Face of a Franchise

Ryan Smyth has been traded.

For some reason, every time these trades happen in Edmonton its just as suprising as the last one. And the timing is just unbelievable as TSN even commented, who decided Mark Messier night should be on trade deadline day?? Although I was around when Doug Weight, Bill Guerin, and Curtis Joseph left, for some reason Ryan Smyth is just huge. Well, I guess it was that those three players were under the "Old NHL" where it was acknowledged that Edmonton couldn't afford him. But Ryan Smyth?

He is the old sports cliche the "heart and soul" of his team. He helped lead his team to within a game of reclaiming past glory. He has always been among the team's best player and is the best player this year.

The issue probably with negotiation was whether or not Ryan Smyth can be paid as the team's best player in a few years. Certainly most people feel it will be Hemsky... as well, with all the other contracts at the moment taking up budget...

I'm watching TSN and the reaction is just nuts. Last year the Oilers were getting the big news because they were on their big playoff run. Unfortunately, they're getting the big attention for the wrong reasons this year.