Oilers Sign Alexei Mikhnov and Mathieu Roy

[Thrillhouse]

The Edmonton Oilers have signed forward Alexei Mikhnov and defenceman Mathieu Roy to one-year contracts.

Mikhnov, the Oilers’ first choice in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, joins the Oilers after playing the last nine seasons in Russia. The 6’5”, 218-pound, native of Keiv, Ukraine scored 14-8-22 with 18 penalty minutes in 40 games with Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the Russian Superliga in 2005-06. With his 22 points, the 24-year-old left winger tied for third in goal scoring and was 10th in scoring on the Yaroslavl roster as he helped his team to a third place finish in the standings.

Mikhnov made his international debut for Russia at the 2006 IIHF World Championship in Riga, Latvia. He scored 4-2-6 in seven games for the Russian national team to rank second in goals and third in points.

Making his Superliga debut with Yaroslavl in 1997-98, Mikhnov has scored 39-38-77 with 70 PIM in 235 games in six seasons in Russia’s top league. He has also played for Dynamo Moscow, Ufa and Novosibirsk during his tenure in the Superliga.

Mikhnov has made three post-season appearances, scoring 4-4-8 with 10 PIM in 21 playoff games. He led Yaroslavl in playoff scoring in 2006 with 4-4-8 in 11 games.

Roy begins his fourth professional season with the Oilers’ organization in 2006-07. The 6’2”, 214-pound native of St-Georges, Quebec was the Oilers 10th choice (7th round), 215th overall, in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Roy appeared in 50 games with Hamilton of the American Hockey League in 2005-06, scoring 3-16-19 with 82 PIM to finish fourth in scoring among Bulldogs’ defencemen. The 23-year-old blueliner made his NHL debut with the Oilers last season, appearing in one game with Edmonton. Roy made his NHL debut versus the St. Louis Blues in a 5-4 shootout loss on February 12, 2006 at Rexall Place and was scoreless in 13 minutes of playing time.

Roy has scored 6-40-46 with 196 PIM in 131 career AHL games over three seasons since making his pro debut with the Toronto Roadrunners in 2003-04.

[Podollan]

They should better sign an Fighter, Perrot or Brennan or anyone else. Erskine maybe.

[Isles4life]

Looks like Russia is now definitely losing the battle to keep its players.