PLAYER LOCKOUT TEAM COUNTRY Christian Ehrhoff Krefeld Germany Jiri Tlusty Kladno Czech Republic Jaromir Jagr Kladno Czech Republic Nail Yakupov Neftekhimik Russia Tomas Plekanec Kladno Czech Republic Rick Nash HC Davos Switzerland Ilya Kovalchuk SKA St. Petersburg Russia Mark Streit Bern Switzerland Ruslan Fedotenko HC Donbass Russia Evgeni Malkin Metallurg Russia Sergei Gonchar Metallurg Russia [...]

Edmonton Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini announced Wednesday that the organization has agreed to terms with forward Taylor Hall on a new seven-year contract extension. The deal, according to Bob McKenzie of TSN, will pay Hall $6 million per year. Hall, chosen first overall by the Oilers in the 2010 NHL Draft, has tallied 49 goals and 95 [...]

Nail Yakupov signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers. The first overall pick in the 2012 draft has recorded 80 goals and 170 points in 107 games with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sarnia Sting over the past two seasons. “We’re very happy to sign Nail to a three-year contract,” general manager Steve Tambellini [...]

Update: According to the General Manager Brian Burke of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the team is not interested in trading Luke Schenn to the Edmonton Oilers. “I have never discussed this trade or any trade involving Luke Schenn to Edmonton,” Burke said, as reported by the Toronto Star. June 11: The Edmonton Oilers owners of the No. 1 pick  are open to trading [...]

The Columbus Blue Jackets have the No. 2 pick in the upcoming 2012 NHL Entry Draft, but they are still undecided about what they’ll do with the pick. GM Scott Howson tells the Columbus Dispatch’s Aaron Portzline that they are still considering four or five guys with the selection. Now, it’s not too hard to figure out who those [...]

According to Mike Boone of the Montreal Gazette, there are rumors the Toronto Maple Leafs could trade defenseman Luke Schenn and their No. 5 pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft to the Edmonton Oilers for the top selection overall. In which case, the Maple Leafs would conceivably draft Nail Yakupov or Alex Galchenyuk.

Jack Johnson scored his second goal of the game 1:47 into overtime to give the United States a 5-4 victory over Canada on Saturday in the hockey world championships. Other quick hits from around the league: Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch wonders if Guy Boucher, Alain Vigneault, Joel Quenneville and Todd McLellan will return to their respective [...]

Quick Hits from around the NHL: The Edmonton Sun reports that Nail Yakupov is hoping the Edmonton Oilers take him with the top overall pick in the 2012 NHL entry draft. ”I definitely want to go to Edmonton and play for the Oilers, for sure,” said Yakupov. “I’ve played in Canada, in Sarnia, for the last two years. [...]

The Edmonton Oilers landed the No. 1 pick, and Hockey Night in Canada’s Glenn Healy thinks they are keeping the pick. He’s not the only one who thinks that and, if they are right, the Oilers will likely draft Sarnia forward Nail Yakupov at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. This could be bad news for veteran Ryan Smyth who hits unrestricted free agency this [...]

The Columbus Blue Jackets appear unwilling to relinquish their No. 2 pick at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch reports the Blue Jackets have little interest in trading the selection. Portzline tweeted “Told it’s unlikely not out of the question, but unlikely that the #CBJ trade No. 2 overall pick. They’d gladly [...]