Souray Clears Waivers, Remains With Oilers For Now

 

The relationship between Sheldon Souray and the Edmonton Oilers has long been a tenuous one. It was tested throughout the season when Souray not just hinted, but flat out called for a trade out of the city. That didn't go down and neither has another push for both team and player to move on with their lives without each other.

On Friday, Souray was placed on waivers by the Oilers with the hopes that an interested suitor would come and take the 33-year old defenseman and the remaining $9 million on his contract. This, of course, came after the no-trade clause in said contract disappeared on Thursday. When no trades appeared to be imminent and the market for a deal proved thinner than General Manager Steve Tambellini had hoped, the best approach for the Oilers was to see if the idea of having Souray without giving back players and picks was an enticing one to other GMs. But the $5.4 million cap hit over each of the final two seasons on Souray's deal kept teams away.

While this may not appear like a panic situation to some, the fact that Tambellini was unable to find any trade worth pulling a trigger on and watched the disgruntled 12-year get looked over by every other NHL squad at a free price tag has to be a bit disheartening. Teams shold be clamoring for the services of a 20-goal scoring blue liner. Practically no other D-man in the NHL possesses that ability. But $5.4 million annually in cap space is a lot to sacrifice. As is the possibility Souray's health is not up to snuff, having played just 37 games last season and even less three years ago (26).

For now, everybody sits and waits. With all of the big time free agency options off the board, Souray is the best defenseman available. But with the trade route and waivers process already exhausted, it's entirely possible that Souray remains an Oiler at the start of next season. If that is the case, a move to the minors or a push toward re-entry waivers, where the Oilers would then need to eat up 50 percent of his remaining salary, could be the next logical steps for Tambellini to try and rid his organization of yet another player long looking to get out of Edmonton.