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Ducks Trade for MVP Chris Pronger
Leaving no ambiguity about their intention to win a Stanley Cup, the Ducks today traded for five-time All-Star and former NHL most valuable player Chris Pronger in a deal that sends to the Edmonton Oilers right wing Joffrey Lupul, along with a top prospect (addendum: prospect is Ladislav Smid), and three future draft picks.
The acquisition of the 31-year-old Pronger didn't come without significant cost. Lupul, an Edmonton-area native, had been one of the Ducks' stars in the playoffs, while prospect Ladislav Smid was the Ducks' top draft pick in 2004. The Oilers also get a first-round pick in 2007, a conditional first-round pick in 2008 and a second-round pick in 2008.
After losing to the Edmonton Oilers in seven games in the Western Conference finals this past season, the Ducks made a bold move after staying quiet through the recent flurry of free-agent signings across the league.
"We believe having Chris Pronger join Scott Niedermayer on our blue line gives us two of the top defensemen in the NHL today," Ducks General Manager Brian Burke said in a statement. "Players of this caliber don't become available very often, especially when they are in the prime of their career."'
In Pronger and Niedermayer, the Ducks have two former Norris Trophy winners as the league's best defenseman. The two also were part of the Canadian hockey team that won the gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
"This is really special," winger Teemu Selanne said. "I thought Adam Foote and Rob Blake [in Colorado] was incredible. Pronger and Niedermayer sounds unbelievable." The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Pronger was the biggest name available on the trade market. He had requested to be traded, citing personal reasons, after leading the Oilers to the Cup finals, where they lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games.
Pronger's request stunned Oiler fans, especially since he had signed a five-year, $31.25 million contract extension last August after being acquired from the St. Louis Blues. There were reports that his wife, Lauren, wanted to leave Edmonton.
In his one momentous season with the Oilers, Pronger had 12 goals and 44 assists in the regular season and was arguably the most dominant player in the playoffs with five goals and 16 assists in 24 games, often playing 30 minutes a night. The 21 points was the most since Brian Leetch had 34 for the New York Rangers in 1994.
Pronger and Burke have a history. In the 1993 draft, when Burke was general manager with the Hartford Whalers, he took the defenseman with the No. 2 overall pick.
"He just absolutely loves Pronger," Selanne said. "He's always talking highly about him."
Lupul, 22, was selected by the Ducks as the seventh pick of the 2002 draft, and had 28 goals and 25 assists in his second season. An Oiler fan growing up in the Edmonton suburb of Fort Saskatchewan, Canada, Lupul's grandfather, Tom Mayson, is part of their ownership group.
Smid, who is from the Czech Republic, was widely expected to challenge for a roster spot this season. With the Portland Pirates, the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the 20-year-old defenseman had three goals and 25 assists in 71 regular-season games.
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cant say the oilers got equal value in the short term, but thats par for the course in trades like this. this trade looks a lot better 5 or 10 years down he road. trading a big guy like this doesnt make it any easier to bring other high profile free agents to edmonton.
