Oilers deal Pronger to Anaheim

[HAF]

Oilers deal Pronger to Anaheim

http://images.tsn.ca/images/stories/20060305/pronger_69267.jpg

Chris Pronger


TSN.ca Staff

7/3/2006 11:57:15 AM

Chris Pronger, the biggest name on the summer trade block is going to California.

The Anaheim Ducks have traded right winger Joffrey Lupul, one non-roster player and several conditional high-end draft picks to the Oilers in exchange for Pronger.

Pronger, 31, put up 56 points and a plus-2 rating during the 2005-2006 regular season and was a stalwart for the Oilers during their playoff run to the Stanley Cup final, recording 21 points and a plus-10 rating in 24 games. The 2000 Hart and Norris Trophy winner is regarded as one of the very best defenders in the league, and joins a Ducks defence corps that includes 2004 Norris Trophy winner Scott Niedermayer.

Pronger has 456 points and a plus-127 rating in an 802-game career that has seen him play in Hartford, St. Louis and Edmonton. He also has 72 points and a plus-25 rating in 109 career playoff games.

The 6-foot-6, 220 pound defenceman signed a five-year, $31.25-million contract with the Oilers last August, then surprised the team with his request for a trade shortly after the season due to personal reasons.



Lupul, 22, is an Edmonton native who is just coming into his own offensively. Drafted 7th overall in 2002, Lupul tallied 28 goals and 53 points this past season, a solid improvement on his 34-point rookie season of 2003-2004.

Lupul added nine goals and 11 points in 16 playoff games this past season, including a four-goal game against Colorado in the second-round series.

A restricted free agent, Lupul earned $900,600 last season.

[SectionNDeserter]

Seems like a good fit, he goes to a team with great management, and his Mom--Er, I mean his wife can buy all the $5000 handbags that she wants! :laugh:

[Toswammi]

Wow, i guess i was expecting him to be playing out east. Anahiem will be good this year especially seeing how they are still planing on moving a tender this summer. The return to edmonton is just young and unproven (except Lupul) so its hard to really judge the deal. Speaking of Lupul, with him in Edmonton, it just gives me another reason to hate the Oil, Thank You Lowe.

[MidgetAAA]

Look for LUPUL to bolt out of edmonton as soon as he can he has said to many people in his hometown of FORT SASKATCHEWAN that he would play for any team but the oilers that he just feels like there is to much pressure playing in edmonton,and if any one saw his interview he doesnt look or sound to thrilled. He might try it for a year but after that look for a trade.