A Week In The NHL Offseason: Contract Extensions, Collective Bargaining Agreements And More

Jan 3, 2012; Buffalo, NY, USA; Edmonton Oilers right wing Jordan Eberle (14) on the bench during a game against the Buffalo Sabres at the First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-US PRESSWIRE

Another week came and went in the 2012 NHL offseason and apparently no progress was made between the NHL and NHLPA on a new collective bargaining agreement. As it stands today the players are set to be locked out on September 15th leading to a work stoppage and no NHL hockey until a new agreement is reached. Lets keep our fingers crossed that both sides can hash this thing out because its not looking too promising.

This week also marked the one year anniversary of the passing of popular NHL enforcer and all around nice guy, Wade Belak. Belak was found dead in his hotel room which was also his residence on August 31st, 2011. His mother stated that he had been suffering from depression which led many to link his depression to head trauma he suffered while being an NHL enforcer. His death was the 3rd of three hockey tough guys that passed during a horrid four month span that also saw the deaths of Derek Boogaard and Rick Rypien. I’ll never forget those guys or those four weeks, thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends and may these three rest in peace.

Thankfully this week wasn’t all doom and gloom however, as a couple of young guns got contract extensions. Edmonton Oilers forward, Jordan Eberle, received a 6 year, $36 million contract extension. It came a few days after they had signed fellow forward, Taylor Hall, to a long term extension. The rebuild continues in Edmonton.

The Ottawa Senators, not wanting to be left out and also still going through a bit of a rebuild of their own, signed their up and coming center, Kyle Turris to a 5 year extension worth $17.5 million. Turris is coming off a career year that saw him set career highs in goals, assists and points. He is set to make $1.6 million this upcoming season (if there is one).

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