Dwyer Makes Oilers Pro Roster, Oilers draft Kukushkin

The Oilers have made their final cuts in training camp and the only Junior Call-Up this year will be Right Winger Pat Dwyer. Dwyer played just 60 games for the Junior Oilers last year still ended up 4th in Junior Oilers scoring. Dwyer averaged .85 pts / game last season. Dwyer is an excellent skater with good passing and scoring ability and has a good chance of making the Oilers starting line-up.

The Oilers made their only draft pick in the 5th round this year adding Right Winger Sergei Kukushin last years scoring leader for the Capitain Stupino of the Russian Hockey League. Kukushin is likely to play on the Junior Oilers next season filling out the hole left by Dwyer being called up.

Flyers get their man

Philadelphia (AP) - With the 5th overall selection in the 2007 CLUTCH Entry Draft, The Philadelphia Flyers select, from the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL, winger Guillaume Latendresse.

Management was extremely pleased that a player of Latendresse's caliber was remaining at the #5 spot in the draft. The Chicago Blackhawks decision to select talented young goaltender Carey Price over Cogliano and Latendresse really opened the door for the Flyers who were expecting to choose Andrew Cogliano with the 5th overall choice. All the chips fell out perfectly for the Flyers and they couldn't be more pleased.

The Flyers are looking forward to what Guillaume will bring to the table, the young rugged power forward will bring size, grit and skill the the lineup. "Guy has amazing potential and we really look forward to the up coming seasons with this young man." Flyers head coach Glen Sather. "We are really excited about the crop of young players we have now and coming up in the next few seasons."

The hard hitting 6'2 225 pound native of Ste-Catherine, Quebec had a great season last year with Drummondville, racking up 83 points, 43 goals and 40 assists, in 51 games. He finished with 105 penalty minutes and as a +20 rating.

Jackets ship Torres to Chicago for Lisin, #18 overall

Columbus, OH

Columbus Blue Jackets General Manager and President Peter Dell'Olio announced that the team has traded forward Raffi Torres to Chicago in exchange for junior forward Enver Lisin and the Blackhawks first round draft choice, from Minnesota, 18th overall. Torres, a big speedy winger had a solid season for Columbus last year and marks the second top line forward traded away this offseason. Brad Boyes was shipped out in the deal that brought defenseman standout Zdeno Chara to Columbus.

This trade signals Dell'Olio's persistance in trying to add more youthful, disciplined forwards into the organization. Enver Lisin, a 19 year old Russian speedster, will report to the Jackets scouting camp set for early next month, before camp opens. The team and scouting staff will take a long look at Lisin to determine what the Jackets will do next this offseason.

Oilers Add Depth and Finally Ink Vyborny

The Edmonton Oilers have been actively pursuring several Free Agents this off-season and have signed 3 players. The 1st signing was for David Vyborny who the Oilers have been pursueing since late last season when they traded a draft pick for the rights to try and resign Vyborny prior to UFA starting but Vyborny wanted more money then the Oilers were willing to offer and held out to test the UFA market. The Oilers upped their offer by over a million dollars per year to finally land a deal with the well balanced David Vyborny that is expected to play on the second line along side Mike Modano. The 2 other signings added depth to the Oilers line up; The Oilers signed 26 year old David Kaczowka to a 4 year deal. Left Winger Kaczowka should fill in the lower half of the Oilers roster and get some good playing time on the Edmonton roster that has been lacking some serious depth. Defenseman Brad Bombadir was signed to a 4 year deal as well for $550,000 /year. Brad is to be considered a 7th defensman and/or penalty killing specailist Adding some much needed help to the Oilers back end.

BlueJackets land Chara from the Devils

Columbus, OH

Columbus BlueJackets President and General Manager has announced that the team has traded forwards Brad Boyes, Chris Bourque and two early draft choices to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Zdeno Chara.

Chara, 29, is quite possibly the best rearguard in the league and his youthful presence, hulking size and great instincts will be a huge part of the future for the Blue Jackets. Brad Boyes, 25, was shocked by the news, " I was really shocked, i got the call late in the evening and didn't even believe it. I guess part of me is excited to play for a new team, but I will miss Columbus and the great fans there, I will of course miss my teammates."

Senators Re-sign Everyone!

I know this may sound familiar, but trust me, the CLUTCH Senators are not the NHL LEAFS!

The Sens are coming off their best season since GM Schmucky took over the team, so, make that 3 Schmucky seasons and the last awful season under the previous GM. Thus, it is the best season in AT LEAST four years! So, why not sign everyone back?

Selanne comes back for another season after contemplating retirement. He is looking to be a FORCE on a line with Hartnell, who also inked a one year deal. It's debateable who will join these two. Will it be Jeff Friesen? He is probably the front runner heading into training camp but let's not forget about youngster Alex Semin who is coming off of an incredible Junior season and his rerate makes him one of the top three Senators in Scoring ability.

Other notable signings include Goaltender Chris Osgood who inked what is expected to be his final deal in CLUTCH as the 33 year old locks into a 4 year deal with the club. Rumours are swirling though that he may be traded in the near future....

Ryan Whitney signed and agreed to remain with the club along with Rico Fata who has come to terms with the club after a full season hold out. Very few other notable players signed but young goalie who got the Sens into the playoffs, Konstantin Gorovikov was released yesterday after refusing the one year deal offered by the Senators.

Ottawa is reportedly in talks to nab a new Goalie and a 1st or 2nd line RW!

GO SENS GO!

Oilers Contract Negotiations Leave team missing Key components

The Oilers managment was in full swing tonight meeting with 6 of their players agents attempting to close deals prior to the Free Agency period,
The Good news was that the Oilers Managed to complete deals with Mike Modano (1 year @ 3.5 million) and Sergei Krivokrasov (1 year @ 2.2 million).
Their was however more bad news then good news tonight, As the Oilers report that they have failed to make deals with 4 other players.
David Vyborny decided he did not want a home in Edmonton after all and is going to walk away and become an unrestricted free agent.
Centreman Todd White decided to try the Free Agent market as well. Restricted Free Agents Marty Reasoner & Jesse Wallin could not come to
a contract agreement and have informed the Oilers that they will not be reporting to Training camp or participating in any team functions
until a contract is signed.

Panthers Ink Gonchar and Stefan

FLORIDA - Gm Michael Perrault was busy on the negotiation front today and seemed like a happy camper when all was said and done.

"We had a couple players that we were determined to re-sign and as luck would have it we were able to get deals done with both those players. Now we can concentrate on the Open Market and getting ready for next season with all our major players signed and ready to go."

GM Perault continued "We are very pleased to announce to our fans today the Defenceman Sergei Gonchar has decided to come back for one more year. We are also pleased that Centerman Patrik Stefan has also agreed to come back accepting a 4 year deal."

Here is how the Panthers faired with the rest of their free agents:

UFA - Brent Gilchrist was released by the Panthers.
RFA'S Travis Roche and David Morisset have decided to test the Open Market and declined offers from the Panthers.

RFA - Paul Elliott signed for 2 years @ 1.6 Mill + 1 Mill SB

RFA - Dan Hinote signed for 3 years @ 1.6 Mill + 500K SB

RFA - Mark Kosick signed for 1 year @ 0.4 MIll + 300K SB

UFA - Darcy Verot signed for 1 year @ 0.4 MIll + 300K SB

RFA - Michel Periard signed for 1 year @ .32 Mill + 500K SB

RFA - Alfie Michaud signed for 1 year @ 0.4 Mill + 300K SB

and the details for the Panthers 2 major signings are :

UFA - Sergei Gonchar signs for 1 year @ 3.6 Mill + 1.5 MILL SB

RFA - Patrik Stefan signs for years @ 3.6 Mill + 1 MILL SB

With the pre-signings now out of the way the Panthers will now be looking at the Open Market Frenzy to fill any holes that they may need to fill.