Blog Hits: Is the NHL still flirting with ESPN?

This is Colin McDonald in the faceoff circle for the Springfield Falcons. According to capgeek (or, the Bible as it is quickly becoming known) the Edmonton Oilers have signed McDonald to a 1-year, $550,000 contract. This actually represents a cut in pay on his entry level deal ($662,500) but he never saw the light of day anyway during that contract.I think this may be a huge year...

I would normally begin a long series of "reasonable expectations" and "comparables" posts at this time of year. We'd project next season and find out that very few Swedish forwards have been top 10 picks and that finding a comp for MPS will be difficult.However, there's so much up in the air with regard to the NHL and AHL roster at this point I'm going to delay the reasonable expectations...

Last night Kevin Prendergast gave the clearest indication yet that the Edmonton Oilers are moving on from the Dany Heatley soap opera. Quoting KP (courtesy Dan Tencer): "I think we've given up hope on the Heatley scenario; but, I guess it's not dead in the water. But, at this point, it looks like we'll go to camp with the same team we finished with last year outside of a new goaltender...

Since trading Ryan Smyth the Edmonton Oilers have spent untold hours and millions trying to find Ryan Smyth. It's a giggle-causer to be sure, but it's also galling in that it was an unforced error by management. I firmly believe they made their Smyth decision after G7 SCF (within weeks they'd also be saying goodbye to Chris Pronger) and the Oilers, Daryl Katz and the fanbase have...