Sheldon Souray or Ryan Smyth?

Now that buyout time is on us, one has to wonder why the Oilers have yet to make a move on Sheldon Souray. They will have to put him on waivers and after that if no other team claims him, he can be bought out. But that hasn't happened yet. Why not?

The salary cap is going up for next season and the Oilers do need to add some salary to the payroll to make the cap floor. Souray, if willing to play here, can fill the cap void. Maybe that's why the Oilers have yet to buy him out?

Word today from Bob McKenzie is that Ryan Smyth has told the Kings that he would like to play in Edmonton next year. If a trade can be done, he wants to come home. HOLY CRAP!!! I'd take him in a heartbeat. No questions asked. Smyth is everything an Oiler should be.

Smyth back in Etown would bring the cap up by $6.5 million next season and would make the cap restrictions all better again. He has 1 year left on his current deal.

If the Smyth trade can happen, then see ya Souray. If not, it's damn possible #44 is back on the blueline next season. Ugh! BRING BACK SMYTH!!!

-WRITTEN BY SMOKIN' RAY-

Draft Time - KHL Style

On May 28th, the KHL held their 3rd entry draft. This year, out of a pool of 371 players, 134 were drafted. No voided picks, like the three from last year when teams drafted players that had already signed an NHL contract.

Not that this affects the NHL draft, but it is a bit interesting to see the mindset of the Russian clubs in their picking. Chances are, most of the guys drafted by the NHL will never see the KHL, but some teams still take the chance. Below, I included those picked that have already been drafted in the NHL, the top projected picks at this year's NHL draft, and just a few that I thought were interesting.

Notable Picks

1st Overall: Anton Slepyshev - Metallurg Novokuznetsk
5th Overall: Jonathan Huberdeau - Vityaz Chekhov
10th Overall: Anders Nilsson (New York Islanders prospect) - Dinamo Minsk
14th Overall: Joel Armia - Severstal Cherepovets
16th Overall: Gabriel Landeskog - Salavat Yulaev Ufa
20th Overall: Oscar Klefbom - Salavat Yulaev Ufa
24th Overall: Markus Granlund - Salavat Yulaev Ufa
33rd Overall: Adam Almqvist (Detroit prospect) - CSKA Moscow
36th Overall: Miikka Salomaki - Dinamo Minsk
42nd Overall: Joachim Nermark - Salavat Yulaev Ufa
43rd Overall: Calle Jarnkrok (Detroit prospect) - Severstal Cherepovets
51st Overall: Christopher Gibson - Ak Bars Kazan
60th Overall: Matthew Dumba (Red Deer Rebels player) - Vityaz Chekhov
65th Overall: Petter Granberg (Toronto prospect) - Dinamo Minsk
74th Overall: Jonas Brodin - SKA Saint Petersburg
80th Overall: Rasmus Bengtsson - Salavat Yulaev Ufa
106th Overall: Ryan Murphy - Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
111th Overall: Ryan Strome - Amur Khabarovsk
112th Overall: Mark McNeill (Edmonton native) - Vityaz Chekhov
121st Overall: Jarrod Rabey (Indiana Ice player) - Dinamo Minsk
132nd Overall: Robbie Russo (US National Dev. Team) - Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
133rd Overall: Sean Couterier - Salavat Yulaev Ufa

And to continue with those that are projected high in this year's NHL draft, from last year's KHL draft:

Dmitri Jaskin - 1st Overall by Sibir Novosibirsk
Adam Larsson - 17th Overall by Lokomotiv Yaroslavl
Mika Zibanejad - 129th Overall by Lokomotiv Yaroslavl

Notably absent in both years, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. For whatever reason, I don't know. But considering some of the names that have been drafted by the KHL, it's a bit odd that he wasn't chosen either year.

-Written by Eric Rodgers-

Liam Reddox Heads To Sweden; Martin Gerber Rumors

Announced earlier today, Liam Reddox has signed a 1-year contract with the Vaxjo Lakers of the SEL. From the Lakers website:(Google Translated)

Liam Reddox comes from the Edmonton Oilers organization in which he played since
2007 and during four seasons there has been a total of 100 NHL games.
This past season, played 25-year-old 44 NHL games, recording a goal and nine assists.
In 37 AHL games with the Oklahoma City Barons was a total of 33 points
distributed on 18 goals and 15 assists.
- Liam is a Canadian who can play both center and outer forward and who thrive as both, "said sporting director Henry Evertsson on the new acquisition.
- He is good on skates and I work really hard, but also has offensive talent and technology. He is a two-way player who will run at maximum speed all the time. We fell for his drive in the game. He will do a lot of points, but he is primarily an engine of the team, a player who can draw with the team every night.
Was it important to get a driving player?
- We'll play three games a week throughout the season as the
smoothness will be important, and which will contribute to Liam. The difference
between hockey league Elitserien and is quite large, and we need players who can
deliver in every match. Liam Reddox, who signed for one year, will make his
first spell outside North America.
- That he has played in the NHL is a good routine, but he is no savior for it which is important to note. He has not been able to play for an NHL spot in full, so he sees this as a good start because the Elite Series is a great series.
The Oklahoma City Barons played Reddox the season with the Lakers second transatlantic acquisitions: Brad Moran. It has obviously facilitated the recruitment of Reddox.
- We have a good history with Transatlantic. Liam has played with Brad so they know each other, and we know what is important for Transatlantic and how to make lay-ups in order to fit them. I think we are an attractive option for those who still strive forward in their career, "says Henry Evertsson.
Henry Evertsson also announces that one goalie, one of two defenders and a forward to be in the squad.

As the article mentioned, Vaxjo is the team that Brad Moran signed with right after the Barons season ended. Vaxjo has been making a big push with signings this offseason after winning their way into the SEL last season. In addition to Moran and Reddox, the Lakers also signed former Texas Stars defenseman Dan Spang earlier this month and it's been rumored that Peoria Rivermen's T.J. Hensick will be joining the team as well.

----

I've been wanting to mention this for awhile, but didn't really want to make a post just for rumors, so I'll just leave them here. Earlier this month, a Swiss website, sport.sf.tv, asked Martin Gerber about playing in Switzerland this season. To which he responded "At the moment everything is possible". Skelleftea AIK of the SEL and the Malmo Redhawks of HockeyAllsvenskan(the tier below the SEL) have both stated they have a big interest in acquiring Gerber for next season.

-Written by Eric Rodgers-

If The Oilers Select Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 1st Overall, He Will Wear #?

I brought this up the other day on twitter and I thought I would share it with the people who don`t follow us on twitter. Nugent-Hopkins said on the Team 1260 that if the Oilers should select him at the draft, he would probably wear #93 as an Oiler. The #9 is retired so he must decide on another number. It was pointed out to me that that is his birth year (1993). So it makes sense to me. RNH also said he wore #93 in bantam so it`s not just a number he made up on the spot. I know this isn`t big news, but come on, it`s almost the summer. You have to make news. ;) -WRITTEN BY SMOKIN` RAY-

Are You Kidding Me? Comparing Taylor Hall vs Tyler Seguin?

After last night`s Boston vs Tampa game the whole hockey world raved about Tyler Seguin and his 4 point night. I will say his 2 goals were pretty nice, but the assists were not highlight stuff (secondary assists). I wake up this morning and the big talk is Hall vs Seguin. Again? Really? In my opinion there is no comparison. Two different players on two different teams. Hard to say what`s what. Put it this way, Seguin was benched for 11 playoff games and when he finally drew in, he made it count. But if he was sooooo good, why didn`t he play in those other 11 games? Taylor Hall would have. Compare that. ;) The Edmonton Oilers have the better player. -WRITTEN BY SMOKIN` RAY-