Oilers Report that They've Inked a Trio of their Youngsters

As is being reported on the official Edmonton Oilers website...

General Manager Steve Tambellini announced today the Edmonton Oilers have agreed to terms with goaltender Devan Dubnyk, defenceman Dean Arsene and 2009 NHL Entry Draft choice Toni Rajala.

Dubnyk, 23, agreed to a one-year contract with the Oilers.

Edmonton’s first-round pick, 14th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft has played the past two seasons with the club’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, tallying a 27-58-2 record, 3.02 goals against average and a .905 save percentage.

Arsene, who turns 29 on Monday, spent the previous six seasons with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, helping lead the Bears to Calder Cup Championships in 2005-06 and 2008-09.

Rajala, 18, signed a three-year entry level contract with the Oilers after being drafted by the club in the fourth round, 101st overall, at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

The 5’10”, 163-pound right winger from Parkano, Finland, played 21 games with Ilves Tampere of the Finnish Elite League last season, recording two goals and three assists for five points.

Rajala has donned the Finnish jersey in three international tournaments, including the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championship and the 2009 World Under-18 Hockey Championship, where he was named the tournament’s best forward with 10 goals and nine assists in six games.

Our notes: Rajala had slipped in this years draft all the way to the 4th round, due to a knock by scouts on his size. The Oilers were pleased to get him at that spot since he has the ability to be the steal of the draft. They obviously see something in him and he's impressed thus far; that of the contracts the Oilers have remaining (a precious commodity), they used one of them to secure the future of this 4th rounder.