Linus Omark Believes He’ll be an NHL’er in 2012-13
11 years ago
Linus Omark, Krm500/Wikimedia Commons
It was a bit of a surprise when the Edmonton Oilers failed to trade Linus Omark at the draft this past year. There was clearly no room for the player in Edmonton, and by April the player was making it plain that he’d rather be elsewhere.
When he wasn’t dealt, the obvious read was that there simply wasn’t much interest. According to Omark, however, that isn’t the case – he expects to be playing in the NHL in 2012-13.
In a Swedish-language interview with the Norrbotten Courier (h/t Derek Zona), Omark made it plain that he believes the Oilers will be able to deal him. I unfortunately don’t read Swedish, but here are some excerpts courtesy of Google Translate:
“There is interest, there is no problem,” says Linus Omark.There is no lack of interest from the NHL and Omark has received bids to consider, but would not disclose the clubs involved.“[The Oilers] try to replace me away and that’s negotiations with other clubs that will take time,” he says.
There are a few other interesting points made in the piece, though of course through the prism of Google Translate they need to be taken for what they’re worth.
Omark mentioned the team extending his rights from July 15 to July 31. Likely, what is meant is that the Oilers have extended the deadline for Omark to accept his qualifying offer. From the Collective Bargaining Agreement, on qualifying offers to restricted free agents:
A Qualifying Offer shall automatically expire at 5:00 p.m. New York time on July 15; provided, however that the club may by written notice to Central Registry and the NHLPA, sent in accordance with Exhibit 3 hereof, provided on or before 5:00 p.m. New York time on July 15, extend the deadline for Qualifying Offer acceptance to a date (which must be a fixed and definitive calendar date) determined in its sole discretion.
The Courier also notes that Omark worked in the summer with a personal trainer (Petter Pettersson, a former soccer player) and now feels stronger than he did a year ago.
According to Omark, there is also KHL interest in his services, but his primary focus is on landing an NHL job next season.
One final, interesting point – Omark tried out for Sweden’s World Championship team but didn’t make the cut; Google translates the article as saying “he went on glandular fever and could not perform.” “Glandular fever” is a common synonym for mononucleosis.
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