Busy Day for Edmonton Nets Salo

The Edmonton Oilers pulled off two trades on Saturday, one involving seven players and the other a No. 1 goaltender.

The Oilers sent defenseman Boris Mironov, forward Dean McAmmond and prospect Jonas Elofsson to the Chicago Blackhawks for center Chad Kilger, left wings Daniel Cleary and Ethan Moreau and defenseman Christian Laflamme. In the other trade, Edmonton acquired goaltender Tommy Salo from the New York Islanders for wing Mats Lindgren and an eighth-round pick in this year’s entry draft.

It was the first of three trades made by the Islanders on Saturday, as the Tuesday trade deadline nears.

After losing Curtis Joseph via free agency last summer, the Oilers used a rotation of Bob Essensa and Mikhail Shtalenkov in goal. Shtalenkov was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes last week and Essensa mostly sat as rookie Steve Passmore took a majority of the minutes the last month.

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Beverly Hills grocery magnate Ron Burkle, who has teamed with Michael Ovitz and other celebrities on a proposal to build a stadium and lure an NFL team to Carson, is “a large participant” in the group backing Mario Lemieux’s efforts to extricate the Pittsburgh Penguins from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and keep them in Pittsburgh, Lemieux’s agent, Tom Reich, confirmed.

Lemieux on Thursday filed a reorganization plan in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Pittsburgh that would revive the financially ailing franchise. Burkle, a philanthropist, deal-maker and active supporter of local Democratic Party politics, is one of about a dozen people backing Lemieux’s bid. The group has raised about $50 million to cover the Penguins’ old debts and continue funding their operations.

“Ron Burkle is a friend and somebody who is interested in sports, interested in hockey,” Reich said. “He’s a big admirer of Mario and a friend of a couple of people in our group, including myself. He loves the sport. His kids love the sport and are big admirers of Mario. He concurs that this is a worthwhile undertaking.”

Should Lemieux’s reorganization plan be accepted, Burkle’s role with the Penguins would not involve day-to-day running of the club. That would keep him on the right side of NFL cross-ownership rules and allow him to own an NFL team. “Mario is the control partner,” Reich said, “and Ron wouldn’t have it any other way. . . . We’re very, very fortunate to have Ron involved.”

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The Ottawa Senators acquired left wing Ted Donato from the Islanders in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 1999 draft. Donato has eight goals and 14 assists in 69 games.

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In their third trade of the day, the Islanders sent Robert Reichel and two draft picks to the Coyotes for left wing Brad Isbister and a draft pick.

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The Philadelphia Flyers acquired left wing Mikael Andersson and right wing Sandy McCarthy from the Tampa Bay Lightning in a trade for left wing Colin Forbes and a conditional draft pick.

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Former Vezina Trophy winner Jim Carey was sent to the minors by the St. Louis Blues.

Staff Writer Helene Elliott contributed to this story.