News From Around The Crease: Hall Signs Entry-Level Deal, 31 Players To Arbitration, Probert Passes Away

 

~ When he was selected first overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, it was fully expect that Taylor Hall would immediately step into the lineup. The organization has yearned for a player with his potential and believe he is prepared to take the next step into the NHL. On Monday, the Oilers officially signed Hall to an entry level contract that calls for him to make $900,000 in base salary and as much as $3.75 million annually with bonuses over the next three years.

Now it's up to Hall to show he can handle the pressure of an entire city riding on his shoulders. The Oilers have longed to get back on the winning track, and he is believed to be the key to that happening. Good luck, kid.

~ Several NHL players started the arbitration process today by filing for hearings. The NHLPA announced that 31 players elected to take their cases before a moderator in the coming weeks to score big raises from the previous season. Those currently restricted free agents are:

• James Wisniewski - Defenseman, Anaheim Ducks
• Ben Eager - Left Wing, Atlanta Thrashers
• Andrew Ladd - Left Wing, Atlanta Thrashers
• Clarke MacArthur - Left Wing, Atlanta Thrashers
• Gregory Campbell - Center, Boston Bruins
• Blake Wheeler - Right Wing, Boston Bruins
• Tim Kennedy - Center/Wing, Buffalo Sabres
• Ian White - Defenseman, Calgary Flames
• Antti Niemi - Goaltender, Chicago Blackhawks
• Jared Boll - Right Wing, Columbus Blue Jackets
• Anton Stralman - Defenseman, Columbus Blue Jackets
• Fabian Brunnstrom - Left Wing, Dallas Stars
• Derek Meech - Defenseman, Detroit Red Wings
• Gilbert Brule - Center, Edmonton Oilers
• Jeff Drouin-DesLauriers - Goaltender, Edmonton Oilers
• Jean-Francois Jacques - Left Wing, Edmonton Oilers
• Brad Richardson - Center/Wing, Los Angeles Kings
• Mark Fraser - Defenseman, New Jersey Devils
• Matt Moulson - Left Wing, New York Islanders
• Dan Girardi - Defenseman, New York Rangers
• Chris Campoli - Defenseman, Ottawa Senators
• Peter Regin - Center/Wing, Ottawa Senators
• Daniel Carcillo - Left Wing, Philadelphia Flyers
• Cam Janssen - Right Wing, St. Louis Blues
• Nate Thompson - Center/Wing, Tampa Bay Lightning
• Tanner Glass - Left Wing, Vancouver Canucks
• Jannik Hansen - Wing, Vancouver Canucks
• Mason Raymond - Left Wing, Vancouver Canucks
• Eric Fehr - Right Wing, Washington Capitals
• Tomas Fleischmann - Left Wing, Washington Capitals
• Jeff Schultz - Defenseman, Washington Capitals

~ One of the league's most feared enforcers for 16 seasons, former-Detroit Red Wing and Chicago Blackhawk Bob Probert died Monday at the age of 45 when he collapsed due to severe chest pains suffered while boating with his wife, four children and in-laws. CPR was administered and he was rushed to the Windsor Region Hospital in Ontario, but his life was already lost.

On the ice, Probert was legendary when it came to dropping the gloves and racked up a whopping 3,300 penalty minutes. That mark is fifth all-time in league history, due in large part to the 233 regular season scraps he was involved in, according to the HockeyFights.com database. In 935 games, Probert was also a contributor on the score sheet with 163 goals and 221 assists for 384 points. His best season came in 1987-88 when he posted career-highs in goals (29), assists (33) and points (62) while earning his only All-Star Game appearance.

Off the ice, Probert was known for numerous drug and legal issues, including a three-month prison term in 1989 after attempting to smuggle cocaine into the United States from Canada. Perhaps his history with substance abuse contributed to this early death? An autopsy will be performed on Tuesday, according to TSN.

No funeral arrangements have been announced at this time.

~ The Tampa Bay Lightning have put pen to paper on a contract for defenseman Brett Clark. The two-year deal will pay Clark $3.2 million. The 33-year old veteran of 11 seasons spent the last six campaigns as a member of the Colorado Avalanche. The mobile depth defenseman posted three goals and 17 assists for 20 points in 64 games last season. His best season came in 2006-07, Clark accumulated career-highs in goals (10), assists (29) and points (39) in a full 82-game schedule.

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