Gäste » . The club announced on Wednesday that Malhotra s

The Edmonton Oilers traded for the rights to a free agent defenceman, and got him signed to a two-year deal, paying a premium for a shorter term contract. Numbers Game looks at the Oilers inking Nikita Nikitin. The Oilers Get: D Nikita Nikitin. Nikitin, 28, played a career-high 66 games last season, an indication that hes still trying to establish his place in the league. A couple of years ago, in 2011-2012, Nikitin contributed a career-best 32 points in 54 games for Columbus (after seven scoreless games with St. Louis to start the year), playing a career-high 23:12 per game for the season putting up strong relative possession numbers while facing high-quality opposition, while frequently paired with veteran Fedor Tyutin. Thats the Nikitin that the Oilers have to hope they are acquiring. In 2012-2013, Nikitins role was decreased somewhat, and while he still logged 21:12 per game, Nikitin was then surpassed on the depth chart last season by rookie Ryan Murray, leaving Nikitin to play 17:07 per game on the third pair. Playing on that third pair didnt bring ideal results, as Nikitin was a little below break-even in possession terms, but if there is reason to hold out hope for Nikitin, it may be that his with-or-without you numbers arent bad over the past three seasons. Among the 16 skaters with whom he played at least 300 5-on-5 minutes over those three seasons, Nikitin had better possession numbers apart than 11 of those skaters, but that relative effectiveness has decreased in the past two seasons, to the point that in 2013-2014, Nikitin had better possession stats apart from just three of the 13 skaters with whom he played more than 150 5-on-5 minutes. What this would seem to indicate is that Nikitin, who has good size, can skate and handle the puck a bit, isnt necessarily one to carry the play. He could be a useful complementary player and presumably Oilers Senior VP of Hockey Operations Scott Howson (who acquired Nikitin as GM in Columbus) is a fan, but there is risk in bringing in a player with falling possession numbers to a team that already ranked 28th in Fenwick Close (unblocked shot attempts during 5-on-5, score within one goal in first two periods and tied in third period). Its not as though Nikitins play in the past couple seasons indicates that he would improve the results no matter with whom he is partnered and its reasonable to wonder if the Oilers have the right personnel to get positive results with Nikitin on the ice. If the Jeff Petry and Martin Marincin pairing goes ahead, then perhaps Nikitin gets a chance alongside Andrew Ference. Maybe that somehow works out and allows the Oilers some time to develop their young defencemen. Its entirely possible that it wont work out, though, and the short-term nature of the contract suggests that both sides recognize that risk. Signed to a two-year, $9-million deal, Nikitin will be well-compensated, particularly if he cant stick in the Oilers top four, but the downside of a two-year deal is limited compared to the longer term that will be available to other free agent defencemen. The Blue Jackets Get: A fifth-round pick. Since the Blue Jackets werent going to bring Nikitin back, getting any asset in return is a plus. The fifth-round pick, 137th overall, belonged to Columbus originally and was traded to Edmonton last season to acquire D Nick Schultz. A fifth-round pick doesnt bring a lot of value, but its something. From 1990 through 2009, just under 15% of the picks between 121 and 150 played at least 100 NHL games, so there is a little better than a one-in-seven chance of netting an NHL player. While its reasonable for the Oilers to have hope Nikitin can perform in a top-four role, it could be telling that the Blue Jackets would let Nikitin depart as a free agent. Mabye they simply didnt want to pay that kind of money to a third pair defenceman, when they have younger, cheaper options (David Savard, Dalton Prout, Tim Erixon) available and thats fair, but current Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen was the Blues Director of Scouting when St. Louis picked Nikitin in the fifth round in 2004. Lots can change over time and the Blue Jackets arent likely to regret letting Nikitin go, even if he works out well for the Oilers. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. 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The club announced on Wednesday that Malhotra signed a 25-game professional tryout contract. The 33-year-old suffered a serious eye injury when struck by a puck during a game versus Colorado in March of 2011.WASHINGTON -- Anthony Rendon doubled twice and drove in three runs, and the Washington Nationals opened a six-game homestand with a 6-5 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night. Ryan Zimmerman added two doubles and two RBIs as Washington snapped a four-game losing streak. Tanner Roark (6-4) pitched five innings in winning his third straight start. Rafael Soriano worked the ninth for his 14th save. Houstons Jose Altuve returned to the lineup, going 4 for 5 with two doubles and two RBIs. He was limited to one pinch-hitting appearance in the last three games after being hit on the right hand by a pitch. Houston trailed 6-1 before scoring four in the eighth off Tyler Clippard, the last two on a double by Altuve, who is hitting .370 (17 for 46) in June. Dallas Keuchel (8-4) came in 6-1 with a 1.33 ERA over his last seven starts, but struggled with his command. He allowed four earned runs on six hits and a season-high four walks, while striking out four in five innings. It was the shortest outing since April 5 for Keuchel, who tied his season high in runs allowed while picking up his first road loss. Houston has lost three of four overall and 11 of its last 12 against Washington. Keuchel was lifted after throwing 105 pitches. Roark tossed 95 on a night when the game-time temperature was 92 degrees. Roark gave up seven hits and walked two, but minimized the damage when the Astros loaded the bases on three singles leading off the fourth. After Roark fanned Jason Castro, Matt Dominguez hit a grounder that deflected off Roarks foot into right field, scooring Altuve to pull Houston within 4-1.dddddddddddd Roark rebounded to get Jonathan Villar on a fly to shallow left before striking out Robbie Grossman. Washington, which managed just four runs in its four straight losses, scored four in three innings against one of the leagues hottest pitchers. Denard Span broke a 0 for 18 skid when he opened the first with an infield hit on a bouncer off the plate. He scored on Rendons double to the wall in right centre. With one out, Zimmerman doubled to drive in Rendon and make it 2-0. The Nationals doubled their lead in the third. With two outs, Zimmerman doubled home Jayson Werth, who had walked. Zimmerman scored on a single by Ian Desmond. Rendon made it 6-1 when he doubled in two runs off reliever Kyle Farnsworth in the sixth. NOTES: Washington OF Bryce Harper took two-handed swings Tuesday for the first time since injuring his left thumb April 25. Manager Matt Williams said Harper hit soft toss pitching in the indoor batting cage Tuesday and the goal is to evaluate him on the field this week. Williams pointed to "beyond July 1" for Harpers return. . Houston manager Bo Porter coached third base for the Nationals from 2011-12. Tuesday was his first visit since Washington dropped the decisive Game 5 of the 2012 NL Division Series to St. Louis after leading 6-0. "It hurt," he said of that loss. "I would say it still hurts." . Nationals LHP Gio Gonzalez (3-4, 4.62) returns Wednesday from the 15-day DL (shoulder inflammation) and opposes RHP Scott Feldman (3-4, 3.98). 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