Eric Duhatschek on economic realities in the NHL
posted by matt saler @ 6/25/2006 06:41:00 PM ::
3 comments
:: 
Good read about the two big deals at the draft yesterday but I like the last two paragraphs the best, especially this part:
The Oilers won't be in any hurry to accommodate Pronger's wishes until they get the right deal in place (how about Pronger to Florida for hometown boy Jay Bouwmeester?) ....After thinking more about that trade request, I'm becoming more and more glad that there's no chance of the guy coming to Detroit. If requesting to be traded, whatever the reason, is all the thanks the Oilers get for putting Pronger in a position to win the Cup for the first time in his career, maybe they ought to send him where he'll have no chance of getting that far for as long as his contract lasts (four more years). Maybe his wife would like Miami. (link via. James Mirtle)
3 Comments:
Wow...Prongger requesting to be traded really says it all about this guy doesn't it? You said it best, Matt.
"If requesting to be traded, whatever the reason, is all the thanks the Oilers get for putting Pronger in a position to win the Cup for the first time in his career, maybe they ought to send him where he'll have no chance of getting that far for as long as his contract lasts (four more years). Maybe his wife would like Miami."
For the first time in his career he actually PLAYED and played well in the playoffs. He seemed to fit in (as much as a guy like him can) on that team, and they challenged for the Cup. What more does he want? Maybe they should have thrown in a Beamer, a string of Pearls, and some special "Pronger Rules" that only apply to him when he is on the ice so he can spontaneaously goon out (you know, nail the coach of the opposing team, wipe out a fan or two...) without taking a penalty.
What a sad, pathetic loser.
Listen, I'm willing to give the guy the benefit of the doubt. We don't know what's really going on behing closed doors, and just because his wife doesn't like the city, it could be for very legitimate reason. Give Pronger a little credit. He's putting his family first, knowing full well the public consequences he'll face, in Edmonton and the rest of the hockey world. I commend him for putting family first, and I'm not about to judge his actions.
Anyways, I read on The Fourth Period that Florida offered the Oilers a package including Bouwmeester, for Pronger, and they turned it down. I guess Kevin Lowe will want the moon for Pronger, given how much they invested in him. And, they deserve it.
-OC
I was giving him the benefit of the doubt at first but as I thought more about it, the more it began to stink. The man signed a 5-year deal with the Oilers and regardless of how well he played in the first season of that contract, it shows a lot of gall to suddenly say he wants out.
Of course, the Oilers have the right to trade him whenever they want. But, as a team trying to repeat what they did this postseason, they were not about to trade the guy who is currently the defenseman with the highest stock in the League, regardless of who just won the Norris.
If the Oilers had finished 30th, Pronger might have a case.
As a fan (and a new fan of the Oilers), a trade request under these circumstances is hard to take, regardless of his reason.
Post a Comment
Bookmark this post
Search this site
<< Home