Blues Trade Chris Pronger to Edmonton for Eric Brewer, Doug Lynch and Jeff Woywitka

[Thrillhouse]

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Blues Senior Vice President & General Manager Larry Pleau today announced the club has traded defenseman Chris Pronger to the Edmonton Oilers for defensemen Eric Brewer, Doug Lynch and Jeff Woywitka.

"Eric Brewer has been a premier defenseman in the National Hockey League for the past several seasons and we are very excited about the talents he brings to the Blues," said Pleau. "We are also adding two skilled younger defensemen who are clearly up-and-coming players at this level. We're looking forward to having all three of these players in our lineup together one day in the future."

Brewer, 26, has played six seasons in the National Hockey League, including the last four with Edmonton (2000-01 through 2003-04) while totaling 113 points (34 goals and 79 assists) in 404 games. He averaged 24:38 of ice time per game to lead the Oilers in 2003-04 and led Edmonton defensemen in scoring with 29 points (eight goals and 21 assists) while earning a spot in the 2003 NHL All-Star Game. Brewer tied for the team lead with a +15 plus/minus rating in 2000-01. The 6-3, 220-pound blueliner began his NHL career with the New York Islanders, spending two seasons with the club in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 after being selected in the first round, fifth overall, in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.

The Vernon, B.C., native has also represented Team Canada while capturing a gold medal at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah and winning the championship of the World Cup of Hockey 2004.

Lynch, 22, made his NHL debut with Edmonton in 2003-04 while appearing in two games. He completed his second season with the Oilers organization in 2004-05 while skating for the Edmonton Road Runners of the American Hockey League. This past season the 6-3, 214-pound defenseman appeared in his 100th career AHL game and recorded his 100th PIM. In 2003-04 while playing with the Toronto Road Runners, prior to the team ' s move to Edmonton, Lynch was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team and played in the 2004 AHL All-Star Game. That season the North Vancouver, B.C., native led all Road Runner defensemen in goals (11), assists (25) and points (36). Lynch was selected in the second round, 43rd overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Woywitka, 21, has played the past two seasons in the AHL while splitting time in 2003-04 between the Philadelphia Phantoms and the Toronto Road Runners. The Vermilion, Alberta native played in a combined 82 games that season while notching 28 points on four goals and 24 assists. In 2004-05 the 6-3, 215-pound defenseman was the only member of the Edmonton Road Runners to play in all 80 games, including his 100th career AHL contest. He recorded five-multiple-point games last season. Woywitka was taken by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, 27th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft during his four-year tenure with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League.

[stevecanuck16]

Wow! I did not see this one coming! Good luck to Brewer in StL, I think the Blues got the better of this deal! Can you say blockbuster?

[devils29]

Edmonton fukked up BIG TIME on this one. Bad bad bad deal, IMO. The future in d at Edmonton, for Pronger.
Good work Blues. Damn good trade for them.

[Thrillhouse]

This could be one of those possible win-win situations.

Edmonton gets an elite defenseman in Chris Pronger. He'll log huge minutes for the Oil...will certainly make the battle of Alberta more interesting. I've heard the Oilers have signed him to a 5-year deal so Chris should be playing in Edmonton for some time.

St. Louis gets 3 young guys. I think that Brewer is an overrated guy. He's always making Team Canada and I don't get it. He's good, not great. Woywitka should be a good defenseman and Lynch should be able to hold a roster spot down the road.

[Caps51]

I think that St. Louis got the best of this deal. This trade will really pay off for them for many years to come.

[habsfighter15]

Woywitka was the deciding factor in this. Brewer is highly overrated. I think Edmonton won this one Pronger is the elite of the elite will log so many minutes it's not even funny. They'll finally have a superstar to quarterback the powerplay. And who knows how Woywitka will turn out anyways. I doubt he'll be another Chris Pronger. That is good news for Oiler fans and Canadian fans alike.

[DonovanMD]

Originally Posted by habsfighter15

Woywitka was the deciding factor in this. Brewer is highly overrated. I think Edmonton won this one Pronger is the elite of the elite will log so many minutes it's not even funny. They'll finally have a superstar to quarterback the powerplay. And who knows how Woywitka will turn out anyways. I doubt he'll be another Chris Pronger. That is good news for Oiler fans and Canadian fans alike.

Well said. As an Oilers season ticket holder I can say while I love Brewer, he is over rated. He was the worst defenceman at the Olympics, no comparison to Jovo, and no where near an elite, top 3 defenceman in the NHL. And never will be. He's solid, still has potential to be a superstar, but at this point and even compromising the future this is a good deal for Edmonton. Prongers only 30 and in his prime. He came back and played 80 games last season with 14 goals and 50+ points.

Lynch and Woywitka are decent prospects, but wont be more than 4-6 D-men on any team, if that.

Awesome trade. Its refreshing to see the Oilers make a prospects for a stud deal, rather than the opposite as it has been since they sold Wayne Gretzky nearly 20 years ago,

signed,
EXCITED.

[HordiBrusk29]

Great trade for the Blues. Pronger is overrated, injury prone, and makes way too much money. Brewer is a very good defenseman that is younger and cheaper than Pronger. Not to mention the Blues get a couple other guys that still have potential.

[scrapper62]

Milbury sucks

[Mike Kole]

Originally Posted by HordiBrusk29

Great trade for the Blues. Pronger is overrated, injury prone, and makes way too much money. Brewer is a very good defenseman that is younger and cheaper than Pronger. Not to mention the Blues get a couple other guys that still have potential.

These trades and signings are killing me. The Sharks let Mike Rathje get away, and meanwhile d-men with size and who eat minutes (when healthy) like Chris Pronger and Derian Hatcher are finding new homes.

The Sharks have historically sat on their hands during this time of year, and it appears it will be no different, so I wish everyone else a joyous time watching their favorite teams load up. Hmph!

[bustoff]

I like the trade. The Blues have said they are going for youth and I like the fact that they are stockpiling young D.men. Now Jackman can take over as the Blues top defenseman. I still think Pleau needs to do something about the Blues forwards. Not enough scoring punch.

[BM24]

For financial reasons I like this trade for St. Louis. I would understand Edmonton giving up two prospects along with a good young Dman if they were attempting to make a cup run this year. However, I don't think they have the team for that. Pronger isn't exactly acient so I don't like the argument that Brewer is so much younger therefore it is a bad trade. The deciding factor in this deal is can Pronger stay healthy? and will Woywitka or Lynch ever become full-time NHL'ers.

[Thrillhouse]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=132273

TSN has learned that Pronger has agreed to a five year contract extension worth $6.25-million per year.

[2,5,10GameMatch]

The Blues ripped Edmonton bigtime here, Lynch will play in the NHL and Brewer is a top quality defenceman.

Pronger is always on the shelf, he seems a little to brittle to me to sell the farm for.

[peacemaker]

It seems as though Pronger's, and other d-men who play the game like him, are really highly regarded right now because of the 'new rules'.
If Pronger is allowed to skate with the puck he could have a much bigger impact on the outcome of the game. It is a very good short term move for Edmonton.
Brewer seems to have taken a step backwards (or at the very least does not seem ready to fulfill the promise he once showed. He'll be a good, not great NHL d-man.

Woywitka is an overrated prospect, and that was a 5hit deal for Comrie. Lynch is going to be at best a 3rd or 4th liner...a guy who will be easily replaceable in this new era of free agency.

Oilers win this trade, barring the wrist problems for Pronger do not return. Pronger is easily the best player in the trade. The other 3 guys all have question marks besides their names (esp Woywitka and Lynch).