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Oilers Update: Edmonton Oilers sign forward David Tomasek to one-year, $1.2M contract
Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

A second signing comes the day after Bob Stauffer suggested the Edmonton Oilers would be pursuing European free agents to bolster the team’s depth.

Shortly after the signing of Josh Samanski, the Oilers announced that Czech forward David Tomasek has been signed to a one-year contract worth $1.2M for the 2025–26 season.

Tomasek, 29, has played the past two seasons with Farjestad BK in the SHL. He was the league’s leading scorer in the 2024–25 season with 24 goals and 57 points in 47 games.

David Tomasek career to date

Tomasek, born in the then Czech Republic, spent most of his developmental years in North America. He played four years in the United States before joining the Belleville Bulls of the OHL for two seasons.

Since then, he has spent his professional career across Europe, where he has played in Czechia for the most part, the Finnish Liiga, part of one season in the KHL, and most recently in the SHL.

Tomasek has also represented Czechia internationally on multiple occasions, including four points in 10 games at the 2024 World Championship.

What to expect from David Tomasek

Tomasek is best known as a scoring forward. Although he is usually a centre, he can also play right wing. This is where he fits best in the Oilers’ lineup.

He has been one of the best scoring forwards in most of the leagues he has played in, utilizing a strong shot and offensive instincts to drive his play.

With his experience in North America coming over a decade ago, the likely place for Tomasek to, at least, start next season is in a big role with the Bakersfield Condors.

However, with wing depth in the NHL being a concern for the Oilers, a strong showing in training camp could get him onto the third line quickly. Maybe even in a top six role as the search for wingers for Leon Draisaitl continues on.

This article first appeared on The Oil Rig and was syndicated with permission.

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Canadiens rumors: Montreal’s trade strategy tied to Carey Price
NHL

Canadiens rumors: Montreal’s trade strategy tied to Carey Price

The Montreal Canadiens made multiple moves in NHL free agency to improve their roster. After making the playoffs but being eliminated in the first round by the Washington Capitals, the young core of players hope to improve in 2025-26. Still, the lynchpin of Carey Price’s contract could hinder future moves. The former fifth overall pick of the Montreal Canadiens is due $10.5 million this year. While he has not played since April 2022 due to a lingering knee issue, and it seems like Price’s career is over, he has still not officially announced retirement. This means his salary is on the books for the Canadiens in 2025-26. The team will need to play a waiting game with the Price contract overall. Price was the fifth overall pick of the Montreal Canadiens in the 2005 NHL Draft. He broke into the NHL in 2007-08 and quickly became a fixture for the Canadiens. After starting 41 games in his first full season, he would continue to be the primary starting goaltender for nearly a decade. He would play in 72 games in 2010-11, winning 38 times and breaking the franchise record for minutes played in a season. The goaltender would continue to break records for the team. In 2014-15, he broke the Canadiens’ record for wins in a season and save percentage. That year, he would win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL MVP, and the Vezina Trophy as the top goaltender. Price is a seven-time All-Star, a member of the NHL Quarter-Century team, plus has won the Ted Lindsay Award and William M. Jennings Award in his career. Future Canadiens moves depend on Carey Price The Canadiens are currently $4.8 million over the cap for the 2025-26 season. Part of this is the $10.5 million cap hit of Price. Much of the future market for the Canadiens revolves around their former netminder. This will come to a head on September 1, when Price is due $5.5 million in a signing bonus. This takes away money from the available cap space for the team. While the goaltender is due just $2 million after that, with 60 percent covered by insurance, this is still a significant cap hit for the team. The reason September 1 is so valuable for the Canadiens is that they would eat the $5.5 million of cap hit, making the cap hit for another team just $5 million. This makes his contract much more manageable for a team willing to take it on. After paying the remaining $5 million, the contract expires at the end of the season. The waiting game comes into play there. The Canadiens have noted they do not want to use a roster spot for Price. While the team could use long-term IR money, this hinders future flexibility with the team over the cap. Long-term IR will allow them to be up to ten percent over the cap, but also not allow them to make major moves. With the timing of September 1, a team could take on the contract of Price with extra cap space, while getting something else in return. Meanwhile, it allows Montreal more financial flexibility. While Price’s career is over, his contract creates one more year of questions.

King of New York: Pete Alonso breaks major Mets all-time record 
MLB

King of New York: Pete Alonso breaks major Mets all-time record 

Pete Alonso is now the New York Mets' all-time home run king. With his opposite-field, two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night, Alonso clubbed the 253rd and 254th home runs of his Mets career, moving him into sole possession of first place on the team's all-time list. He moved two home runs ahead of the previous record-holder, Darryl Strawberry, who hit 252 home runs with the team between the 1983 and 1990 seasons. Here is a look at his record-setting home run. Later in the bottom of the sixth inning, Alonso hit his 254th home run: Along with the all-time Mets home run lead, Alonso is also the Mets' single-season home run leader with 53 home runs during the 2019 season. Strawberry congratulated Alonso on breaking his record: His home runs on Tuesday were his 27th and 28th of the season. It is a big deal for Alonso because there was some doubt this past offseason about whether he would have a chance to set this record. Even though he was close, the uncertainty around his future, given his free-agent status, created a lot of questions about where he would play. Ultimately, the Mets re-signed him to a two-year, $54 million contract that includes an opt-out clause following the 2025 season. That opt-out will again create some uncertainty about his future, but it is pretty clear Alonso still has a lot of power left in his bat. Whether he returns to the Mets or goes somewhere else, he will remain the franchise's greatest home run hitter for the foreseeable future. He is now on top of the record books for the single season and career.

Oregon suspends former five-star WR recruit indefinitely
College Football

Oregon suspends former five-star WR recruit indefinitely

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Browns may not be prepared for one thing with Shedeur Sanders
NFL

Browns may not be prepared for one thing with Shedeur Sanders

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