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. The 34-year-old Swede was one of the top catches on the free-agent market, setting career highs in goals (26), assists (57) and points (83) with the New York Rangers last season.
“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 July 2, that Mr. Nylander had subsequently entered into a long-term contract with the Capitals.”
The NHL did not have an immediate response.
Blues: St. Louis signed Paul Kariya to a three-year, $18 million contract.
Adding Kariya, still one of the speediest players in the NHL and the Nashville Predators’ leading scorer the past two seasons, capped a busy weekend in which the Blues also reacquired center Keith Tkachuk and re-signed defenseman Barret Jackman.
“I know we’re a playoff team,” Kariya said after donning a No. 9 jersey at his introductory news conference. “Let’s go win a Cup.”
Ducks: Forward Brad May, acquired from the Avalanche in February, signed a two-year, $1.2 million contract to remain with Anaheim.
“There were a lot of reasons I wanted to stay in Anaheim,” May said. “I love playing here. I turned down more money from other teams.”
May, 35, had three assists in 10 games with Colorado and four assists in 14 games after being traded to the Ducks on Feb. 27. He missed the first 53 games with a shoulder injury.
Devils: New Jersey signed forward Dainius Zubrus, who split the past season between the Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres while scoring a career-high 24 goals, and defenseman Karel Rachunek.
Rachunek spent last season with the Rangers.
Canucks: Vancouver signed free-agent goalie Curtis Sanford and goalie Cory Schneider, its 2004 first-round draft pick.
Vancouver also added free- agent forwards Byron Ritchie and Brad Isbister, and re-signed defenseman Lukas Krajicek.
Sanford was 8-12-5 with a 3.18 goals-against average in 31 games last season with the Blues.
Wild: Minnesota re-signed center Wes Welz to a one-year deal and also added veteran center Eric Belanger and goaltender Nolan Schaefer.
Walz, 37, had nine goals and 15 assists for the Wild last season.
Predators: Nashville signed goaltender Chris Mason to a $6 million, two-year contract extension through the 2009-10 season.
Mason, 31, will take over starting duties this season with the trade of Tomas Vokoun to the Florida Panthers in June.
