oilers pick up tarnstrom

[westbeach55]

Canadian Press

1/26/2006 4:15:18 PM

LOS ANGELES (CP) - The Edmonton Oilers hope they have found the offensive blue-liner they've been looking for after acquiring Dick Tarnstrom from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday in exchange for forward Jani Rita and defenceman Cory Cross.

Tarnstrom, who turned 31 last week, had a career-high 52 points (16-36) in 2003-04 with the Pens but lost his spot as the top offensive point man in Pittsburgh after Sergei Gonchar was signed last summer.

Tarnstrom has only 10 points (5-5) in 33 games this season while sporting a minus-10 rating on the struggling Penguins.

He also put up 41 points (7-34) in 61 games in 2002-03. For his career, he has 31 goals and 91 assists in 236 games with Pittsburgh and the New York Islanders. Tarnstrom is earning $1.6 million US this season and will be an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Rita, 24, was Edmonton's first pick, 13th overall, in the 1999 NHL entry draft. He had three goals in 21 games this season and has struggled to crack the full-time lineup. He has six goals and one assist in 36 career games in the NHL. Rita is making the minimum $450,000 this season and will be a restricted free agent this summer.





Cross, 35, had two goals, three assists and a minus-5 rating in 34 games this season. The 12-year NHL veteran has 33 goals, 95 assists and 663 penalty minutes in 637 NHL games with Edmonton, the New York Rangers, Toronto and Tampa Bay. He's earning $874,000 this season and has another year left on his deal at $912,000 for 2006-07.

[westbeach55]

Tarnstrom will provide the Oilers with another powerplay anchor on the blueline. (AP)



Oilers bolster blueline


Dick Tarnstrom has only 10 points this season but he did record 52 points during the 2004-05 season.

LOS ANGELES (CP) -- The Edmonton Oilers have bolstered their blueline with a pair of moves Thursday, acquiring the offensive-minded Dick Tarnstrom from the Pittsburgh Penguins and Jaroslav Spacek from the Chicago Blackhawks, Rogers Sportsnet has learned.

Edmonton sent forward Jani Rita and defenceman Cory Cross to Pittsburgh while parting with prospect forward Tony Salmelainen in return for Spacek.

Tarnstrom, who turned 31 last week, had a career-high 52 points (16-36) in 2003-04 with the Pens but lost his spot as the top offensive point man in Pittsburgh after Sergei Gonchar was signed last summer.

Tarnstrom has only 10 points (5-5) in 33 games this season while sporting a minus-10 rating on the struggling Penguins.

He also put up 41 points (7-34) in 61 games in 2002-03. For his career, he has 31 goals and 91 assists in 236 games with Pittsburgh and the New York Islanders. Tarnstrom is earning $1.6 million US this season and will be an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Spacek, a member of the Czech Republic Olympic roster for Torino, has played in 45 games this season for Chicago with seven goals and 17 assists. Despite Chicago's 16-27-6 record, and minus-24 team rating, Spacek has a plus-8 rating so far this season.

This will be Spacek's fourth NHL team, having played for the Hawks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Florida Panthers in his seven-year NHL career.

Rita, 24, was Edmonton's first pick, 13th overall, in the 1999 NHL entry draft. He had three goals in 21 games this season and has struggled to crack the full-time lineup. He has six goals and one assist in 36 career games in the NHL. Rita is making the minimum $450,000 this season and will be a restricted free agent this summer.

Cross, 35, had two goals, three assists and a minus-5 rating in 34 games this season. The 12-year NHL veteran has 33 goals, 95 assists and 663 penalty minutes in 637 NHL games with Edmonton, the New York Rangers, Toronto and Tampa Bay. He's earning $874,000 this season and has another year left on his deal at $912,000 for 2006-07.

-- With CP files --