On the Edmonton Oilers …
Edmonton Oilers: The Oilers signed defenseman Kris Russell to a one-year deal.
Elliotte Friedman: Word is it will be $3.1 million for one year for Russell.
General Fanager: If Russell’s deal is for $3.1 million, the Oilers will have $8.3 million in salary cap space for 23 players – 13 fowards, 8 defensemen and 2 goalies.
Jim Matheson: Matheson likes the Russell signing, as well as Darnell Nurse and Brandon Davidson on the third pair. Matheson wonders what they will now do with Mark Fayne who has two years left on his deal at $3.5 million.
Jason Gregor: Signing Kris Versteeg would now put the Oilers at 48 contracts. Adding Eric Gryba would put them at 49.
On the St. Louis Blues …
Pierre LeBrun: The trade for Nail Yakupov doesn’t necessarily close the door for Vladimir Sobotka returning to St. Louis, but the Blues are not counting on that happening now.
Andy Strickland: Yakupov will find a spot in the Blues top-nine. The acquisition has little risk for a team that is looking to create a stockpile of young forwards.
Jeremy Rutherford: The key factor in the Blues trading for Yakupov was that they didn’t need the Oilers to retain any salary.
Tom Timmermann and Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Blues GM Doug Armstrong had $3.3 million in salary cap space and used some of it to acquire Nail Yakupov from the Oilers in a low risk move.
“We thought it worth the gamble,” general manager Doug Armstrong said. “He’s a former first pick who needs a change of scenery. He’s excited to be here, we’re excited to have him.”
Yakupov was happy to be traded and is looking forward to being on a winning team.
“Obviously I think it’s a good thing for me,” Yakupov said. “The last couple of days there have been rumors and I was expecting something. I was not expecting St. Louis. Now it’s happened and it’s a good move for me, to play in one of the best teams in the league. To play St. Louis was always hard. They’ve got some big bodies that are tough to play against. I’m really looking forward to it.
“I never had an opportunity to play on the best teams. This is the first time I’m going play in a really, really good team, that plays in playoffs pretty much every year. To feel that winning, I think it’s awesome. I don’t know what winning is, and I’d like to feel that and I think this is a team where I can feel it.”
Coach Ken Hitchcock said that Yakupov can play on either side. He will likely start on the third line with Patrik Berglund.
