Tweet
St. PAUL, MINN. - In the wake of dealing for Philadelphia Flyers captain Mike Richards(notes), Los Angeles Kings general manager Dean Lombardi says he’s trading Ryan Smyth(notes) in the next day or so.
Smyth is likely to go to one of the two Alberta teams — his original club, the Edmonton Oilers, or the Calgary Flames, which would be close to where Smyth grew up in Banff.
Lombardi told the Los Angeles Times he’d like to wrap it up in a day or two, that the Smyth asking for a trade situation has been going on for six weeks. He said there was a front-runner, with only two clubs in the hunt. He said he was close to a deal.
The feeling is the Kings would take a draft pick for Smyth, who wants to get back to Alberta because of family issues. The Oilers, obviously, have the greatest tug on his heart, but he’s from Banff, so Calgary might work, too.
It’s not like the Kings want to rid themselves of Smyth’s $6.25-million salary-cap hit and $4.5-million salary. They aren’t looking to make a big hockey deal here. They’re trying to help Smyth out.
The Oilers have two third-round draft picks (one they got from Calgary for defenceman Steve Staios(notes)). One of those picks (either No. 62 or No. 74) might be in play for a trade.
There have also been suggestions that the Oilers might try to move Gilbert Brule(notes)’s $1.85-million contract, which has a year remaining, because they are very deep at forward.
But the Kings don’t want to add salary. The Oilers have a cadre of really young guys — Taylor Hall(notes), Jordan Eberle(notes), Magnus Paajarvi(notes), Martin Marancin, Jeff Petry(notes), Anton Lander, Teemu Hartikainen(notes) and Tyler Pitlick(notes) — they wouldn’t move.
The Oilers, who know how popular Smyth is in Edmonton, are interested but, in their development stage, they have to be careful what they give up for the 35-year-old winger.
Obviously, a chunk of the Oilers’ fan base would welcome getting Smyth back after his unsettling trade in 2007 over money issues. He played 770 games for the Oilers before he was dealt to the New York Islanders.
The Oilers have lots of cap room to add Smyth, who could be a mentor for the young players.
The Flames, who are having trouble resigning free-agent winger Alex Tanguay(notes), might see Smyth as a nice replacement. He’s played with Calgary captain Jarome Iginla(notes) on Olympic teams.
Smyth is likely to go to one of the two Alberta teams — his original club, the Edmonton Oilers, or the Calgary Flames, which would be close to where Smyth grew up in Banff.
Lombardi told the Los Angeles Times he’d like to wrap it up in a day or two, that the Smyth asking for a trade situation has been going on for six weeks. He said there was a front-runner, with only two clubs in the hunt. He said he was close to a deal.
The feeling is the Kings would take a draft pick for Smyth, who wants to get back to Alberta because of family issues. The Oilers, obviously, have the greatest tug on his heart, but he’s from Banff, so Calgary might work, too.
It’s not like the Kings want to rid themselves of Smyth’s $6.25-million salary-cap hit and $4.5-million salary. They aren’t looking to make a big hockey deal here. They’re trying to help Smyth out.
The Oilers have two third-round draft picks (one they got from Calgary for defenceman Steve Staios(notes)). One of those picks (either No. 62 or No. 74) might be in play for a trade.
There have also been suggestions that the Oilers might try to move Gilbert Brule(notes)’s $1.85-million contract, which has a year remaining, because they are very deep at forward.
But the Kings don’t want to add salary. The Oilers have a cadre of really young guys — Taylor Hall(notes), Jordan Eberle(notes), Magnus Paajarvi(notes), Martin Marancin, Jeff Petry(notes), Anton Lander, Teemu Hartikainen(notes) and Tyler Pitlick(notes) — they wouldn’t move.
The Oilers, who know how popular Smyth is in Edmonton, are interested but, in their development stage, they have to be careful what they give up for the 35-year-old winger.
Obviously, a chunk of the Oilers’ fan base would welcome getting Smyth back after his unsettling trade in 2007 over money issues. He played 770 games for the Oilers before he was dealt to the New York Islanders.
The Oilers have lots of cap room to add Smyth, who could be a mentor for the young players.
The Flames, who are having trouble resigning free-agent winger Alex Tanguay(notes), might see Smyth as a nice replacement. He’s played with Calgary captain Jarome Iginla(notes) on Olympic teams.
Comment