For fans and players of the NHL this has been a long and stressful summer up to this point. With the CBA still not signed for the 2012-2013 season it has made everyone tense. And with the decision from Commissioner Gary Bettman last week saying that if there is no deal signed before September 15th there will be a lockout things have gotten worse.

This is a nightmare for both fans and players alike because of what happened in 2004 when the entire league was shut down for an entire season because of the lockout. That year saw a huge loss in money and players, after over 350 of them went to play over in Europe because of this decision. Now with the KHL having many elite teams with elite players (including a lot of former NHL players) it poses an even bigger threat that players will once again leave.

The NHLPA submitted a proposal yesterday afternoon to the NHL in their offices in New York City. After a two hour meeting which included high profile players such as Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos the NHL and Gary Bettman decided they were going to need another day to digest everything that happened yesterday. So the wait continues, until around noon this afternoon when they will meet again to go over the current proposal which includes the players taking a hit in terms on revenue aspect of the deal. Everyone just wants to start the season on time and everyone hopes both sides come to an agreement quickly. But for now we wait…

With the NHL draft soon approaching this means it’s time for everyone to start making their predictions as to who will be the first overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft. All eyes point to Nail Yakupov being amongst the legends who were picked in the first spot: Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos and Mario Lemieux just to name a few. The 18 year old right winger who currently plays for Sarnia is on track to be the next player everyone will know. Yakupov has been on the top of everyone’s lists as going first overall and I do not see why that is should not happen. He put up stellar numbers this past season for Sarnia: 42 games played, 31 goals, 38 assists, 69 points and +15. Those are numbers of a superstar in the making. With the Edmonton Oilers having the first pick, again, it should come as no surprise if they choose Yakupov. After getting Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in the first round of the previous two drafts, Yakupov should fit right into the Oilers organization.

The average age of the Oilers during the 2011-2012 season was 27.32 years old so adding Yakupov (age 18) will only make this team more dynamic in years to come once he learns the system. Yakupov has a lot of things this organization needs to become a truly great team, one who does not have the first round picks in three consecutive drafts. Even as a winger he has the ability to control every aspect of the ice. He will help make the top-6 forwards for the Oilers very strong for years to come. Even though the Oilers have some depth at the forward position and are in desperate need of a solid defenseman it would be very hard for them to pass Yakupov up. They would be smart to draft Yakupov and then they can rely on free agency, trades and other picks they have in this years draft to pick up a defenseman. The Oilers can’t pass on the most gifted offensive player in the draft, no matter if they necessarily need him or not. Having him on your team would be a true gift, something the organization was given when their names were pulled out of the hat to be selected first overall for the third year in a row. Expect to see Nail Yakupov walk up on stage and put on the Edmonton Oilers jersey after being selected first overall in the 2012 NHL Draft in Pittsburgh on June 22nd.

Michael Peca, a two-time Selke Trophy winner, announced his official NHL retirement Tuesday, ending a 13-season NHL career that was highlighted by an Olympic gold medal in 2002.

Peca, who turns 36 in March, had 465 points (176 goals, 289 assists) and 798 penalty minutes in 864 regular-season games with Vancouver, Buffalo, the New York Islanders, Edmonton, Toronto and Columbus. His feisty, two-way game was underlined by winning the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive forward in 1997 and 2002.

“The game has given me everything I’ve got,” Peca told ESPN.com Tuesday from his home in Buffalo. “I’ll be forever thankful for the time I spent in the game. I don’t think a day will go by where I won’t spend at least a few moments of the day reminiscing about the time I had.”

Click here to read the full article – By Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com

The Edmonton Oilers’ rally cry has started.

You can probably put flashy Russian forward Kirill Kabanov, who is hurt and won’t be playing in the world junior hockey championship next month, on that list, too. There are NHL teams, however, who are always leery of taking Russians that early in the draft unless their surname is Ovechkin or Kovalchuk.

Only five teams that finish with the worst records after the regular season will have a shot at the first overall pick in the annual lottery.

Right now, the Carolina Hurricanes are in last place, with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota Wild, Anaheim Ducks, Florida Panthers, St. Louis Blues and the Oilers in the running to call out the first name.

The Boston Bruins actually have the Leafs’ first pick in the draft, however, because Toronto general manager Brian Burke surrendered it in 2010 and ‘11 to get Phil Kessel who has been a scoring machine for the Leafs this season.

It has been proven that most top-five draft picks play like top picks –right away. Just take a gander at: John Tavares, who has 21 points with the New York Islanders; Victor Hedman, who’s playing 23 minutes a game on the Tampa Bay Lightning’s blue-line;Matt Duchene, who has 11 points with the Colorado Avalanche; and Evander Kane, who is a second-liner with the Atlanta Thrashers and has eight goals. They were the top four choices last June.

Click here to read the full article – By Jim Matheson of Edmonton Journal

Pittsburgh Penguins Colorblock Plush Christmas Stocking

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