Oilers Still Wheelin and Dealin

It's a little disappointing TSN's carrying Wimbeldon when blockbuster trades and free agent signings are going down. I'm just learning a few things as I check the internet. Edmonton's revamping their team. First the Stoll/Greene for Visnovsky deal. Then, because of the Visnovsky acquisition, they had to move Joni Pitkanen, and they did that, to Carolina for power forward Erik Cole (pictured right). So Cole jumps to the team he helped beat in the 2006 Cup Final. However I believe that was the year he had a broken neck and only came back for Game 7 of the final, but he's a good player. The Oilers also also shipped Raffi Torres to Columbus for under-achieving youngster Gilbert Brule (pictured left). But lest we forget Brule was a 1st overall WHL Bantam pick by Vancouver, and then went 6th overall in the NHL Draft, one pick after Carey Price. At the time I thought Montreal was stupid for passing on Brule at 5th overall and taking Price (not anymore). But as good as Brule was in Junior, he hasn't continued that pace in the NHL, not even close. I love hockeydb, it was there I found out he actually played Jr. 'A' with the Quesnel Millionaires as a 15 year old. Then, he made the jump to Vancouver when he was 16. His best year was as a 17 year old when he had 39 goals and 87 points. He went to Columbus in 05-06, got 4 points in 7 games, and went back to the 'dub in January, where he put the Giants over the top, scoring 23 goals and 38 points in 27 games, and Vancouver eventually won the WHL Title in a sweep over Moose Jaw. It was back to the NHL for Brule the following year, and he managed just 19 points in 78 games, and I honestly thought he might go back to Vancouver AGAIN that January. As a 20 year old last year, he put up a measley ONE goal and 9 points in 61 games, and wasn't much better than that in Syracuse of the AHL. So, Columbus is giving up on Brule, but the Oilers might get lucky and see him come into his own at the right time.

Mike Green was just given a BIG raise by Washington. $21m over 4 years (5.25/year). He gets $6,000,000 this coming season, after he made $850,000 a year ago.

Happy Canada Day!