TRADE RUMOR!!!
LUONGO FOR PRONGER/ROLOSON
Three words: not gonna happen
Pronger going to Florida rumor is way more believable. Personally I'd love to see him playing for the Rangers because right now our defense is lacking a true franchise player.
NHL notes: No easy task for Oilers' LoweThe Edmonton Oilers probably were hopeful that the thrill of reaching the Stanley Cup finals, a hockey-crazed environment and praise befit a king would change the mind of Chris Pronger and his stunning request to be traded.
GM Kevin Lowe admitted over the weekend that he has been aware of Pronger's wishes for quite a while. Reportedly, Pronger's wife, Lauren, returned with the couple's children to her native St. Louis midway through the season.
The news has sent shock waves through the city, which was still getting over the pain of losing the Stanley Cup in seven games to Carolina.
Lowe has his work cut out for him. Pronger signed a five-year contract worth $6.25 million a season with the Oilers after being dealt by the St. Louis Blues last summer. Such a contract is quite attractive to NHL clubs in the market for a cornerstone defenseman, and many teams are in that position. Add to that the fact that everyone now knows Pronger is apparently forcing the issue.
Early rumors are that Toronto, the Rangers and Florida are among the teams with a keen interest in making a deal for Pronger, who apparently wants to play in the United States and not in Canada. St. Louis doesn't figure to be in the running because the club, gutted by former owner Bill Laurie during his effort to sell, probably can't come up with a package that will appease Lowe.
"We're not going to be quick to act on this unless we have a real strong opportunity for the organization," said Lowe, who learned from Pronger's agent, Pat Morris, that he wanted out. "We're not going to be knee-jerk to anything. He doesn't have a no-trade clause, so there can't be many stipulations."
Not surprisingly, the news is being met with both anger and sadness in Edmonton. Some media types are skewering Pronger for bailing on the Oilers and the city. Others speculate about what this will do to franchise, fearing that the ripple effect of losing an impact player like Pronger this way could influence future players acquired by trade or free agency.
Lowe described the feeling as a "shot in the gut" and rightly so. Pronger was probably Edmonton's most effective and consistent player in the playoffs and, had the Oilers won the Cup, he probably would have won the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP. He scored five goals and 16 assists in 24 games and averaged nearly 31 minutes of ice time per game.
Pronger has been unavailable for comment on the situation. He and his family reportedly are vacationing in Mexico.
As for potential suitors, the Maple Leafs are reportedly dangling defenseman Tomas Kaberle, who recently signed a long-term contract, and one of the team's top prospects. Lowe has been in discussions with GM John Ferguson Jr., who knows Pronger well from his days as assistant GM with the Blues, but those talks are preliminary. The Leafs would like to get something done before Saturday because Kaberle has a no-trade clause in the new contract that kicks in on that day.
The Rangers have a lot of talent up front and some good prospects in the minors, but Lowe undoubtedly will want a top-tier defenseman as part of the package. Florida GM Mike Keenan reportedly is offering defenseman Jay Bouwmeester in a package.
If Pronger is indeed moved, Lowe could get into the derby for veteran Vancouver defenseman Ed Jovanovski, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent July 1. Jovanovski is rumored to be considering Florida, where he started his career. His wife is also from Florida and, as Pronger can attest, wives can be very influential.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/5738488
Topic: Official NHL Thread (Read 734643 times)