The Edmonton Oilers have pulled off the most shocking trade of the deadline, if not of the season, trading Ryan Smyth to the New York Islanders for prospects Robert Nilsson, Ryan O’Marra and the Islanders first round pick.
The timing of this move probably couldn’t have been worse, coming on the same day as the Oilers are set to honor Mark Messier prior to tonight’s game with the Phoenix Coyotes.
Smyth and his agent had been negotiating with Oilers GM Kevin Lowe throughout deadline day but were unable to reach an agreement on a contract extension. It’s believed Smyth was seeking a five-year, $5.25 million contract.
Oilers fans will be furious with Lowe for dealing away the popular face of the franchise in Smyth, a heart and soul leader who’d been with the team since the mid-1990s through good times and bad.
This deal follows a trend that’s been happening for nearly twenty years, that of the Oilers trading away their star players either because they can’t or won’t re-sign them.
The new CBA was hailed by many Oilers followers as a means for small market teams to retain their best players, but in the end it wasn’t enough to help them keep Smyth in Edmonton. It’s done nothing to stop business as usual in the so-called "City of Champions".
Yes, the argument can be made that the Oilers have gotten a great return of prospects and a high pick, but Oilers fans have heard that song far too many times over the past twenty years.
This move is a kick in the guts of their fans after a disappointing season preceded by a heartbreaking loss in the Stanley Cup finals and the bitter departure of Chris Pronger.
The Oilers front office can claim this was a tough business decision that had to be made, but that won’t mollify their fans.
As for the Islanders, give full marks to rookie GM Garth Snow, for pulling off a move nobody saw coming and bolstering his club’s chances to lock up a playoff berth in a very tough Eastern Conference playoff race.
Smyth will bring them a hard-working, talented scorer who’s unafraid to sacrifice his body to win. Head coach Ted Nolan must be thrilled to have a hard-nosed leader like Smyth coming to Long Island.
The Islanders may not be able to re-sign Smyth, an unrestricted free agent in July, but if he plays as strongly for them as he did for the Oilers, he should prove a worthy playoff rental.
I guess the Oilers couldn't get him signed. If the Islanders don't go deep in the playoffs this season the trade is a bad one. Smyth can leave after this year and Nilsson and O'Mara are both very good prospects. Reminds me of when Kevin Lowe swindled them out of Raffi Torres.
Well as an Oilers fan I'm sad to see him go. But he is not worth 5.25mil. Won't suprise me if he resigns in the offseason. I've seen too many guys leave because of money, at least this time we got something.
Last edited by Ryan7878 on February 27th at 12:43 PM.
he will do really well under ted nolan i think, though he was the face of edmonton for the last 5 years or so?(if not more) and truly the heart of that team...shame to see it happen, but it does make the iles a heck of a lot better
give the isles credit for making a move. maybe they can resign him. the pressures on them now to make the playoffs. maybe they will sign him to a 15 yr deal.?
Great trade for the Islanders. Especially if they can get him resigned. I can see them offering up more money than those cheap skate Oilers. He will bring a new face to the franchise. Between him and DiPietro, they have a couple of key stars to build around. Great move by Garth Snow.
I think i just crapped myself, blew my mind, i thought the oil would give in and pay the money Smyth deserved, wow, cheers to Garth for pulling that one, anyways, i must go clean myself up.
Garth Snow doesn't seem that bad a call for GM anymore. He has made some very good trades to make his team a contender.
It all depends on how far the Isles go or if they resign Smyth but I love that deal. Suddenly the Isles don't have only one line worth watching but two pretty strong offensive lines.
The Oilers have 2 good goalie prospects in Dubnyk & Deslauriers, one of whom should be ready when Roloson's ready to hang them up. One of these guys could be ready to push Markkanen for the backup job next year.
No, defense is still the Oilers weakpoint and I can't see any of these kids they've brought up this season stepping up to the level of a #3 or 4.
Last edited by russ99 on February 27th at 1:00 PM.
Shocking says it all. This guy has always been a big-time Coyote-Killer. Can't believe they let him go. But GREAT NEWS that he went to another conference, and not Detroit or Dallas. THANK YOU OILERS!
As for the Oilers, It really seems like a full-on rebuilding mode with Pisani, Hemsky and Horcroff as centerpiece. Lots of work left to do there though... and Roloson is what 35 36 year old? I don't see a very good future for Edmonton in the next few years.
Just surprising that Kevin Lowe didn't come out whining about the economics of the game or complaining that Smyth and his agent were using other teams to try to fleece the Oilers. Lowe is greatly overrated as GM
Last edited by awkwardmoment on February 27th at 12:58 PM.
Symth not worth 5.25 a year???? Are you kidding me, he's the heart and soul, the leader, willing to sacrifice everything to win, those players are scarce and very much worth 5.25 a year. But Oiler fans, need not to panic, Smyth can still sign with Edmonton in the off season, theres a slim chance, but he could. Hey, at least you got that to think about, cause I'd be pissed if the Flyers traded Simon Gagne.
In this era of "trade the rent-a-players and re-sign them in the off-season", I suggested in another thread that the Colorado Avalanche should consider that approach with Joe Sakic, and that the Oilers should pursue that course with Ryan Smyth if they fell out of playoff contention. Colorado obviously ignored my wise counsel, but unfortunately, that day came to pass in Edmonton.
Setting aside the emotional attachment of seeing Smyth complete an unbroken career in one sweater like Steve Yzerman, I can accept this deal as a pragmatic decision about accumulating assets and preparing for the future. (If you're an Edmonton Oilers fan over the last decade and a half, it's pretty much always about the future. That is, when we're not living in the past...)
I hope the Oilers will have the opportunity to re-sign Smyth over the summer, so this swap becomes one of those St. Louis Blues "have our cake AND eat it too" deals. Until then, it will be strange to see Ryan playing in a different sweater. As least it's orange and blue!
The toughest part about this swap will be telling my nine-year old son that his favourite Oiler got traded.
Well...it doesn't really seem to matter who is at the helm of the Islanders - they love to make the worst trades in the history of the NHL. I truly feel for Islander fans. Next we'll find out this summer that Teemu Selanne will be offered a 10 million a year deal... The NHL should realy do something about this. It has become a joke.
As a diehard Oilers fan I gotta say I'm right ticked about this one. I put up with them trading Weight away before the CBA, but this is inexcuseable. I won't be watching any Oilers games for the rest of the season. Lowe won't be putting a good spin on this one, and any Oilers fan that tries to convince me otherwise will get a punch in the face.
Trade away the only star on the team for more prospects and picks. Perfect. That is all this team has. The prospects will all be great in 3 or 4 years then we can trade them away too. If the oilers don't resign him in the offseason, it will be a huge loss for the Oil. The fans continue to support the Oilers, and management continues to pull the rug out from under their feet.
The CBA was designed to allow teams to keep their best players. Edmonton had the room under the cap to sign Smythe to a long-term deal. $5.25million a season is cheap for Smythe. He was willing to give a home team discount for christ sakes. The fact that Lowe refused to meet this number is ridiculous. And it has nothing to do with the CBA...it has everything to do with Lowe simply being unwilling to pay that much.
I think any thoughts of Smitty resigning in the offseason are gone. With Lowe unwilling to sign him for 5.25 mil a year now, it most likley won't happen ever. Pretty sad day. Lowe is dumb, guys like Smitty should be given the checkbook pre signed for any offer.
The problem that Lowe had is the oilers have a cap of 40 million, if they was to stay the same next year they wouldn't be able to sign a defenseman. Suprised they never unloaded Sykora. It's also hard to sign a star when you have guys like Pisani making 2.5 and horcff 3.6
Last edited by Ryan7878 on February 27th at 1:15 PM.
Wow, what a move. No one can say that Garth Snow isn't willing to take a chance, that's for sure.
If the Isles can re-sign him, it will be a great move. If not, it's just another example of the deadline-day craziness that GMs get caught up in.
It's not too often that a player is truely the "entire package", but that IS the case with Smyth. I hope for the Isles sake that Snow can find a way to re-sign him. But wait, then the Pens will have to play against Ryan next year too. Dang! Scratch that...Boo, Snow!!!
Last edited by BlackGoldPenguin on February 27th at 1:20 PM.
WOW. What a poor decision by Kevin Lowe. Forget that Smyth was "the man" in Edmonton, I have to believe their cap sans Pronger and Peca can't be that maxed out. And on a night when Mark Messier is being honored. WOW. Poor move. Sad move. I am anxious to listen to the XM hockey show and listen to Mike Bossy gloat on this one. I wonder if Jason Blake and Ryan Smyth will stay on t Island next season.
Actually, Smyth's agent has been playing hardball with the Oilers after they extracted a "hometown discount" out of the last deal. The sticking point has been over the term. According to media reports, the Oilers have been willing to go $5 million a year for four years ($20 million package). The Smyth camp want that fifth year in the contract to bring the package to $25 million total (coming down from a $29 million starting point). The Oilers counter-offered a five year contract at $23.5 million total.
Essentially, the Oilers will give Smyth his $5 million a year up to 35, but that's when the CBA language kicks in about cap restrictions on those aged players, and they don't want to be locked into that much money with Smyth after that point should he have to retire due to injury.
Frankly, in regards to term, I don't blame the Oilers for wanting to avoid having a Dave Andreychuck / Vladimir Malakhov cap situation on their hands five years from now if Smyth's body falls apart. The man is a horse, but how much pounding can you take before it catches up with you?
This is why it's so much more fun to be a fan than a General Manager...
Last edited by Matt_McCallum on February 27th at 1:27 PM.
I cannot believe this. I'm an Albertan, a Flames fan, but I still respect the Edmonton team. It's just unreal that they would give away their team's heart and soul, and alienate their supporters so severely. Even if it could be made to appear like a good "business" decision, making your fans feel like you are a bunch of idiots has to have some bearing on things, too. Good old Edmonton Oilers management. Brain-dead operations.
The Edmonton Oilers just broke my heart today. For more than one reason. And I made this login especially to get this off my chest.
If any result comes about this, it will be simply to question my interest in hockey in general.
I've been an Edmonton Fan for many years... but after the collapse this year has shown, I really think we're back to square one.
Needless to say, I'm a little sour. I think its time to take a couple years break from the game once again.
Last edited by Double_A on February 27th at 1:33 PM.
HUGE mistake !!!!!!!!
I know people don't think he was worth that much money but he WAS the Heart & Soul of the Oilers. I am beyond disappointed. Good luck without him.
i'm from england and live here in edmonton. Can you tell me why you get rid of the only goalscorer in the oilers team who puts the team first, are you looking forward to next years season or dont you think the oilers can make the play offs.I think they should have traded kevin lowe instead.
Nice pick up for ISLE'S if they resign him for 5 mil or less and no more than 3 years.But the oilers get nilsson AND marra. OH NO WAY that the oilers don't come out on top of this deal.
Smyth is obviously the type of player that teams covet during the playoffs. The Isles are still not a lock to even make the playoffs, and to trade two previuos number ones and a first round pick this year (plus a second rund this year for Zednik) makes ne wonder.
If Smyth had a multi-year deal it would be a little different, but it seems as if Snow made a deal for the sake of making a deal...
Kick in the gut? More like a kick in the balls the way I see it. I can't wait until the first words uttered are 'He wanted too much money.' and it takes the Oils 20 more years to hit the playoffs again.
Magnify that kick in the balls x 100 if the Isles hoist the cup this year.
I find it hard to grasp that Smitty is willing to move his young family from Edmonton. I sat in a skybox this year, next to 2 owned by Jason Smith, Staois. Ryans wife was also there with kids, along with the other wives and kids, looked like a tight knit family atmosphere there. Smitty should be willing to comprimise 1.5 mil over 5 years to stay
i've been a long time oilers fan and this deal is more then hard to ####. seems like the old record keeps playing over and over again, as we have seen all of our heart and soul players leave year after year. smyth is THE face of the oilers..showing up to play every game for the oilers, which is more then one can say about the majority of the others. The only saving grace in this situation would be for smyth to resign with the oilers in the off season, making lowes idiotic move turn into a brilliant one. this season has been one blow after another, starting with the Pronger fiasco, and then signing overrated Pisani to way more money then is deserved. If the oilers don't make this right, they are dead to me. Doesn't sound like the words of a true fan.. but i am sure this will be reiterated continually from people such as myself. we are losing faith in Lowe and the rest of the edmonton management's abilities and hockey foresight.
I watched when the original Edmonton Dynasty was disassembled before my eyes because Pocklington was bleeding cash. If that team had been kept together I have no doubt they'd have won at least four more Cups, and Mario Lemieux would have had to wait until the mid-1990s before he got his name on Lord Stanley's Mug (if ever).
I watched those same former Oilers win Cups elsewhere through the 1990s, and take other teams to the Finals. I watched them set incredible records wearing the uniforms of other teams and always thought "They should be doing this in Edmonton colours."
(That said, you ALWAYS cheer for the ex-Oilers, unless they're playing against the current Oilers. So if Smytty can win a Cup on the Island, that would be fine with me, as long as it's not against the Oilers.)
Two decades of that, my friend, is a non-stop kick in the balls. Even the joy is last spring's Miracle Run it seems must be tempered by the Pronger fiasco. The trade of Ryan Smyth is just one more kick in that cycle.
And to cap it all, the beauty part, is that tonight is Mark Messier Tribute Night, when we retire Sweater Number 11. The former Heart and Soul of the Oilers -- who played contract hardball, held-out and was shipped out of town, lest we forget -- is being honoured on the very day the current Heart and Soul of the Oilers is shipped out of town after playing contract hardball. Some things never change in Edmonton...
Last edited by Matt_McCallum on February 27th at 2:48 PM.
Maybe this move will make up for the Islanders 15 year deal with their goalie ! I guess Garth didn't take one too many pucks to the brain after all! Hell of a deal, for little given up....
Has this trade actually been confirmed by either team or the NHL? I can't find anything 'official' other than an interview with Don Meehan on TSN - probably a reliable source given he is Smyth's agent. So, are the Isles talking a long-term deal before making the announcement?
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
