[Signing] Oilers sign Nikita Nikitin (2yrs, $4.5mil AAV). Blue Jackets get 5th round pick.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by neo45

Howson is probably a big Nikitin fan. One of his first moves as GM, and one of his only decent moves was trading Russel for him I believe

That cant be. The Oilers management living in the past?

[tkflames]

Did they confuse Nitkinen and Niskanen?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by the2bears

Sure it's fair, but are you suggesting Nikitin is that guy?

Whether he should be or not, Nikitin will be that guy. There just isn't anyone better in Edmonton, and it isn't likely that there will be in the two years he's there.

Edmonton is paying Nikitin for the role they need him to play rather than the role he was playing in Columbus. Dangerous game, but at least it is short term, so even if this does blow up in their faces, the cost won't be high.

[old-fart]

I'm not sure how anyone can really put lipstick on this pig, even die hard Coiler fans.

This is a guy who was so great he was a 7th Dman on the powerhouse Blue Jackets. So awesome that he was bumped from the lineup by a defenceman that Coiler fans derided as a huge piece of poo - Nick Schultz. The beat writer that covers the BJs suggested he was a 5/6 guy on a good team. This is not some stalwart superstar defensive defenceman. He's not particularly offensive either (although he had one year with over 30 points playing with Tyutin). Aside from that year, he has the same career high as Smid - 15 points. He's big, but not a big hitter. He's slow. On the Flames, a team not exactly threatening to be Cup champs next year (or even likely a playoff team) he'd be our what... 6th dman? Gio, Brodie, Wideman, Russell. He'd fight with Smid and Wotherspoon for ice team in the bottom pairing here.

So he's not that great, but the Coilers suck at D so he's likely in their top pairing with Petry. Yes, I'd say the Coilers D is slightly better today than it was yesterday, but it is still quite easily the worst D in the NHL, and it's not even really debatable.

At least the contract is good right? Uh, nope. Sure a 2 year term mitigates the risk somewhat, but overpaying by 100% is going to have an impact on others. You really think Super Star Justin and Petry aren't going to look at this plug and say "$4.5 per - ya then I'm worth at least $6M per". If the Coilers try to 'bridge deal' either of them, the $4.5m just became the minimum. If they go for term and ask them to give up any UFA years, the price for those 2 will go through the roof.

At the end of the day I don't think this makes the Coilers substantially better, will make it more difficult to sign their own RFA wonderkids, and will make it more expensive for them to sign any UFA as they continue to set the bar on overpaying for marginal talent. They do likely have a new whipping boy though, as they will almost assuredly overplay Niki Niki in a top 2 or top 4 role, something he is completely incapable of doing - he will struggle, they will continue to be the laughing stock of the league, and fans will point to this moronic contract as yet another failure of an inept management team of the worst run team in all of professional sports.

I can't wait for the mid-season episode of Oil Change that has clips of Eakins crying about his hair mixed with the "bumble bee" defence practice where the players all skate around in a group buzzing and flapping their arms, followed by a clip of Niki Niki talking to his agent (in Russian) "Vi de 'oly fak did I sign in dis 'ell 'ole?"

In summary: Nikitin is no good, this contract in no good, MacT is no good, and Edmonton is no good.

[Jacks]

Hopefully this helps the greaseballs improve to 9-10 in the conference for the next few years until the wonderkids are ready to move out of the basement and join a real team.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Whether he should be or not, Nikitin will be that guy. There just isn't anyone better in Edmonton, and it isn't likely that there will be in the two years he's there.

Edmonton is paying Nikitin for the role they need him to play rather than the role he was playing in Columbus. Dangerous game, but at least it is short term, so even if this does blow up in their faces, the cost won't be high.

I agree, I was just questioning whether Nikitin would be 2nd pairing on 1/2 the teams in the league.

[ForeverFlameFan]

It was a bold move.

[OzSome]

It is actually about time MacT is trying to fill the position the Oilers needed BUT they are overpaying an average D. I guess they are talking to another average D from New Jersey Devil Mark Fayne. I bet they are offering them tons of money to sign with the No Good Edmonton Oilers. MacT's got the good intention but I don't think they will elevate from No Good to a playoff spot.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Whether he should be or not, Nikitin will be that guy. There just isn't anyone better in Edmonton, and it isn't likely that there will be in the two years he's there.

Edmonton is paying Nikitin for the role they need him to play rather than the role he was playing in Columbus. Dangerous game, but at least it is short term, so even if this does blow up in their faces, the cost won't be high.

Nothing wrong with this deal at all. Considering his age, size and skating ability there's probably a decent ceiling for improvement in his game.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Nothing wrong with this deal at all. Considering his age, size and skating ability there's probably a decent ceiling for improvement in his game.

He's 28. He isn't getting any better. He peaked as a 5-6 Dman. Oilers are paying him to be a 3-4.

It's a terrible deal regardless of the length because it sets a bad precedent for future players in the organization.

Just another head scratcher by the #### show up north.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by OzSome

I guess they are talking to another average D from New Jersey Devil Mark Fayne.

It will be interesting to see how much of his play is a product of his partner (Greene) and/or the Devil's system, but I think Fayne is on the above side of average and trending up.

[Barca]

4.5m per year LOL WUT

[tvp2003]

Apparently Jeff Finger was not available, so Nogoodin was a solid plan B for the Oil.

[Kjesse]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

He's 28. He isn't getting any better. He peaked as a 5-6 Dman. Oilers are paying him to be a 3-4.

It's a terrible deal regardless of the length because it sets a bad precedent for future players in the organization.

Just another head scratcher by the #### show up north.

Worse yet, it becomes a comparable for the league as a whole. The Oilers' management have a history of setting bad contract precedents, such as, pretty much doing away with the second contract concept.

[nik-]

I will admit to laughing while visiting HF and watching Oilers fans put together their defensive pairings in mock lineups.

[Stay Golden]

4.5m per really Oilers that is a face-palm.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

He's 28. He isn't getting any better. He peaked as a 5-6 Dman. Oilers are paying him to be a 3-4.

It's a terrible deal regardless of the length because it sets a bad precedent for future players in the organization.

Just another head scratcher by the #### show up north.

At first look I assumed it was 2 years 4.5M - 2.23AAV. This is definitely a head scratcher at that cap number of 4.5 per.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

He's 28. He isn't getting any better. He peaked as a 5-6 Dman. Oilers are paying him to be a 3-4.

It's a terrible deal regardless of the length because it sets a bad precedent for future players in the organization.

Just another head scratcher by the #### show up north.

Actually, I think its more that hes being paid as 2/3 and is probably their best defenceman.

And for people expecting 'improvement' what players have gone to Edmonton and actually gotten better? It usually just about craters their careers.

[taco.vidal]

Bad deal if looking at it from a team or fan perspective. However, its not surprising because:
-free agents get paid more than would otherwise be considered good value
-Oilers need to overpay to attract FAs to Edmonton given its Edmonton and the Oilers are a bottom dweller
-Edmonton is no good

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by Delgar

Worse yet, it becomes a comparable for the league as a whole. The Oilers' management have a history of setting bad contract precedents, such as, pretty much doing away with the second contract concept.

It doesn't set any precedent in a league where Wideman's are getting 5x5 and a NMC.