It’s been nearly 20 years since the Edmonton Oilers traded away defenceman Chris Pronger, but there still appears to be some animosity between the two sides. As many will remember, the Oilers acquired the stalwart blueliner ahead of the 2005-06 campaign, and advanced to the Stanley Cup Final that very same season. Shortly after falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games, Pronger shocked the world by requesting a trade.
Despite two decades having gone by, Pronger rarely spoke publicly as to why he requested a trade out of Edmonton. That changed recently, as he explained in his new book, ‘Earned: The True Cost of Greatness from One of Hockey’s Fiercest Competitors’, that he chose to put pen to paper on a five-year extension with the Oilers while intoxicated. He also made it clear that his wife, while not necessarily opposed to remaining in Edmonton long term, wasn’t aware that he had done so until after the fact.
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These comments didn’t seem to rally up many Oilers fans, who, after two decades, have had plenty of time to make peace with Pronger’s decision. That said, it appears that some who were much more involved with how things played out may not be in a forgiving mood just yet.
Lowe Makes Thoughts Crystal Clear
Kevin Lowe, who was the Oilers general manager (GM) both when Pronger was acquired and traded, didn’t take too kindly to the Hall of Fame defenceman seemingly laughing at Edmonton’s expense when explaining how his trade request unfolded. You can certainly understand some of the frustration, as Lowe was able to put together a roster during that 2005-06 season that came as close as possible to winning a Stanley Cup.
Rather than go back at Pronger on a radio hit or podcast, Lowe instead took matters into his own hands, tearing into him on a post he published on his LinkedIn page on Tuesday night. Safe to say, he didn’t hold back any punches.
“You may have read Chris Pronger’s recent piece in ‘The Athletic’, and I can’t overstate how disappointed I was after reading it in full,” a very frustrated Lowe wrote. He wasn’t close to being done there, either.
“Looking back, hearing how he frames it today, I find myself wishing I had handled it differently,” Lowe said. “Quite frankly, I wish I had said no and let him sit out rather than accommodate a decision he now seems so quick to diminish.”
Lowe’s biggest frustration of all seemed to be with Pronger suggesting his wife was blindsided by the five-year contract extension he allegedly agreed to while intoxicated. The former Oilers GM said that’s a much different reaction than he had received shortly after the extension was public news.
“The day after the agreement, I received a personal note from his wife expressing how excited they both were about coming to Edmonton,” Lowe continued. “That sentiment doesn’t align with the version of events being portrayed now.”
Though Lowe’s popularity amongst Oilers fans isn’t nearly as high as it was during his playing days, most have applauded him in this case for standing up not only for the organization but Edmonton as a city. You can certainly understand why given that many of Edmontonians feel their city gets slighted when compared to others around the NHL.
Oilers Have Come Out Alright
Another point of Lowe’s frustrations with Pronger likely come due to the fact that after being forced to trade him, the Oilers didn’t get back to the playoffs for a decade. There were plenty of jobs lost within the organization during that timespan, all while the organization turned into somewhat of a laughing stock by picking first overall four times in six years.
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Thankfully, the tides have changed for the Oilers. Thanks in large part to Connor McDavid, but also others such as Leon Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard, this team has turned back into a perennial Stanley Cup contender which many players are now taking discounts to join. All of this simply serves as a nice reminder to Oilers fans as to just how far the organization has come.
