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Sheldon Souray News & Rumors

Souray's absence is leaving big gap
March 17
Dallas Morning News
 
"Sheldon Souray understands his role on the Stars as well as any player does. The 35-year-old defenseman is the oldest Star, and he has seen his role change this season. So when he's been forced to sit out a few games with a charley horse, he said he's remained calm and patient. "I definitely want to be in, and I keep thinking I'm ready, but I also appreciate their thinking," Souray said of missing his fourth consecutive game Friday. "They want me to come back in and be ready to play at my top level and not be in and out of the lineup, and that's what I want too." When he's healthy, the coaches have given Souray plenty of minutes. He is fourth on the team in average time on ice at 20:20 and"
Souray returns to Oilers country
March 2
Edmonton Sun
 
"Mike Comrie in 2003. Chris Pronger in 2006. Dany Heatley in 2009. And now Sheldon Souray in 2012. Every three seasons, the star of another Edmonton Oilers soap opera returns for an icy reunion at Rexall Place. Now it's Souray's turn. The big Alberta-born defenceman, now a key member of the playoff-chasing Dallas Stars, takes the ice in Edmonton for the first time Friday since his bitter, epic battle with Steve Tambellini two seasons ago. "It's hard to say how people are going to react," said Oilers centre Sam Gagner, one of only four skaters left who played with Souray here. "I'm sure there will be some mixed reviews.""
Why still being a Dallas Star is sweet for Souray
March 2
Dallas Morning News
 columnist Mike Heika
"If you were Sheldon Souray's agent, you might have told him to wish for a trade last week. In fact, you might have told him to ask for a trade, beg for a trade and pray for a trade. After all, the dynamic defenseman can be an unrestricted free agent in the summer and wants to keep playing hockey. He'll turn 36 in July, and he still could use a big stage to sell himself. So, yeah, if the Stars wanted to add a few draft picks and ship him to Vancouver, Detroit, Boston or Philadelphia, then have at it. Wish for the highest profile landing spot with the best chance to go deep into the playoffs. But that's not what Souray wanted."
Benn, Souray skate, but still probably a game away
February 21
Dallas Morning News
 
"Jamie Benn (leg) and Sheldon Souray (foot) both skated on Monday morning in Frisco, but are not expected to play Tuesday at Montreal. Both are on the two-game road trip and might be ready to play by Thursday at Chicago. "Chicago is realistic," Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said of Souray. "I think that's what we'll be looking at.""
Sheldon Souray day-to-day with foot injury
February 11
Dallas Morning News
 
"Sheldon Souray missed Friday's game with a bruised foot. He was hit by a shot in Columbus on Thursday. He is listed as day-to-day. Mark Fistric took his place in the lineup. It was Fistric's fourth game in the team's last eight."
Sheldon Souray's sore ankle improving, still in line to return Tuesday
January 8
Dallas Morning News
 
"Defenseman Sheldon Souray (high ankle sprain) reported no problems the day after a hard workout Friday. Souray is scheduled to receive another injection in the ankle but is on course to return for Tuesday's game at Anaheim. He has missed six games because of the injury."
Stars' Stephane Robidas returns from foot injury; Sheldon Souray still seven to 10 day from return
January 6
Dallas Morning News
 
"Stephane Robidas returned from missing six games with a foot injury. Robidas had missed one game in the two previous seasons. "It's tough on me, because I like to get in the routine and play," Robidas said. "It's exciting to be back. There's something about waking up and knowing it's a game day. You get in your routine, and you just know it's going to be special.""
Lehtonen to return to play Thursday; Souray, Robidas out for 10-14 days
December 29
Dallas Morning News
 
"As expected today, Andrew Raycroft was placed on waivers and Kari Lehtonen has been named the starter for Thursday's game against Columbus. Lehtonen has been out since injuring his groin Nov. 26 against Phoenix and has missed the past 12 games. He has a 13-4-1 record with a 2.34 GAA and .926 save percentage. ``Lehts is ready to go, so he'll get the start,'' Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said. ``I think it's the right time to do this, and he's ready.''"
Lehtonen 11th, Souray 20th in fan balloting for All-Star Game
November 30
Dallas Morning News
 
"The voting update for week 2 of the fan balloting for the All-Star Game came out today,and Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen is 11th among netminders. In addition, Sheldon Souray is 20th among defensemen."
Sheldon Souray getting another chance at NHL with Dallas Stars
September 21
Montreal Gazette
 
"How fitting that Sheldon Souray was back Tuesday in a city where we never consider the crunched fenders and shaking fists behind us, but think only of trying to avoid the craters that might lurk on the road ahead. It's with this big-windshield-mostly-no-mirrors point of view that the 35-year-old Dallas Stars defenceman prepares to embark on the 2011-12 season, a couple troubled years of crumpled sheet metal out of sight if not entirely out of mind."
Oilers wash their hands of Sheldon Souray
July 1
Edmonton Journal
 
"Defenceman Sheldon Souray is walking away from the Edmonton Oilers with a parting gift of about $3 million. The Oilers are buying out Souray at two-thirds of his $4.5-million salary, spread out over two years, which means he'll be a free agent on Friday. Any other team can sign Souray on the cheap, after he spent all of last season playing with the Hershey Bears, on loan to the Washington Capitals' American Hockey League farm club. The Oilers-Souray marriage hit the skids in Year 3 of his $27-million, five-year contract when he spoke out about some medical concerns. The Oilers paid his full salary last year in the minors, where he broke his hand and sprained his knee, but he didn't count"
Oilers wash their hands of Sheldon Souray
June 30
Edmonton Journal
 
"The Edmonton Oilers have come to the end of the road with Sheldon Souray, deciding to buy out the last year of the defenceman's $4.5-million contract. Souray, who spent last year on loan to the Hershey Bears, the Washington Capitals' American Hockey League affiliate, is on waivers for the purpose of buying him out at 66 cents on the dollar, spread out over two years. That is $2.97 million in salary. The cap hit to the Oilers is two-thirds of $5.4 million, which is $3.56 million, spread over two years."
Souray placed on unconditional waivers by Oilers
June 30
TSN.ca
 
"The Edmonton Oilers have placed veteran defenceman Sheldon Souray on unconditional waivers with the purpose of being bought out. The 35-year-old defenceman spent the entire 2010-11 season with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League after clearing waivers and being send down by the Oilers prior to the season."
Oilers fail in bid to move disgruntled blue-liner Souray at draft
June 26
Edmonton Journal
 
"Disgruntled veteran defenceman Sheldon Souray is staying in Edmonton — at least for now. While the Chicago Blackhawks dumped defenceman Brian Campbell's $7-million US salary-cap hit on their former general manager Dale Tallon, now GM of the Florida Panthers, on Friday because the Panthers are way below the cap floor and have to take on contracts, the Oilers didn't convince Tallon to take Souray. "I've had discussions with most teams but haven't been able to do anything with Sheldon at this time," said Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini, who would like to have moved Souray's $4.5 million salary for a pick at the NHL entry draft this week, but couldn't get anything done, even with the"
Oilers may buy out Souray's contract
June 11
Edmonton Journal
 
"Sheldon Souray's agent Paul Theofanous says he has yet to hear from the Edmonton Oilers on whether they plan to buy out the last year of his client's contract and salary-cap hit with the buyout window opening next Wednesday. But it's likely coming. If the New York Rangers are buying out their injury-riddled captain Chris Drury at two-thirds of his $5-million US salary (two thirds of his $7.05 million cap hit), the Oilers can likely do the same with Souray, who spent all of last season on loan to the Hershey Bears, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Washington Capitals. June 15 kicks off a two-week period when NHL teams can partially extricate themselves from contracts they don't"
Oilers weigh options on Souray
May 25
Edmonton Journal
 
"Assistant general manager Ricky Olczyk said the Edmonton Oilers are still weighing their options on defenceman Sheldon Souray, who spent all of last season in the American Hockey League with the Hershey Bears. Souray still has a year left at $4.5 million salary, with a $5.4-million salary-cap hit. The odds are the Oilers will buy him out after June 15 at two-thirds of his salary, with his cap number spread out over two years. But Olczyk said there has been no firm decision made yet. "He was a good soldier to his credit in the American League, a consummate professional. There were no problems with him on the ice or in the room," said Olczyk."
Trying to deal Souray 'made sense'
February 23
Edmonton Journal
 
"Edmonton Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini rolled the dice when he placed Sheldon Souray on re-entry waivers on Saturday. But Tambellini shrugged his shoulders when he didn't win the gamble and couldn't find another team to take half of the disgruntled defenceman's salary. "It made sense with the trade deadline coming," said Tambellini. "He's down there (Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League) for the rest of the season now." Nobody called Tambellini about working out a trade to swap costly contracts. So now Souray will be perched in Hershey unless somebody calls out of the blue before Monday's NHL trade deadline to ask the Oilers to put him back on re-entry waivers because"
No takers for Oilers' Souray
February 22
Edmonton Journal
 
"Tom Renney is the Edmonton Oilers coach, not a general manager, but he says if he saw Sheldon Souray on waivers he would have grabbed him in a New York minute, even though he's not behind the Rangers bench any longer. Unfortunately for the Oilers defenceman, 29 other teams don't see it Renney's way, and even though blue-liners are at a premium in playoff races, they all passed on the 34-year-old with the booming shot when he was available on re-entry waivers this past weekend. He cleared at 10 a.m. Monday and now is technically on the Oilers roster, but he's actually been put back on waivers to be returned to the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears, where he has been on loan since the"
Souray clears waivers; future uncertain
February 21
TSN.ca
 
"Sheldon Souray will not be heading back to the NHL. For now, at least. The veteran defenceman cleared waivers Monday, meaning no team took a chance on adding him to their roster. It is not yet known what the Oilers next step will be, but they do reserve the right to keep him in the American Hockey League, where he is currently on loan to the Hershey Bears."
Souray back on waivers
February 20
Edmonton Sun
 
"Oilers GM Steve Tambellini says he's just casting a line by putting defenceman Sheldon Souray on recallable waivers. Everybody wants defencemen, so why not throw one out there. "In speaking to so many mangers over the last few weeks, recognizing how many people are looking for defencemen, this is an opportunity, I think, for some team, and for Sheldon," said Tambellini, who has no gut feeling either way. "I don't know. I just know that everyone is asking for the same type of things out there and this is the right time." If Souray isn't claimed, it's expected the Oilers would send him back to Hershey in the AHL, but Tambellini wouldn't comment."
Souray is available at bargain price
February 20
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Sheldon Souray, once among the NHL's elite power-play defensemen, currently is available at half-price after the Edmonton Oilers placed the 34-year-old on re-entry waivers yesterday. Might the Blue Jackets, who had internal discussions about trading for Souray during training camp, put in a claim by noon Monday? Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson would not comment when reached by The Dispatch, but it's expected that Howson and the club's hockey operations department - along with coach Scott Arniel - will meet today to discuss the possibility of putting in a claim for Souray. Heading into NHL action yesterday, the Jackets were 11th in the waiver order, based on the inverse of the NHL"
Souray recalled from AHL
February 20
Edmonton Journal
 
"Sheldon Souray's exile in the American League may be coming to an end. The Edmonton Oilers put the defenceman who is on loan to the Hershey Bears on re-entry waivers Saturday morning even though the management didn't get a call from another general manager saying they would claim him if he was on re-entry. So they're taking a chance that teams, always in a mad search for blue-line help in playoff races, will take a flier on Souray. And it's a tactical move by the Oilers putting Souray on waivers on the weekend because teams have 48 hours not 24 to decide as it is on weekday situations, which means there'll be no decision until Monday morning. Nobody has phoned Steve Tambellini to say"
Rangers take a pass on Souray
February 8
Edmonton Journal
 
"The New York Rangers have closed the book on veteran defenceman Sheldon Souray, sources say. The Rangers were looking at the former Edmonton Oilers blue-liner likely as a re-entry waivers pickup. They sent scouts to closely watch him in action as a member of the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Souray's foot speed doesn't fit with their current team model. He can still shoot, but the Rangers are concerned he can't move very well, so they will look elsewhere for a power-play pointman. The Rangers had the same concerns about defenceman Wade Redden, which is why the former NHLer is in the minors, playing in Hartford. Souray, even if he gives goalies the"
Hershey Bears without Souray after ex-Oiler breaks hand
October 27
Edmonton Journal
 
"Four games into his American Hockey League exile, former Oilers defenceman Sheldon Souray has made another trip to the medical room. Farmed to the Hershey Bears by Edmonton, the veteran sustained a fracture in his right hand Saturday in a fight with Matt Clackson of the Adirondack Phantoms. "Regardless of where you're playing, it's a hard game. There's no guarantees," said Edmonton Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini, who went on to say that teams are hard-pressed to tell their assets not to fight. "You can't control that," he continued. "Whether or not you're a player used to fighting, sometimes it just happens." Tambellini didn't have all the details, but he has to know this won't"
Oilers brass won't rush into deal for Souray
October 19
Edmonton Sun
 columnist Eric Francis
"The Edmonton Oilers aren't in any particular hurry to unload Sheldon Souray. Then again, they're not in much of a hurry to do anything right now as the club and its fans are preaching patience. "(Team president) Patrick (LaForge) and I spoke to about 12,000 ticket holders through various lunches and breakfasts to give them our plans for the next wave of what I saw needed to take place with the club, and the thing that kept coming back from our market was that nobody wanted a quick fix," said Oilers GM Steve Tambellini. "I told them we'll build from within, and people agreed with what we were going to do. We had to start the organization again, and we have to re-do the way we work"
Souray finally suits up with Bears
October 17
Edmonton Journal
 
"Jarome Iginla can't believe his old foe, Sheldon Souray, was playing with the Hershey Bears on Saturday rather than going nose-to-nose at the Scotiabank Saddledome. It was the first time that Edmonton and the Flames have met in Calgary since the former Oilers defenceman broke his hand on Iginla's head in a wild fight on Jan. 30. "Never imagined that. Never wish that by any means," said the Flames captain. "I don't know the dynamics of Sheldon being down there, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time until he's up playing in the NHL again. "I certainly don't want to be the cause of anybody's injuries or misfortune," Iginla continued. "I still feel badly that he broke his hand, and going"
Souray says he's grateful to play in Hershey
October 9
Edmonton Journal
 
"He came, he saw, he left the impression he was going to start anew. Or so went the discussion Sheldon Souray, the banished Edmonton Oilers defenceman, had with the media in Hershey, Pa. The Oilers loaned the veteran to the Washington Capitals' American Hockey League affiliate earlier this week and he reported to his new squad on Friday. "I look at coming here as a positive thing for me to get in this environment, in a winning environment, in a structured and healthy environment, and just start a new kind of chapter in my life," he was quoted as saying in the Patriot-News. "I'm grateful for the opportunity that Hershey is providing. We'll see what happens." Unable to trade him, unable to"
Oilers send Souray to minors in Hershey, Pa.
October 7
Edmonton Journal
 
"Edmonton Oilers defenceman Sheldon Souray's next game will be in the minors, but not in Oklahoma City. It'll be in Hershey, Pa. Hershey is the U.S. chocolate capital, but when you're unceremoniously sent to the American League after 13 years in the NHL, that's hardly a sweet assignment. The Oilers worked out an arrangement to assign the 34-year-old to the Washington Capitals farm club rather than send him to their own AHL affiliate, which obviously means they would rather not have Souray around their prospects while they continue to try to trade him. Through camp, there were no trade negotiations that caused GM Steve Tambellini to get excited, so Souray is going to the minors for the first"
Oilers won't put Souray on roster
October 6
Edmonton Journal
 
"Still in pursuit of a trade partner, Edmonton Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini will wait until the 11th hour before he assigns Sheldon Souray. Because the defenceman has cleared waivers, he must either be assigned to the 23-man roster by Wednesday's deadline, or assigned to the Oklahoma City Barons. He will not go on the 23-man roster and Tambellini won't make a trade unless it is beneficial for the club. In other words, he's not going to take on a cumbersome contract just to move the veteran. "We wanted to give ourselves every day that we could to see if there was something that made sense. That doesn't look like it's going to happen," said Tambellini. "We'll see what happens"
Souray perched in NHL limbo
October 2
Edmonton Journal
 
"Sheldon Souray cleared waivers for the second time in three months on Friday, but the Edmonton Oilers will not assign the disgruntled defenceman to their American Hockey League affiliate -- at least for now. With the NHL season opening next Thursday, Souray, 34, remains in limbo because no team put in a claim for either him or Martin Gerber, the veteran goaltender whom the Oilers placed on waivers on Thursday as well. Gerber, however, is on his way to the AHL's Oklahoma City Barons. "It's status quo," Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini said of Souray's situation. "I'm still hoping to get something done by roster day (Wednesday), but ... " Tambellini is still making calls, trying to"
Souray stayed true to form
October 1
Edmonton Sun
 columnist Terry Jones
"It's a very humbling, humiliating time for Sheldon Souray. There seems to be a goodbye-and-good-riddance thing which exists with not only the organization he ripped last spring, in asking for a trade which couldn't possibly be made, but with the fans and media who have very short memories. No suggestion here that general manager Steve Tambellini didn't make the right move by telling Souray not to come to training camp. And no problem here with the inevitable follow to that which saw Souray placed on waivers Thursday, giving the other 29 NHL teams until noon today to claim him from waivers. And no problem with the next phase, either — sending him to Oklahoma City, to set up putting him on"
Edmonton puts Souray, Gerber, on waivers
October 1
Edmonton Journal
 
"For the second time in two months, the Edmonton Oilers have placed Sheldon Souray on waivers. If he clears by 10 a.m. Friday Edmonton time, and it is expected he will just was as he did in July, the Oilers will continue to look for a trade partner. If no deal can be struck before Oct. 6, which is when the Oilers have to declare their 23-man roster, they will likely assign him to the American Hockey League — rather than use up a spot for a player who will not play another game in an Oilers sweater. Souray has been waived, peddled on the trade market, and banned from training camp since declaring at the end of the 2009-10 season that he wanted to be moved. Citing a "sour" relationship with"
No movement on Souray front
September 29
Edmonton Sun
 
"Still no movement on the Sheldon Souray front, but it's not for lack of trying. "We're still trying to see if there's some situation that would make sense from a trade standpoint," said GM Steve Tambellini. "We still just want to see if there was time to not just make a trade, but do something that helps the Oilers.""
Souray situation with Oilers remains murky
September 29
Edmonton Journal
 
"While New York Rangers defenceman Wade Redden went on NHL waivers on Monday, disgruntled Edmonton Oilers defenceman Sheldon Souray did not. It's not the Oilers' game plan to see if anybody takes Souray and the $9 million left on his two-year contract, or half of that if he goes on re-entry waivers. They have no interest, now, in sending him to Oklahoma City, their American League farm team, as the New York Rangers are doing with their defenceman Redden. He is going to Hartford. "Waivers are an option," said general manager Steve Tambellini. "But we're still trying to see if there's a situation from a trade standpoint that makes sense, one that helps the Oilers." The Oilers did not suspend"
Souray is worth the risk for Jackets
September 21
Columbus Dispatch
 columnist Michael Arace
"The Blue Jackets have spoken to the Edmonton Oilers about Sheldon Souray, the most available defenseman in recent NHL history. The two clubs have been trading partners in the past, and there is a potential fit here. There is a deal that would work for both sides. But it is not a no-brainer. Souray has long been lobbying for a trade, and there have been no takers. He is 34 years old, he has missed 102 games to injury the past two seasons and his cap hit is $5.4million in each of the next two years. What is more, he has been portrayed as a malcontent. Souray in April pilloried Oilers management. Among other things, he said, "You talk about Prongs (Chris Pronger) and guys like that, and it"
Souray to Columbus for Commodore?
September 20
Edmonton Journal
 columnist Jim Matheson
"Edmonton Oilers GM Steve Tambellini says his phone is very quiet as he tries to trade Sheldon Souray, but the management of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who certainly need offensive help on their blue line, has at least talked of the idea. The Jackets lost their best puck-moving defenceman, Kris Russell, this weekend to a sprained knee, which will keep him out two to four weeks. They don't have a shooter from the point. But if they were to look at Souray, who has two years left on his contract at $4.5 million US a season, they would have to move a rich contract themselves. As has been mentioned before, the name most often tossed out is defensive blueliner Mike Commodore, whose mother"
Jackets consider trading for Souray
September 20
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The Blue Jackets are considering a trade that would alter their makeup defensively and could dramatically enhance their power play. Defenseman Sheldon Souray, a three-time All-Star who has been barred from Edmonton's training camp and is awaiting a trade because of critical comments he made about the Oilers this summer, is on the Blue Jackets' radar, The Dispatch has learned. Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson would not comment, but The Dispatch has learned that Columbus wants to evaluate its defensemen during training camp before deciding whether to pursue a trade with Edmonton. Souray, 34, is training in Los Angeles. "Whoever gets me is going to be happy," Souray told The Edmonton"
Blue Jackets Considering Souray
September 19
Columbus Dispatch
 
"The latest twist in the dysfunctional relationship between the Edmonton Oilers and defenseman Sheldon Souray occurred last week, when the Oilers took the odd step of barring Souray from attending training camp. Yes, Souray has publicly (and harshly) criticized the Oilers and demanded a trade, but trading Souray, his hefty contract and his lengthy history of injuries would seem to only get more difficult by keeping him off the ice. It's a simmering problem that must be settled soon, and the Blue Jackets could be the team to remedy the Oilers-Souray standoff. The Dispatch has learned that there have been internal conversations within the Blue Jackets about trading for Souray, a three-time"
Stay away, Souray
September 17
Edmonton Journal
 columnist Dan Barnes
"It is worth noting that Ethan Moreau and Sheldon Souray walked away from last year's Edmonton Oilers train wreck arm in arm, metaphorically speaking. Leadership-wise, the swaggering duo wound up on a bit of an island, Moreau arriving early thanks to his behind-the-scenes criticism of Oilers methodology, Souray joining him the moment he publicly blasted management in a bitter, selfish post-season reiteration of his serial trade demands. Five months later, on the eve of a training camp that is all about culture change and kids, the veteran couple are no longer welcome here, while the likes of Shawn Horcoff and Ales Hemsky are once again due for sweater letters. In fact, both Moreau and"
Oilers' approach impractical
September 15
Edmonton Journal
 
"A disguntled Sheldon Souray called out the Edmonton Oilers organization after last season, but is general manager Steve Tambellini cutting off his nose to spite himself by freezing out the defenceman and not having him come to training camp? Isn't it considerably easier to trade an asset who's in an NHL jersey, playing games, especially one with the checkered injury past of Souray, than it is when that player is gathering dust and skating with, say, the University of Alberta Golden Bears during training camp? NHL teams want to see if Souray is not only productive with the puck on his stick, but healthy, don't they? The Columbus Blue Jackets could seriously use his bazooka from the point,"
Fellow Oilers weigh in on Souray's training camp absence
September 15
Edmonton Journal
 
"If defenceman Sheldon Souray was at Edmonton Oilers training camp, it wouldn't be a problem for his teammates, who see him as a piece of the puzzle, not the walloping headache that the team management does. "A distraction for us? Not at all," said the leaner-looking winger Dustin Penner, after an informal skate with many Oiler players, including Souray, at Kinsmen Arena Tuesday. "He's a player like anybody else. We could use him." "A distraction to the players? It won't be now. It wouldn't have been on the ice, but if the media wants to make a big deal of it, they could easily do that. Then it becomes one, because you have to answer questions about it every day," said centre Shawn Horcoff."
Souray speaks on situation with Oilers
September 15
Edmonton Sun
 
"Sheldon Souray didn't have much to say. The Edmonton Oilers spoke volumes this summer when they waived the veteran defenceman in an effort to accommodate his request to be shipped out of town. The message came back loud and clear when every team in the National Hockey League passed on the opportunity to acquire him for free. And as if that wasn't humbling enough, Souray has now been told to stay from training camp by general manager Steve Tambellini. He's not wanted in Edmonton either. "Things are pretty clear right now and my agent and Steve can discuss the situation," Souray said following an informal skate with the rest of the Oilers on Tuesday. "It hasn't changed my focus of being"
Souray told not to report to Oilers training camp
September 14
Edmonton Journal
 
"The welcome mat isn't out for defenceman Sheldon Souray, so he won't be tugging on his No. 44 jersey when the Edmonton Oilers open their training camp sessions Saturday at Rexall Place. "I said in the summer we were making changes going forward," Edmonton Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini told the media at Penticton, B.C., where the team's rookies are playing in a prospects tournament with four other NHL teams. "We're sticking with the plan. Our ownership, our management, our coaches are all on board and we're not going to change it." Tambellini not only doesn't want Souray in training camp, he also made it clear that the defenceman will not be in an Oilers jersey at any point this"
Stalled Souray situation holds up other deals
August 25
Edmonton Journal
 
"With Edmonton Oilers training camp less than a month away, disgruntled defenceman Sheldon Souray still doesn't have a change of address while free-agent centres Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano don't have contracts. Needless to say, there is a gulf between what the Oilers and best buddies Gagner and Cogliano feel they are worth after three seasons of playing in the NHL. They would have been signed long ago, but the Souray soap opera is a pricklier situation. It would not be a sound idea to have the veteran blue-liner on the ice at training camp, even if he has two years left with the Oilers at $5.4 million US per season. That's because he would likely be a major distraction, just as Dany"
Gagner, Cogliano, Souray still in limbo with Oilers
August 24
Edmonton Journal
 
"With Edmonton Oilers training camp less than a month away, disgruntled defenceman Sheldon Souray still doesn't have a change of address while free-agent centres Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano don't have contracts. Needless to say, there is a gulf between what the Oilers and best buddies Gagner and Cogliano feel they are worth after three seasons of playing in the NHL. They would have been signed long ago, but the Souray soap opera is a pricklier situation. It would not be a sound idea to have the veteran blue-liner on the ice at training camp, even if he has two years left with the Oilers at $5.4 million U.S. per season. That's because he would likely be a major distraction, just as Dany"
Deal may give clues to Souray's fate
July 20
Edmonton Journal
 
"If you're wondering what Edmonton Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini will get in return for disgruntled defenceman Sheldon Souray, just take a look at the Simon Gagne trade. On Monday, the Philadelphia Flyers acquired defenceman Matt Walker -- a No. 6 or 7 blue-liner -- and only a fourth-round draft pick from the Tampa Bay Lightning for veteran forward Gagne, who is four years younger than the 34-year-old Souray and has scored at least 33 goals four times in his career, including two seasons over 40 during the last five years. Souray has scored more than 20 goals a season twice. Gagne's salary-cap hit is $5.25 million US for one more season. Souray's is $5.4 million for two more"
Souray clears waiver wire
July 4
Edmonton Journal
 
"Defenceman Sheldon Souray cleared waivers on Saturday, putting the Edmonton Oilers right back to where they started. The Oilers still have a big-ticket player who wants to move elsewhere. Edmonton elected to waive the veteran to see if any of the other 29 teams might put in a claim. In return, the Oilers would have gained nothing -- no draft pick, no player(s). "Maybe it accelerates some action here. This is the time of year where (teams) do have some roster spots open, some cap space available. "We would thought we would explore this opportunity to see if we could make something happen," general manager Steve Tambellini told the club's radio rights holder."
No takers for Souray
July 4
Edmonton Sun
 
"On Saturday all 29 NHL teams passed on the defenceman after he was put on waivers by the Oilers the day before. The native of Elk Point has two years left on his deal that will pay him $5.4-million in each of the next two seasons. He originally signed a five-year $27-million deal with the Oilers in 2007, but has requested a trade. Midway through last season, Souray gave the Oilers a list of teams he was willing to waive his no-trade clause for in order to facilitate a move. However, the six-foot-four, 223-pounder was injured towards the end of the year, breaking his wrist in a fight with Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla. That eliminated any possibility of a trade-deadline deal to any"
No suitors for Souray
July 4
Edmonton Journal
 
"Defenceman Sheldon Souray has cleared waivers, which puts the Oilers right back where they started. They still have a player who wants to take his $5.4-million cap hit and move elsewhere. The club had put him on waivers to see if any of the 29 other teams in the league might put in a claim. In essence, Souray became an unrestricted free agent as teams wouldn't have to return a draft pick or a player to the Oilers if a claim was made. "Maybe it accelerates some action here. This is the time of year where (teams) do have some roster spots open, some cap space available. We thought we would explore this opportunity to see if we could make something happen," general manager Steve Tambellini"