EDMONTON -- Ilya Bryzgalov once compared Edmonton to the North Pole. Now hes trying to help the Oilers find some direction. The free-agent goaltender agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Oilers on Friday, pending the completion of a trade with the Calgary Flames that cleared defenceman Ladislav Smids US$3.5-million cap hit off the books. It was not immediately clear what Bryzgalovs contract was worth, but a source said recent negotiations involved discussions about a pro-rated $3-million salary. The Philadelphia Flyers bought out of the final seven years of Bryzgalovs $51-million, nine-year contract last off-season. The 33-year-old goaltender went to training camp with the ECHLs Las Vegas Wranglers on a tryout but never signed a deal with that club. In Bryzgalov, general manager Craig MacTavish told the Oilers official website that the team was getting a goalie with a "history of being a high-performer in parts of his career" and whos "very motivated." "I believe in the power of the potential of people," MacTavish said in an interview with AM-630 in Edmonton. "Hes said and indicated all the right things to me in the conversations that Ive had. I think he has a chance to come in here and make a real impact on our team." Bryzgalov went 19-17-3 with a 2.79 goals-against average and .900 save percentage last season for the Flyers. The Oilers are in Philadelphia to play the Flyers on Saturday, and while Bryzgalov still lives in the area it was not likely that hed even be in uniform. According to reports, Bryzgalov could first go on a conditioning assignment with the Oklahoma City Barons of the AHL. His last NHL game was April 25. To set up the signing, the Oilers began their shake-up by sending Smid and goaltending prospect Olivier Roy to Calgary in exchange for centre Roman Horak and goaltending prospect Laurent Brossoit. "It was an opportunity to give us some cap (space) to do a few other things and add goaltending depth," MacTavish said, as quoted by the team. "I thank (Smid) for his work ethic and sacrifice on behalf of the hockey club and we wish him well." At 4-11-2, the Oilers are in last place in the NHLs Pacific Division, so the deal does not come as a surprise. Going into Fridays games, Edmonton was ranked last in the league with 3.82 goals-against. Goaltenders Devan Dubnyk, Jason LaBarbera and Richard Bachman were part of that, but there was also a belief the Oilers wanted to shore up their defence. Instead, they traded from their blue-line by dealing Smid to the Flames. The 27-year-old had one goal and one assist in 17 games and averaged more than two minutes a night on the penalty kill. The Oilers were not up against the cap ceiling, though its uncertain what other moves MacTavish has in store. He and president of hockey operations Kevin Lowe have seen scouted the New York Rangers and Flyers recently, but MacTavish expressed satisfaction in the teams recent play. "As bad as our record is, I see plenty of progress and maybe more important plenty of potential in this hockey club," MacTavish said on AM-630. "Certainly no moves imminent and hopefully none for quite some time." Signing Bryzgalov marks a major move for the Oilers, who have a team save percentage of .879 this season. In his NHL career Bryzgalov has a .913 save percentage. His history with the city of Edmonton dates to 2006 when he defended then-Anaheim Ducks teammate Chris Pronger for requesting to be traded from the Oilers. Bryzgalov likened it to the "North Pole." "He may be tried to leave here because here in November months is a minus-32," Bryzgalov said in an interview with The Score. "Could you imagine? Its eight months in a year of snow." When playing for the Phoenix Coyotes amid rumours of the team moving to Winnipeg, Bryzgalov said he wouldnt like to live there because of a lack of parks and fellow Russians. Smid, who was sent from Anaheim to Edmonton as part of the Pronger trade, has 11 goals, 54 assists and 391 penalty minutes over 474 games with the Oilers. "(It was a) difficult trade for me because of the fact that Laddy was such a warrior for the hockey club for so many years here," MacTavish said on AM-630. He is known as a shutdown defenceman and one of the leagues best shot blockers and should help the Flames, who are without captain Mark Giordano (broken ankle) for another five to seven weeks. "We were looking to try to do something before Gio got hurt. We felt we needed to improve the mix of our six," GM Jay Feaster said in Calgary. "Certainly Giordanos injury makes this a more timely addition. Were happy to be able to do it now." Roy was selected in the fifth round, 133rd overall, by Edmonton in 2009. He had a stellar junior career with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL, but has yet to suit up for an NHL game. He may get that chance in Calgary. The Flames have struggled for consistency in goal in their first season without Finnish workhorse Miikka Kiprusoff, who retired at the end of last season. Roy, 22, split last season between Oklahoma City and the ECHLs Stockton Thunder. He had a 2-2 record with a 3.29 GAA and .897 save percentage with the Barons this season. Horak, 22, has spent the past three seasons with the Flames, registering five goals, 13 assists and 16 penalty minutes in 82 games. He has 20 goals and 21 assists in 86 games with Abbotsford of the AHL. Horak was originally selected by the New York Rangers in the fifth round, 127th overall in the 2009 draft. Brossoit, 20, has spent the past four seasons with the Western Hockey Leagues Edmonton Oil Kings, posting a record of 88-34-13 in 146 career WHL games. In 2011-12, the native of Port Alberni, B.C., helped lead the Oil Kings to the best record in the WHL, posting a record of 42-13-5, including three shutouts. He went 16-4-0 in the post-season and was named the playoff MVP as the Oil Kings won the WHL championship and earned a berth in the Memorial Cup Tournament. Brossoit was originally selected by the Calgary Flames in the sixth round, 164th overall in the 2011 draft. Hes in his first professional season. Yairo Munoz .J. - Several people have collapsed in an overcrowded New Jersey train station while waiting in long lines to get to the Super Bowl. Lou Brock . Toronto FC hosts the three-time Italian league champions in a friendly Aug. 7 at BMO Field, a game that Roma CEO Italo Zanzi said falls within a key part of their pre-season. http://www.custommlbcardinalsjersey.com/...arge-1291q.html. Fans holding laudatory signs started showing up at Yankee Stadium when the gates opened at 4 p.m. Monday, an hour early in order to give them a chance to watch the New York captain take batting practice. Custom Cardinals Jerseys .The long-haired pivot, who joined the Alouettes midway through the CFL season and put up a 9-3 record as a starter, will be listed as the top quarterback in training camp next spring.With a full training camp under his belt, the Alouettes will see if he has what it takes to get them back to the Grey Cup game after a four-year absence. Cheap Cardinals Jerseys .com) - Rajon Rondo turned in a game-high 21 points to go with eight rebounds and seven assists as Dallas claimed a 102-98 win over the Lakers on Friday.With the NHL regular season right around the corner, TSN.ca profiles each team leading up to puck drop. Next up is the Colorado Avalanche, who were the surprise winners of the competitive Central Division last season. Catch up on their summer moves and the issues they face this season, as well as Craig Buttons analysis of their top prospect and an analytical breakdown by TSNs Scott Cullen. Division: Central GM: Joe Sakic Head Coach: Patrick Roy 2013-14: 52-22-8 (1st in Central) Playoffs: Lost in First Round Goals For: 245 (4th) Goals Against: 216 (T-14th) PP: 19.8% (5th) PK: 80.7% (24th) That was Then: Starting anew with Patrick Roy behind their bench, the Avalanche got off to a torrid start to the 2013-14 season, earning wins in 12 in their first 13 games. Led by their young core of Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog, Ryan OReilly and rookie Nathan MacKinnon, along with strong goaltending from Semyon Varlamov, the Avalanche quickly went from second-last in the league a year earlier to a team to be feared. The Avalanche cooled in December going 5-9, including a season-worst four-game losing streak, which left the team at 24-15 entering the new year. From there, the Avalanche rediscovered their form and entered the Olympic break at 37-21. The Avalanche finished their season on a 7-1-2 run, allowing the team to edge the St. Louis Blues by point for first place in the Central Division. Duchene, despite missing 11 games with injury, led the Avalanche 70 points. Landeskog was second with 65, while OReilly and Mackinnon finished third and fourth with 64 and 63 points, respectively. OReilly led the Avs in goals with 28 and veteran centre Paul Stastny finished third on the team with 25 goals. In total, five forwards cracked the 20-goal plateau. Varlamov finished the regular season with a 41-14-6 record, posting a .927 save percentage and a 2.41 goals against average. He finished second in the Vezina Trophy vote for the leagues top goaltender and fourth in voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the play judged most valuable to his team. The Avalanche drew the division-rival Minnesota Wild in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Despite starting the series without the services of Duchene, who suffered a late season knee injury, the Avalanche jumped out a 2-0 series lead on home ice. However, the Wild also held their ground at the Xcel Energy Center, sending the series back to Colorado tied 2-2. The Avalanche won Game 5, in overtime but – despite Duchenes return – the Avalanche lost Game 6 convincingly, 5-2. In Game 7, the Avalanche had four one-goal leads erased before losing 5-4 in overtime, ending their hopes of winning their first playoff series since 2008. Stastny led the Avalanche in playoff goals with five, he also tied MacKinnon for the lead in points with 10. Varlamov posted a .913 save percentage and a 2.78 GAA in the seven-game series. Scott Cullens Analytics Avalanche 2013-14 stats by Quarter Games GPG GAA SH% SV% SAF% PTS% 1-20 2.95 2.05 9.6% .938 48.6% .750 21-41 2.52 2.67 8.0% .930 46.5% .619 42-62 3.05 2.81 9.2% .919 47.7% .690 63-82 2.75 2.55 8.5% .929 45.5% .675 NHL AVG 2.67 2.67 7.8% .922 50.0% .562 Key: GPG= goals per game, GAA= goals-against per game, SH%= even-strength shooting percentage, SV%= even-strength save percentage, SAF%= score-adjusted Fenwick percentage (differential of shot attempts faced vs. shot attempts, excluding blocked shots, adjusted for game score), PTS%= percentage of available points. Analysis: Games 1-20: Mediocre possession numbers were overwhelmed by great finishing offensively and superior goaltending. Games 21-41: Dodging bullets, with poor possession and declining scoring, yet pulled a favourable record. Games 42-62: Even with a slip in goaltending, the Avs scored at such a high rate that they offset their possession problems. Games 63-82: Above-average percentages carried the Avs to a strong finish, despite possession woes. Key 2014 Additions: RW Jarome p;Iginla, D Brad Stuart, C Daniel Briere, C Jesse Winchester Key 2014 Subtractions: RW PA Parenteau, C Paul Stastny This is Now: The Avalanche lost Stastny in free agency to the division-rival Blues, who were the only team to beat the Avs more than once last season (they earned three wins in four contests).dddddddddddd Despite losing Stastny, the Avalanche still boast one of the deepest centre groups in the league. MacKinnon, Duchene and OReilly can all take on top-six duties, while John Mitchell, Marc-Andre Cliche and off-season addition Daniel Briere fight for bottom-six roles. In all likelihood, the depth at centre forces the Avalanche to line up Ryan OReilly on the wing – as he did for the majority of last season - of the teams second line and Briere to the wing of the third. In his second year, MacKinnon may be tasked with taking on the role of the first-line centre. However, with the territory comes playing alongside Landeskog and free-agent signee Jarome Iginla, who scored 30 goals with the Bruins last season. If MacKinnon can make a seamless transition after opening last season as the third-line centre (before moving to the second line) and Iginla can mimic his success from Boston, the Avalanche offence could be stronger in 2014-15 than the year before. On defence, Erik Johnson and Jan Hejda are expected to form the Avalanches top pairing. Johnson led the defence with 39 points last season, while Tyson Barrie was second with 38 points and figures to round out the top-four with free agent signee Brad Stuart. Nate Guenin likely drops to the third pairing to play beside Nick Holden, who earned a three-year $4.95 million extension in the off-season after playing 54 games with the Avs in 2013-14. At goaltender, Varlamov is the undisputed starter, with trade-deadline acquisition Reto Berra assuming the back-up role. DEPTH CHART Forwards Left Wing Centre Right Wing Gabriel Landeskog Matt Duchene Ryan OReilly Alex Tanguay Nathan MacKinnon Jarome Iginla Jamie McGinn John Mitchell Daniel Briere Cody McLeod Jesse Winchester Maxime Talbot Patrick Bordeleau Joey Hishon Marc-Andre Cliche Andrew Agozzino Ben Street Troy Bourke Defence Left Right Jan Hejda Erik Johnson Nick Holden Tyson Barrie Brad Stuart Nate Guenin Ryan Wilson Zach Redmond Chris Bigras Stefan Elliott Duncan Siemens Bruno Gervais Goaltenders Semyon Varlamov Reto Berra Sami Aittokallio TSN Director of Scouting Craig Buttons Top Prospect: Conner Bleackley When it comes to Connor, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Hes productive in so many ways and that translates into having an influence in multiple areas of the game. Connor is smart and recognizes what is necessary at any given point and is capable of delivering. The styles of Duchene and MacKinnon differ from Ryan ORielly but in a group it makes the Avs very formidable. Connor will add strength in a similar manner. Fantasy - Scott Cullens Player to Watch Alex Tanguay Now 34-years-old, Tanguay was limited to just 16 games last season due to knee troubles, but he can still put up points and there is a good chance that hes still going to fit in a top-six role with Colorado. That alone offers up some intriguing possibilities, since the Avs have brilliant young forwards and a veteran winger, Jarome Iginla, with whom Tanguay has experienced some success in Calgary. Expectations have to be kept in check, given age and recent injury history, but Tanguay is a threat to put up 50-plus points if he can stay healthy. ' ' '