Ryan Smyth Traded

**SnakeEyes** · 27th February 07, 11:41 PM

I cried today, for the first time in a long time. Other hockey fans will understand. Anyone else can just ignore this post.

http://www.amny.com/sports/hockey/is...usic-headlines

I don't think I'll be able to watch the NHL anymore, I'm seriously heartbroken and disenchanted with the whole organisation. The man dedicated his entire career to one team, 12 years of his life. 12 years without a Stanley Cup win, and he stayed. He was leading the Oilers in points (53 points in 53 games), and Kevin Lowe couldn't be bothered to keep him around. I know it's how the NHL works these days, it's all about money, but it doesn't take away the sting.

*sigh*

**Raphael** · 27th February 07, 11:54 PM

And he was traded on the day that they retire Messier's number with Gretzky's visiting.

kind of sad, but Edmonton Oilers is a business organisation. With no hope in making the play off, they may as well send him off to another team for a few months before they sign him again in the summer.

**Erisianmonkey** · 28th February 07, 02:42 AM

You can thank the Nashville Predators and the Buffalo Sabres organizations for this kind of thing happening. It was their complaining that got the NHL to institute the cap. I do really know how you feel though. The ramifications of the cap lost the Avs Foote, Hinote, and Tanguay. Some would say Forsberg in that list, but considering the time he spends on the bench because of injury, I was glad to see the back of him. But I do know how you feel, Snake Eyes. I felt the same way when the Avs traded Foote. This season, I had been hoping we could get rid of Jose Threeormore (Theodore) and Liles (the star defenseman who passes to the other team in the defensive zone. Instead we ditched May for a second rate forward that we got rid of a while back, and a rookie goalie. Look at the bright side though. Smyth will be a free agent come July, and Edmonton can pick him back up.

**Rampant Lion** · 28th February 07, 08:19 AM

I was sad to see Ryan go as well. I think we've lost any chance of making the playoffs now. It was taking too long to sign him and if we didn't sign him we lose him at the end of the year without getting anything for him. This way we got some young guys and a 1st round draft pick. I just hope at the end of the season when he's a free agent that we're able to pick him up again.
What this trade does show(to me anyways), is that management has pretty much written this season off. I'm just hoping all of the young talent we have pans out because if it does... look out!

**Mr. Kilt** · 28th February 07, 11:39 AM

Speaking of the Nashville Predators...I went to school with their head coach, Barry Trotz, back in Dauphin Manitoba. Methinks coaching NHL hockey must be stressful...he hasn't really aged well. These are "before & after" shots of Barry

Barry Trotz, 1977 (grade 8):

Barry Trotz, 2007:

**Erisianmonkey** · 28th February 07, 02:51 PM

There's a nice bit of irony in the fact that an Avs fan brought up the predators, and the pic that Al posted of their coach has an Avs fan sitting behind him.

**mang1974** · 28th February 07, 02:58 PM

Being a die-had Blues fan, I feel your pain. They sold off Pronger a few seasons ago, and then Weight (who, incidentally, did come back this summer after winning the Cup with Carolina last year). Now they've just sold our two top scorers in Tkachuk and Guerin. It is said when the organization just gives up on a season.

**Juggalotus** · 28th February 07, 02:59 PM

I was quite surprised to see Smyth traded.

Of course, my Wings settled for an injured bruiser (Bertuzzi) after losing out on Tkachuk, Guerin and Laraque. I'm not against Bertuzzi, I'm just hoping he can get healthy soon so he can play before playoffs.

And I have to agree with Bob McKenzie that players who are traded during the season and become UFA at the end (rental players) can't re-sign with the team that traded them. It'll make teams think long and hard before making this move.

**possingk** · 28th February 07, 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by Erisianmonkey

You can thank the Nashville Predators and the Buffalo Sabres organizations for this kind of thing happening. It was their complaining that got the NHL to institute the cap. I do really know how you feel though. The ramifications of the cap lost the Avs Foote, Hinote, and Tanguay. Some would say Forsberg in that list, but considering the time he spends on the bench because of injury, I was glad to see the back of him. But I do know how you feel, Snake Eyes. I felt the same way when the Avs traded Foote. This season, I had been hoping we could get rid of Jose Threeormore (Theodore) and Liles (the star defenseman who passes to the other team in the defensive zone. Instead we ditched May for a second rate forward that we got rid of a while back, and a rookie goalie. Look at the bright side though. Smyth will be a free agent come July, and Edmonton can pick him back up.

As a Sabres fan and a hockey fan I couldn't be happier with the cap and we will probably lose both of our captains (Drury and Briere) next year because of it. The league has parity, look at the playoff race this year almost anyone can make it in with 20 games to go, never had that before. Hockey has never been more exciting than it is right now. Every point means something to someone. I was praying for Pittsburgh to tie NJ last night in hopes NJ would only get one point instead of two. It all matters now.

However the loss of Smyth to the Oilers is probably a deeper cut that when Gretzky left, but on the same level. Smyth was the ultimate Oiler and deserved better. One way to look at it though is Smyth is a UFA after this season, 20 games and a playoff run and he could be back. If he does come back he has helped the Oilers with two players and a first round pick, which will help the future. Listening to his speech today he will want to get back to Edmonton as soon as possible.

**Erisianmonkey** · 28th February 07, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by Juggalotus

<snip>Of course, my Wings settled for an injured bruiser (Bertuzzi) after losing out on Tkachuk, Guerin and Laraque. I'm not against Bertuzzi, I'm just hoping he can get healthy soon so he can play before playoffs. <snip>

I'm against Bertuzzi. I watched what euphimistically gets called "the hit," and I won't ever forgive him. My wife couldn't watch hockey for weeks after seeing that. Bertuzzi should have been banned. I just hope the Wings have a better time keeping him under control than Vancouver did. (Please note, I'm keeping the traditional CO-DET rivalry out of this. My feelings are all about what Bertuzzi did.)