Oilers sign Kyle Brodziak

The Edmonton Oilers appear to be ready to make their first free agency splash.

St. Louis Blues writers Andy Strickland and Jeremy Rutherford have both said on Twitter 34-year-old Kyle Brodziak is expected to sign with the Oilers.

TSN’s Darren Dreger confirmed the deal this morning, saying the two-year deal will pay him $1.1-million in year one and $1.2-million in year two.

Originally drafted by the Oilers in the 7th round of the 2003 Entry Draft, Brodziak played with the Oilers for four seasons accumulating 59 points in 175 games.

Traded at 24 years old, the Oilers flipped him to the Minnesota Wild for fourth and fifth round draft picks.

At the time, then-Oilers GM Steve Tambellini told The Canadian Press “we do need to change our lineup a little bit, we have too many bodies at forward. We’re willing to give some people a chance that maybe they haven’t had before.”

After being moved he has played just under 850 NHL games with Minnesota and the St. Louis Blues.

Brodizak is coming off of one of his more productive seasons putting up scoring 10 goals and 23 assists in 81 games with the Blues all the while only playing 13:28 a night.

If the numbers are true, then I am very okay with this deal. Brodziak will slide in as a versatile fourth-line centre. He put up poor possession numbers, spotting a -4.96 relative corsi for, but his relative goals for were great, at 5.81.

On Twitter: @zjlaing