By DEREK VAN DIEST  

The deal was practically done before Alexei Mikhnov arrived in town.

As it turns out, it just happened to be announced on the same day the Pittsburgh Penguins inked Evgeni Malkin.

Yesterday the Oilers revealed they had come to terms with Mikhnov on a one-year deal. The six-foot-five, 218-pound winger was the Oilers first pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He has played his entire career in Russia up to this point.

"We were ready to go last week," said Oilers assistant general manager Scott Howson. "We actually finalized the contract on the weekend."

Last year Mikhnov scored 14 goals and added eight assists in 40 games with Yaroslavl Lokomotiv. He also scored four goals and added a pair of assists in seven games for Russia at the world championships this spring.

"We think he can play in the NHL," Howson said. "He's more mature than a lot of players entering the league for the first time."

Mikhnov, 24, still had a year left on his contract with Yaroslavl, but used a loophole in the Russian labour laws to get out of it. It was the same loophole Malkin used to get out of his Russian League contract.

"They wanted me to play another year, but I wanted to come play in the NHL," Mikhnov said. "I feel I am ready."

Without a transfer agreement between the Russian League and the NHL, the Oilers did not compensate Yaroslavl for Mikhnov's services.