Nylander done for season

From Tarik:

Veteran center Michael Nylander is scheduled to have surgery on his torn left rotator cuff and will miss three to six months, I'm told.

If you remember, on Jan. 8, I wrote that a source had told me that Nylander's shoulder was worse that the Caps were letting on -- the team said yesterday that he was taking the day off from practice -- and that surgery was a strong possibility. Well, now it's official.

Nylander, who has been playing in pain for more than a month and was unable to sleep because of the injury, was the Caps' second leading scorer with 11 goals and 26 assists. He also was a team-worst minus-19.

GM George McPhee will be speaking to the media soon.

Okay. Not great news, but it wont be the death of us either. The difference between this year's team and the Caps from last season is that we have more depth. Not a ton, but a little more. Clark needs to get healthy soon, and Pettinger, Gordon, Laich, Green, Kozlov, Backstom and Semin all need to start finding the back of the net, or continue hitting it. IF the Caps can do that, they will be okay.

Some more from Steinz

Dan Steinberg talked to Michael Nylander and Nicklas Backstrom about Bruce Sringsteen, the Swedish Embassy, and of course... cheese.

Plus, Backstrom comes over to the Nylanders two or three times a week; he went to Nylander's son's hockey game last weekend. "I'm not the babysitter; I'm his seventh kid," Backstrom said.

And jeez, the kid has good taste:

If you're curious, Backstrom's favorite song is "The River," and his second-favorite is "Streets of Philadelphia."

Clymer & Green

Tarik profiles his "new favorite Cap" Ben Clymer, and Corey's got a handle on one of my faves, Mike Green (have you seen that fauxhawk? Its great). And, USA Today takes care of business with Michael Nylander.

Kevin Lowe speaks (some more)

A few highlights from the disgruntled Edmonton GM's recent interview with the Edmonton Sun. The whole article is worth reading and keep in the mind the "other" wife they are referring to is Lauren Pronger. The free agent/trade situation is bad enough that Lowe is considering going after restricted free agents and paying the penalty in draft picks.

Inviting a pair of reporters to his house to tell his version of what happened in the Michael Nylander fiasco, Lowe painted a picture of another wife who didn't want to live here.

[Lowe] says he's going to hire a concierge for the players and wives to try to make this the happiest place to play on earth

"Facts are facts and the truth is the truth," he said of deciding to speak. Lowe said it was early afternoon July 1 when agent Gillis told him 'I think he'll take the deal. He wants to come, but his wife is uncertain.' "

[...]

Then, [Lowe] pointed out, this columnist (Edmonton Sun's Terry Jones) called to inquire about the Washington Capitals announcement that they'd just signed Nylander.

Lowe finally reached Nylander.

"In a sombre voice, he told me 'I just couldn't do it.' It was like his wife freaked out, like she was being shipped to Siberia or something."

So what did GMGM have to say when Lowe called him?

"He told me he got a call from the player and cited the Mike Vernon judgment that a player is not signed until he's signed.

Lowe on attracting free agents:

"We spent a lot of time at this. Our inability to attract guys. What is it? The city? Me? What's the statement?"

He said none of the so called 'Big Three' - Daniel Briere, Chris Drury and Scott Gomez - were even open to discussion.

Its hard to read this article and not feel some sympathy for Kevin Lowe. But, this is the same man who traded away Ryan Smyth at the deadline for some prospects. The prospects might be ready in a couple years but Lowe knows that the Oilers need help now. And more importantly, he knew that at the trade deadline when he did a crap job of shopping around Smyth.

And jeez, stop blaming the wife. If a family feels like its not the best decision to move somewhere, thats a valid point.

Ooops

Kevin Lowe and the Edomonton Oilers are fighting mad about not signing Mchael Nylander. Keep in mind that they have yet to sign any solid players and that the fan base is still ticked over the Smyth deal. Plus, Lowe had a good deal fall through on draft day.

EDMONTON, Alberta -- The Edmonton Oilers complained to the NHL on Tuesday that they had an agreement with free agent center Michael Nylander before he signed with the Washington Capitals.

The Oilers said in a statement Nylander had reached an agreement with them Sunday, only to then sign a $19.5-million, four-year contract with the Capitals the next day. The Oilers say they held off going after other potential free agents because they thought they had Nylander.

[...]

"On Sunday, July 1, 2007, Kevin Lowe, Oilers general manager, and Mr. Mike Gillis, certified agent for Michael Nylander, negotiated and agreed to a multiyear NHL Standard Players Contract, starting in 2007-08. Mr. Gillis confirmed same to the Oilers in writing," the Oilers statement said. "However, while the Oilers were expecting the returned signed agreements from Mr. Nylander and Mr. Gillis, the Oilers discovered through public announcements made mid-afternoon on July 2, that Mr. Nylander had subsequently entered into a long-term contract with the Capitals," the statement said.

And from Tarik:

Because Nylander and Gillis did not return a signed standard player's contract to the Oilers after negotiating the terms of an agreement, sources said it's unlikely that any remedy would jeopardize Nylander's pact with the Capitals, signed and approved by the NHL.

"To our knowledge, there has been only one Standard Player's Contract executed and filed with the League, and under our CBA, that contract should be enforceable," Deputy NHL Commissioner Bill Daly said in a written statement. "But if, after reviewing all of the relevant facts here, there has been a breach of a contractual commitment, we will certainly assist the Oilers in any way we can in seeking an appropriate remedy."

Note: Dainius Zubrus has signed a deal with the NJ Devils. I havent heard terms yet but I will update when I can.