NHL Trade: Edmonton Oilers and Anahiem Ducks

[Halladay_is_God]

http://tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=170401&hubname=

Chris Pronger, the biggest name on the summer trade block, is going to California.

The Anaheim Ducks have traded Joffrey Lupul, top prospect Ladislav Smid, Anaheim's first-round choice in 2007, a conditional first-round pick and Anaheim's second-round pick in 2008 to the Oilers in exchange for Pronger.

Pronger, 31, put up 56 points and a plus-2 rating during the 2005-2006 regular season and was a stalwart for the Oilers during their playoff run to the Stanley Cup final, recording 21 points and a plus-10 rating in 24 games. The 2000 Hart and Norris Trophy winner is regarded as one of the very best defenders in the league, and joins a Ducks defence corps that includes 2004 Norris Trophy winner Scott Niedermayer.

"We believe having Chris Pronger join Scott Niedermayer on our blueline gives us two of the top defensemen in the NHL today," said Anaheim general manager Brian Burke in a statement. "Players of this caliber don't become available very often, especially when they are still in the prime of their career.

Pronger has 456 points and a plus-127 rating in an 802-game career that has seen him play in Hartford, St. Louis and Edmonton. He also has 72 points and a plus-25 rating in 109 career playoff games.



The 6-foot-6, 220 pound defenceman signed a five-year, $31.25-million contract with the Oilers last August, then surprised the team with his request for a trade shortly after the season due to personal reasons.

"We also wish to thank Joffrey Lupul and Ladislav Smid for what they have done for this organization during their time with us, and wish them the best in the future," Burke said.

Lupul, 22, is an Edmonton native who is just coming into his own offensively. Drafted 7th overall in 2002, Lupul tallied 28 goals and 53 points this past season, a solid improvement on his 34-point rookie season of 2003-2004.

Lupul added nine goals and 11 points in 16 playoff games this past season, including a four-goal game against Colorado in the second-round series.

Lupul's grandfather, Tom Mayson, is also part of the Oilers' ownership group.

A restricted free agent, Lupul earned $900,600 last season.

Smid, 20, was the Ducks' top defence prospect and was rated as the 10th-best prospect in The Hockey News Future Watch issue. The Czech native also has good size at 6-foot-3, 204 pounds.

The 9th overall pick in 2004, Smid had 28 points and a plus-14 rating with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League last season.

[realmofotalk]

Pronger and Niedermayer as a starting pair of defensemen look great on paper but injuries can come into play. The Ducks would not have had to trade Lupul if they had signed free agent Zdeno Chara instead. They needed to keep Lupul, with leading scorer Selanne coming off a surprising individual season.

[Halladay_is_God]

Pronger and Niedermayer as a starting pair of defensemen look great on paper but injuries can come into play. The Ducks would not have had to trade Lupul if they had signed free agent Zdeno Chara instead. They needed to keep Lupul, with leading scorer Selanne coming off a surprising individual season.

the pairs will likely to be
Niedermayer and Francois Beauchemin (great pairing last season and playoffs)
Pronger and Vitaly Vishnevski (like the two towers of the NHL)
Sean O'Donnell and Joe DiPenta

and the Ducks also have Jean-Sebastien Giguere to trade.

[realmofotalk]

You're right about the pairs. I ignored line chemistry. And Salei will be making peanuts compared to Pronger.

[McKain]

That's a helluva return for Pronger.

[Halladay_is_God]

You're right about the pairs. I ignored line chemistry. And Salei will be making peanuts compared to Pronger.

Salei will be getting about half of what Pronger is making.

Salei signed with Florida yesterday, 4 year for 3.025 mill per year

Pronger making 6.25 million.

Pronger is making peanuts comapred to a lot of others are making now since teams have over-paid this off-season for UFA d-men