The Edmonton Oilers just signed their rookie defensemen Tom Gilbert to a six-year $24-million dollar deal. Gilbert is a fourth-round selection in the 2002 draft. He played four years of collegiate hockey and at 25, he's older for a rookie. As part of this deal, the Oilers bought four years of unrestricted free agency which ultimately drove his price up.

Why is this important?

For one, this sets an early benchmark on what potential unrestricted free agents are going to get. Guys like Brian Campbell, Wade Redden, John Michael-Liles, and Michal Rosival can all pretty much take what they were expecting and raise it by a mil per year.

Secondly, I think Joni Pitkanen just became "tradeable" for the Oil. Right now, they have the following locked up in their defense:

Souray—$5.4 million
Gilbert—$4 million
Staios—$2.7 million
Greene—$1.150 million
Smid—$0.886 million

That's over $14 million without even singing Pitkanen and Grebeshkov.

We know Howson has experience with players from Edmonton. I think he just shot up the Jackets "most wanted" list with this move. If the Jackets do make a play though, they will have to be prepared to shell out big bucks—Pitkanen as an RFA is going to want at least five-million dollars per season. Howson would have to gamble a bit that he would regain the form that he had previously under Hithcock in Philly.

Here is an intersting group of stats I ran accross. Here was the average salary cap hit for all 30 NHL team's defenses last season:

ANA: $19.8

ATL: $11.2

BOS: $16.3

BUF: $12.7

CAR: $11.8

CGY: $15.1

CHI: $8.7

CLB: $6.7

COL: $12.3

DAL: $14.5

FLA: $12.4

LAK: $13.5

MIN: $14.5

MTL: $19.4

NAS: $10.9

NJD: $12.8

NYI: $9.4

NYR: $11.3

OTT: $15.4

PHI: $18.5

PHX: $17.9

PIT: $16.2

SJS: $11.8

STL: $15.4

TBL: $11.3

TOR: $18.1

VAN: $15.4

WAS: $10.9

Detroit was the highest, but Edmonton will be right up there now.

Another storyline to keep your eye on.