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The plan from yesterday:
My wish list is relatively simple: Two forwards, two defenders, and a goalie.
I'll take Ryan Smyth & Daniel Winnik up front. There will be no signings of Jordin Tootoo. Please.
The defensive class is going to be all about Ryan Suter, Jason Garrison and Matt Carle. I don't think the Oilers will win on any of those three, but I'll settle for Matt Taormina and either Brett Clark on a one-year deal or a trade (where the Oilers aren't absolutely pillaged) for Andrej Sekera, Chris Butler or Jay Bouwmeester.
In goal, Scott Clemmensen, Erik Ersberg, or Vitaly Koval fit the bill. Do not try something cute like trade for Jonathan Bernier.
Smyth is in house and the Red Wings gave Jordin Tootoo $1.9 million per year, preventing the Oilers from an awful contract like that. Clemmensen re-signed with the Panthers, and Ersberg signed with a new KHL team. The Oilers did screw up something fierce with the Darcy Hordichuk signing (who gives a one-way contract to a player that no other team in the league wants?) but Lowe and Katz and Gretzky and Coffey and Hall and any other member of the negotiations team I may have left out, have a chance to set things right.
Shoes to drop today:
Ryan Suter will choose a team and the bridesmaid will turn their attention to Matt Carle.
Zach Parise will choose a team and the bridesmaid will turn their attention to Alex Semin.
Rick Nash, Bobby Ryan, Roberto Luongo and at least two defensemen from Calgary ain't got to go home, but they got to get the hell up outta here.
Update: The Devils give Martin Brodeur two years and $9 million. That's...not good.