Ducks Acquire Pronger

[bengino]

Anaheim getting another big defenseman... but they have about 14 mill invested in them... now let's see if Giguere can attract any attention.

[Beyond Salem]

Toronto had supposedly offered Kaberle and Stajan for Pronger, but Lowe wanted Kaberle and Steen.

[WaaTafuLiam]

Pronger was always one of those guys I dreaded having to face the Ducks. Now that he's on our side, I know he'll still deliver. I'm sure his brother Sean will give him the 411 on the Anaheim area, since he played here before.

[sammy27]

I think it's lucky Pronger hasn't been injured yet, And I thought they were 2-4 years away with the team they had at the begining of last year. Progress is on pace. Good deal. Lowes got a plan. Need BGL now.

[O-Gnimh]

Happy days in OC! I always felt Burke was the best signing the team ever made

Anaheim still has a hole to fill up front and streaky goaltending, but still this team looks to be very strong. A repeat performance from the veterans, continued improvement from the kids, consistency in goal, and who knows?!

Onthe flip side, I'm not so sure this was a bad job by Lowe. For one, he was at a disadvantage with it being public knowledge that Pronger wanted out asap. Lupul is very young at 22, yet put up some decent numbers. If he continues to improve, he is definitely top-line material, perhaps in the Cheechoo mold (esp. since he seems to live/die by the quality of the feeds he is getting - play him with a top passer!). Lupes is an Edmonton boy, so he should be quite happy to play for the Oil. After that, Smid is projecting to be a top 4 dman, but that will likely take a couple of years. The two #1 picks (one conditional) are likely to be in the bottom of the first round (so not blue chip prospects), and Lowe also received a 2nd rounder. IF(!) those picks somehow turn into solid NHLers, this deal could be a very good one by Lowe.

Ducks benefit now, Oil may benefit a lot later.

[peacemaker]

Yep. Burkie has the knowlege and the nutsack to turn a team with some assets into an elite level team.
For my money he is 1 and 1a Lou Lamiorello as the best GM in the game.
The Canucks loss is the Ducks gain.

[McDonald19]

Originally Posted by Melkycano

wow... imagine anaheims powerplay with neidermyer and pronger... i think edmonton should have waited longer, they could have gotten more for him, but i am high on Lupul. In 2 years he'll be a star in this league, and he is cheap, so now th eoilers have cap room to go after a FA or 2.

depends how you define cheap...he is a RFA and he will be looking at a nice raise from the 900,000 he was making.

at least 2 million a year for sure.

[McDonald19]

Originally Posted by jreverblade9

I cant believe they traded player like lupul. he was key in getting them that far in the playoff's.

not really...he is a streaky scorer who got hot against the Avs...Lupul is going to score 30 goals in this league for a long time but he is a very one-dimensional player. If he is not scoring he is just floating out there.

[McDonald19]

Originally Posted by TNG

As Thrillhouse pointed out, the final business (as reported on Edmonton Oilers website so a rather solid source ) is Pronger for:
Joffrey Lupul (7th overall 2002)
Ladislav Smid (9th overall 2004)
1st round draft choice for 2007
conditional 1st round draft choice for 2008
2nd round draft choice for 2008

Ain't that much of a bargain after all. Short term win for Anaheim, long term win for the Oilers, IMHO.
I saw Smid play 3 years ago in a Kladno vs Liberec match and you wouldn't guess he was 17 at the time. Big kid that didn't make immature mistakes and played with plenty of confidence. I'ld bet my money on him turning a big name pro-defenseman.

Those other 1st round picks are going to be in the 25-30 range though so I wouldn't get too excited about those picks and the 2nd rounder.

but Lupul is going to be a legit 1st line RW who scores 30+ goals a year...Smid is going to be a stable number 2 d-man for a long time but will never be a franchise d-man.

Overall I think the Oilers made a good trade by getting some young assets and the Ducks stepped up and made a big move to be a cup contender for the next 3-4 years.

[OilersHockey]

You guys are all nuts...

This is a huge steal for Edmonton...well, maybe not, but it's definitely not a steal for the Ducks...

Lupul had nearly 60 points in his second year and will be GREAT, Smid is by all accounts going to be a solid NHL defensemen, and they still get another first round pick, a possible second first round pick, and a second round pick...


All for a guy who struggled through the regular season, looked terrible at the olympics, played great in the playoffs, and has a history of injury problems...

I can't believe anyone on here is calling this a steal for the Ducks... I'd take 2 great young players, two (or three) top picks for Pronger anyday of the week....

How quickly everyone forgets how bad Pronger looked through the first 50 or 60 games of the regular season... He was one of the MAIN REASONS (aside from goaltending) the Oilers almost DIDN'T make the playoffs - he played MUCH below his potential.

IMO - the Ducks sold the farm on this one because they honestly believe they can win the cup this year or next.... and for Burke - great move.

It makes sense for both teams - a steal for either it was not... if anything, this deal is tilted in the Oilers favour - which sometimes you have to do for a shot at the cup and Burke knows that

[Thrillhouse]

A steal? No.

Anaheim wins the trade for now, but around the time Pronger's contract is ending, Edmonton will win this trade.

And there's nothing wrong with a late 1st round draft pick. Corey Perry was taken at #28.

[OilersHockey]

Originally Posted by McDonald19

not really...he is a streaky scorer who got hot against the Avs...Lupul is going to score 30 goals in this league for a long time but he is a very one-dimensional player. If he is not scoring he is just floating out there.

He won't be floating if he's playing for MacT...ask Hemsky or Dvorak, who actually learned to play defense under the coach...

[OilersHockey]

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

A steal? No.

Anaheim wins the trade for now, but around the time Pronger's contract is ending, Edmonton will win this trade.

And there's nothing wrong with a late 1st round draft pick. Corey Perry was taken at #28.

I absolutely disagree with you... You can't say "Anaheim wins the trade for now" when we have NO IDEA how good those 2 or 3 picks turn out to be, never mind the potential in Smid or Lupul...It's an unfair comparison.

If you are looking at NEXT SEASON which everyone on here appears to be, then sure they "win the trade". If you are looking at this from an organizational stand point in the long-term, this deal favours Edmonton without a doubt...

[canuck2]

I hope Pronger is happy inhaling the pollution in Disneyland.

Late first round draft picks rarely give you a quality NHLer. Its a real crapshoot and doesnt justify trading a marquee player.

Lupul was very impressive in the playoffs for a young guy. He will be a superstar. He is tall and can dangle. Floater? They said that about Mario all the time.

I just wish the Oilers would get more to help them now with Roloson being older and them having all that momentum from the Cup run.

[McDonald19]

Originally Posted by canuck2

I hope Pronger is happy inhaling the pollution in Disneyland.

Late first round draft picks rarely give you a quality NHLer. Its a real crapshoot and doesnt justify trading a marquee player.

Lupul was very impressive in the playoffs for a young guy. He will be a superstar. He is tall and can dangle. Floater? They said that about Mario all the time.

I just wish the Oilers would get more to help them now with Roloson being older and them having all that momentum from the Cup run.

Orange County is fairly clean, gotta go to LA if you really want to inhale some smog.

I agree the picks will be crapshoots because none of them will be top 20 picks.

Lupul won't be a superstar. He will be a first line sniper for a long time though. The difference between Lupul and superstars is that Lupul does not make his linemates better. He floats and waits for the playmakers to get him the puck. Edmonton got themselves a good first liner with a great scoring touch though and Smid will atleast be a solid second pairing d-man for a long time.