Desperate Oilers run into the Bulin Wall; Gill sails to Montreal

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After losing Dwayne Roloson to the New York Islanders, the Edmonton Oilers needed a goalie and found the biggest name on the market: Nikolai Khabibulin, signed for $15 million over four years for a  $3.75 million annual cap hit (Via TSN).

That's quite a market correction for the Bulin Wall, as his cap hit last season with the Chicago Blackhawks was the gargantuan $6.75 million number that made him immovable.

Lowetide's immediate take:

I think we should prepare ourselves for a trade that sends dollars away later tonight. No immediate word about whether or not this kills the Heatley deal.

He's a veteran NHL goaltender, and this would be considered an overpay.

Khabibulin's birthday: Jan 13, 1973. Roloson's birthday: Oct 12, 1969. Hey, they're paying for youth.

Was this a desperation move or was Khabibulin Plan B after losing Roloson? Sure, you're locked into a guy who is going to turn 37 next season for the next four years. But Roloson's cap hit was $3.667; is this really overpayment?

Bottom line is that Edmonton has gone from the city where the TSN boys said no one wanted to play to the city that might end the night with Nikolai Khabibulin and Dany Heatley by the end of the night.

Other signings of note since the last update ...

New Jersey Devils part-time savior Scott Clemmensen heads to the Florida Panthers for three years and $3.6 million. Doesn't get a chance to be a starter, but Craig Anderson had 27 starts last year. Good spot for him. So who backs up Brodeur next season?

• GM Bob Gainey continues to endear himself to the Montreal Canadiens fans, signing Jaroslav Spacek to a 3-year, $11.5 million deal from the Buffalo Sabres (some said overpayment; Kevin Allen likes it) and the USS Hal Gill for two years, $4.5 million from the Pittsburgh Penguins (TSN). Gill as the Komisarek replacement?

Erik Cole remains with the Carolina Hurricanes, which is expected because he's shown he doesn't want to play anywhere else. Two-year deal with a pay cut, worth $2.9 million against the cap.

• Winger Mike Rupp goes to the Pittsburgh Penguins from the New Jersey Devils for two years and $825,000. OK as a depth signing; but if that's supposed to be a Fedotenko replacement, adjust expectations accordingly, Pittsburgh.

• Finally, Ian Laperriere goes from the Colorado Avalanche to the Philadelphia Flyers for three years, and $3.5 million per season (TSN). Three years? Too much. But a character guy, without question; and 19 points with 163 penalty minutes basically qualified him as a Flyer anyway. Lappy's happy. He and Scott Hartnell might have something to discuss:

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