Andy Sutton has agreed to a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers. The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed, but it was previously reported to be worth between $1.5 million and $1.75 million. This takes another blueliner off the trade market with two weeks to go until the deadline.

Andy Sutton and the Edmonton Oilers are expected to announce on Monday that they've agreed to terms on a one-year contract extension. Sutton is expected to earn between $1.5 million and $1.75 million, which is a step down from his current $2,125,000 annual cap hit. This move also takes another blueliner off the trade market as we approach the Feb. 27 deadline.

Perhaps it'll be a case of the Edmonton Oilers showcasing Andy Sutton for a potential trade, but the veteran defenseman will be in the lineup instead of Cam Barker when the team visits the Senators in Ottawa this afternoon. Sutton, 36, has been a healthy scratch for the Oilers' past two games as Tom Gilbert returned to the lineup. As an unrestricted free agent this summer, Sutton's name has come up in trade talks leading up to the Feb. 27 deadline. "That's always on your mind, everyone always wants to know where you're going to be tomorrow," he said. "At the same time, I'm not the general manager, I'm the player. The worst thing I can do is to is worry about it where it affects my performance negatively. That doesn't get you re-signed here and that doesn't make anyone else want you either. You have kind of control your own destiny try to stay calm, not think about it too much and just focus on playing well."

There is a very good chance that Andy Sutton will be dealt by the NHL trading deadline. Since returning from his second suspension this season three weeks ago, Sutton has played solid hockey and has attracted the interest of a number of NHL teams. Given that Sutton is a pending unrestricted free agent and that the Oilers will likely not go out of their way to re-sign him, a trade is probable.

Andy Sutton is eligible to return from his eight game suspension on Saturday. Sutton was suspended for hitting the Hurricanes' Alexei Ponikarovsky but says he will not change his game. "It's hard because I play very instinctually," Sutton said. "My style of play is such that I have to be on my toes and play physically. You may see me make more hits with my back and butt as opposed to my elbows and shoulders. It seems to be the only way you cannot get suspended anymore." Sutton has little fantasy value unless suspensions are a category that you use in which case he is like gold as it was his second of the season.

The Edmonton Oilers' Andy Sutton wants to see an appeal process instituted in the NHL for suspended players. "There absolutely should be (an appeal process)," said the veteran defenseman, who'll have to forfeit $207,317.04 in salary after being suspended twice this season by NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan for hits to opponents' heads. "My only course of action is that I can appeal to (NHL commissioner) Gary Bettman. That's not going to change anything. Going forward in the new CBA we have to make strides in that regard. We should have an impartial arbitration committee that's going to take a look at this, have my people on my side, have the NHL on their side and have an independent party that's going to make these decisions. It's not just one guy making all these decisions."

Andy Sutton has been suspended for eight games for hitting Carolina's Alexei Ponikarovsky in the head on Wednesday. Because Sutton's a repeat offender, he will forfeit salary based on the number of games he'll miss rather than days. With that in mind, Sutton delivered Ponikarovsky a $207,317.04 hit. Sutton previously served a five-game suspension for hitting Colorado's Gabriel Landeskog in the head on November 1st. Sutton has already served one game of his suspension and he will be eligible to return on December 31st.

Andy Sutton has been suspended indefinitely for his heavy hit on Carolina's Alexei Ponikarovsky during Wednesday night's game. The Edmonton defenseman has been offered an in-person hearing to give his case. Sutton appeared to get his forearm up in the face of Ponikarovsky on the play and hits that target the head have been suspended offenses since the preseason, so he'll probably miss some time. The fact that he's a repeat offender may also factor into the length of his probable suspension.

Andy Sutton registered an assist in his return from a groin injury on Wednesday. Sutton also logged 14:50 minutes and was handed a minor penalty. He missed six straight games due to the ailment.

Andy Sutton (groin) will return to Edmonton's lineup on Wednesday night. He has missed the team's past seven games with a groin injury. Sutton has one goal and 33 penalty minutes in 12 contests this season, so if you need his minutes in the sin bin then feel free to activate him. Colten Teubert will head to the press box to make room for his return.