The Oilers and the city of Edmonton have come to terms on a draft agreement to build a new $450 million downtown arena.

Under the framework, the city will own the arena and the land, while Oilers owner Daryl Katz will operate the building and be responsible for all maintenance, upgrades, operating and capital expense costs.

The city will contribute $125 million, the Katz Group will chip in $100 million and another $125 million will come from a user-paid facility fee. That leaves another $100 million that they're hoping to get from provincial funding.

"This facility, this team, is not an Edmonton private property. People come here from all over the region," said Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel. "I don't think it's an unreasonable request to talk to the province -- 'the city has put in, the Katz Group has put in, we need your help.' "

SEASON HIGHLIGHT
There aren't many when a team finishes 30th. But in the final week of the season, with most of their best players injured and 10 players in the lineup who were either rookies or were recently called up from the AHL, the Oilers swept a home and home series with the President's Trophy winning Vancouver Canucks.

TURNING POINT
The Oilers were only four games under .500 when Ryan Whitney injured his ankle in late December. With their best defenseman out, things went from bad to worse. They lost 18 of their next 22 games and that was it. Season over.

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