The Edmonton Oilers welcomed back two former draft picks as NHL free agency got going on Sunday.
LISTEN: Peter Chiarelli on CHED
Centre Kyle Brodziak, 34, has signed a two-year deal with the Oilers worth $2.3 million.
READ MORE: St. Louis Blues sink Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena
Brodziak had 33 points in 81 games for the St. Louis Blues last season. He was drafted by the Oilers in 2003 and went on to play 175 games with Edmonton.
Speedy winger Tobias Rieder joins the Oilers on a one-year deal believed to be worth $2-million.
LISTEN: Tobias Rieder on CHED
Rieder, 25, was drafted by the Oilers 114th overall in 2011. In 2017/18, he played for Arizona and L.A. and had 25 points in 78 games.
“I thought it was a pretty productive day,” said Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli. “I thought we added speed. We added to the PK with him and Brodziak. We added size with Brodziak and leadership and face-offs.”
“I’m just trying to be hard on the puck,” Rieder said. “Be hard to play against. Be hard on the fore-check. I want to create a lot of turnovers and get going in the other direction.”
The Oilers also inked depth defenceman Kevin Gravel.
He signed a one-year, two-way deal that would pay him $700,000 in the NHL.
Gravel, 26, has played 70 NHL games, all with the Los Angeles Kings. He’s listed as 6’4″, 212 pounds.
“When I’m out there, my strength has always been my defensive side of the game,” Gravel said. “Another one of my strengths is I skate well for my size.”
LISTEN: Kevin Gravel on CHED
In 2017/18, he played in 16 games and had three assists. He was drafted 148th overall by the Kings in 2010.
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