentence is put on hold and he is free to go.

On Aug. 27, Khabibulin was found guilty of three charges: driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol count of .08 or more, excessive speeding and extreme driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol content of .15 or more.

A minimun 30-day sentence is standard for extreme DUI.

Khabibulin was arrested at 12:35 a.m. on Feb. 8, 2010 near his home in Paradise Valley, a town in the Phoenix metropolitan area, after he was tagged for speeding in a black Ferrari. Khabibulin's speed peaked at 70 miles per hour (112 kilometres an hour) in a 45-mph (64 km/h) zone, court heard.

The arresting police officer noticed Khabibulin's eyes were bloodshot and watery, and his speech was slow. Khabibulin agreed to perform field sobriety tests and eventually consented to a blood test, which revealed his blood alcohol content to be .164 — more than twice the legal limit.

Khabibulin could face up to six months in jail

It will be interesting to see if the Bulin Wall actually spends time in jail or not, or will he get the celebrity treatment? I wish I could be the judge in this case. I would throw the book at Khabibulin and make an example out of him, make it hurt. I would really like to see him get the max of six months because most of us know if it was you and I we would be getting the max penalty because we are not celebrities.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Edmonton Oilers' goalie Nikolai Khabibulin was convicted Friday of three charges related to drunk driving and speeding in Arizona earlier this year.

The four-time all-star could face up to six months in jail when he is sentenced Tuesday.

Khabibulin was also found guilty of excessive speeding. His lawyer, Mark Dubeil, said in an email that one charge of impaired to the slight degree was dismissed.

Police said when Khabibulin was pulled over on Feb. 8, his blood alcohol content was .164, over twice the state limit.

Court documents indicated he was clocked going 110 kilometres per hour in a 70 km/h zone in his Ferrari.

The 37-year-old played for Phoenix from 1996-99 and still has a home in Paradise Valley.

The offences carry a minimum jail sentence of 30 days or a maximum sentence of six months.

Khabibulin signed with the Edmonton Oilers last year with a US$15-million, four-year contract

Former Wild second round bust Patrick O'Sullivan traded again

Wow, this first second round draft choice worked out for the Minnesota Wild as well. Patrick O'Sullivan is another brutal reminder of the horrible drafting Doug Risebrough did when he was the General Manager of the Minnesota Wild.

General Manager Steve Tambellini announced today the Edmonton Oilers have acquired defenseman Jim Vandermeer from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for forward Patrick O’Sullivan.

Vandermeer, 30-years-old, recorded 12 points (4G, 8A) in 62 games with the Coyotes last season as well as 60 penalty minutes.[Oilers NHL]

Patrick O'Sullivan never actually played a game for the Minnesota Wild and his best season was in 2007-2008 when he scored (22g-31a-53pts) with the LA Kings who quickly rewarded him the next season by trading him to the Edmonton Oilers. O'Sullivan hasn't come close to achieving that total since.

Riley Nash to Boston?

Guy Flaming from the Pipe Line Show and Coming Down the Pipe blog has an interesting blog post on Cornell Big Red star forward and Edmonton Oilers first round draft choice Riley Nash. It appears that he COULD be heading to the Bruins. It has been speculated that Rilley Nash who says that he is in no hurry to sign a professional contract with the Oilers could be involved in a draft day trade. Personally I would like to see the Bruins offer Blake Wheeler for Riley Nash.

BOS, EDM & Riley Nash

I'm of the belief that something could happen between the Oilers and the Bruins on draft day. I'm skeptical that it would involve a NHL roster player like Blake Wheeler though just in order to convince the Oilers to pass on the guy the Bruins prefer. That seems like a big price to pay to me. If a deal is made, I won't be surprised if it was a pick or two, maybe a pick and a prospect, coming back to the Oilers instead.

Dean has learned that the two teams had talks earlier this season involving Riley Nash and Mikko Lehtonen. We're not sure if it was a 1-for-1 swap but after we both spoke with sources from teams in each conference, we know that Nash does have some value around the league. In this case we're led to believe that it was Edmonton that wouldn't green light the trade.

Might the Bruins still have an interest in Nash? Lehtonen, a 6'3 and 196 lbs right winger, led the Providence Bruins in scoring this year with 50 points, he had 53 the year before. The Finnish player was drafted by the Bruins in the 3rd round of 2005.

Speaking of Nash, fans speculated that Montréal might have an interest in him after they'd signed his brother to a deal in the spring. About a month ago I asked a scout from the Canadiens if he personally liked Nash in his draft year and was told "I sure did". (I mentally noted that that particular scout survived GM Pierre Gauthier's purge last week). Maybe the Oilers and Habs can work something out on draft day. Would Montréal's 2nd round pick, 57th overall, be too much, too little or just enough?
[Coming down the Pipe]