BY MIKE BROPHY
sportsnet.ca
While Sheldon Souray still isn’t speaking publicly, he has indicated to sporsnet.ca he will report to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League.
SPORTSNET.CA can now confirm that Souray has arrived in Hershey, flying in from California on Thursday.
Souray, 34, was put on waivers by the Edmonton Oilers, but was not claimed. Rather than send him to their AHL farm team in Oklahoma City, the Oilers have loaned him to the Bears. The Elk Point, Alberta native has two years and $9 million remaining on his contract.
If the Oilers should recall Souray and he goes on re-entry waivers, there is a good chance another team would claim him. In that case, Edmonton would be on the hook for half of his salary.
If the successful waiver claim is made before Nov. 1, then the priority shall be determined by the final standing in the league's regular season schedule in the preceding season. That would give the Toronto Maple Leafs the first opportunity followed by the Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets and NY Islanders to claim Souray.
"I would think someone will make a claim pretty quick at 50 per cent off his salary,” Nick Kypreos said on Hockeycentral Tonight Thursday. “It is costing the Oilers $25,000 a day to have him play in Hershey, so what the Oilers need to decide is if they are not willing to spend $9 million over the next two years, than put him on waivers now and cut that price in half."
"They desperately need a power play guy in Columbus, the NY Islanders with Mark Streit out, I don't see them doing it, but Columbus is a natural," former Blue Jackets general manager Doug MacLean said.
But is Columbus willing to spend the money? "I was told they don't even want to spend the $2.5M, but if they want to be competitive they need this guy," MacLean added.
Kypreos noted, "we know if it gets to the NY Rangers (who finished 21st last season) there are no money issues and they will take him."
