Oilers Sign Dubnyk, Arsene and Rajala

[chilly666]

General Manager Steve Tambellini announced today the Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms with goaltender Devan Dubnyk, defenceman Dean Arsene and 2009 NHL Entry Draft choice Toni Rajala.

Dubnyk, 23, agreed to a one-year contract with the Oilers.

Edmonton’s first-round pick, 14th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft has played the past two seasons with the club’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, tallying a 27-58-2 record, 3.02 goals against average and a .905 save percentage.

Last season, he was named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week in mid-November and went on to set the Falcons franchise record for most games played in a single season by appearing between the pipes in 62 contests.

The 6’5”, 182-pound Calgary native played five seasons with the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers before making his pro debut with the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder in 2006-07.

Arsene, who turns 29 on Monday, spent the previous six seasons with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, helping lead the Bears to Calder Cup Championships in 2005-06 and 2008-09.

In 267 career games with Hershey, he totaled seven goals and 36 assists for 43 points and 674 penalty minutes.

The 6’2”, 210-pound native of Abbotsford, B.C. made his AHL debut with the Hartford Wolf Pack during the 2002-03 season.

Rajala, 18, signed a three-year entry level contract with the Oilers after being drafted by the club in the fourth round, 101st overall, at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

The 5’10”, 163-pound right winger from Parkano, Finland, played 21 games with Ilves Tampere of the Finnish Elite League last season, recording two goals and three assists for five points.

Rajala has donned the Finnish jersey in three international tournaments, including the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championship and the 2009 World Under-18 Hockey Championship, where he was named the tournament’s best forward with 10 goals and nine assists in six games.

[Thrillhouse]

Glad to see Dubnyk locked up.

I guess this Rajala kid is coming over to play in the Dub, so that's really good to see. We'll find out how he does with the North American style.

[chilly666]

i bet next year he gets a shot at being the back-up in edmonton

[Vasara]

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

I guess this Rajala kid is coming over to play in the Dub, so that's really good to see. We'll find out how he does with the North American style.

Rajala said in a Finnish news paper Aamulehti that he will play in the WHL for Brandon Wheat Kings.

Here's the story in Finnish: http://www.aamulehti.fi/uutiset/urhe...mukseen/149826

[peacemaker]

The Rajala drafting, and subsequent signing was a great move. How mnay guys at that draft position are a total long shot, and without much upside anyways...?

In his case, he's definitely not a total longshot (he just has size limitations to overcome), and his upside is considerably higher than anyone else drafted at that point.
I think if you put some size and toughness on the line with him, he could have a great season in Brandon.