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Interesting comments.. :D

money is not the issue oilers will offer 5.5 plus, however the deal is about other terms, which will not be settled

So it came to pass. Now Kevin Lowe is persona non grata in Edmonton, the Oilers season is over, and rebuilding could take another 2 years (watch ticket sales plummet). Still think getting rid of this expensive 'veteran' was worth the savings? And what did Lowe get for Smyth anyway? A couple of longshots (one of them the son of an Edmonton scout), and a first round pick that is still 15th overall.

Is this any way to run a hockey team? You bet it isn't.

This comment does not pertain to this blog...I needed a place to ask Scotty what his take of the disallowed goal in the Leafs-Islanders game last night (Thursday). Mr. Fraser apparently felt that the Leafs interfered with the goalie and I am not going to try jumping into the head of an NHL referee...but what they heck was he thinking? I don't care if that is my beloved Leafs or the local minor Pee-Wee team...that I would be calling that a horrible call no matter what.

The worst thing about it was that the Refs did not seem to know what was going on...the Islanders did not know why the goal was disallowed...sure they will take...why not...

The Refs should be able to take an minute and converse with each other...should they not? It is like none of them saw the play or the (amazing) shot and then they did not know what to do.

In the end this turns out to be a 4-point error in the play-off race. The Leafs would have been in control of the game at 3-1 and could have completed the victory...they would have received the 2 points and Islanders zero. Instead the Islanders get the 2 points and Leafs settle for one.

What kind of review/consequence do these Refs get? Any punishment for errors of this magnitude?

25 goal man at best? He already has 29. If Jose Theodore gets 5.5 million, Smyth is worth 8 million.

I love Ryan Smyth - but personally I question whether he is worth 5+ million per season - that he is likely asking for. In the cap age, long term big money contract saddle teams and make it hard for them to compete. I would be onside with keeping him around - but at 5+ million, I could completely understand letting him walk.

As for a home town discount - I don't think Symth owes anyone anything and if he can make more elsewhere than that's fine - good on him.

Big money contracts, while at time necessary, often turn into big mistakes. Do you think Vancouver would sign Naslund at 6+ again? What about Colorado - do you not think they would like to rid themselves of Theodore and his 5.5M? Smyth is really a 25 goal man at best - true he brings a lot more in leadership, and dedication, but is it worth 5+ million? I am not so sure.

Hey Goo,

No loyalty for 25 years? Yzerman just recently retired, entire career with Detroit. Sakic is still with the organization he started with Avs/Nords. Ken Daneyko just recently retired, full career with the Devils. Mike Modano - Stars, Daniel Alfredsson - Sens, Martin Brodeur - Devils, Vincent Lecavalier - Bolts, Jarome Iginla - Flames, Nicklas Lidstrom - Wings, just to name a few.

Not everyone is money hungry in the NHL. Ryan Smyth certainly isn't. He just wants what he's due. Poured his heart in to the team since he first put the jersey on.

Scott Mcleod stated the NHL is a young man's game? Smyth isn't nearing his old age pension by any means. Any man that leads his team in goals and points isn't past his prime.

Smyth is certainly in the drivers seat. It will depend on his commitment as an oiler and the oilers commitment to him.

Ryan "the Banff boy" will go where the money is. They all do. There hasn't been any loyalty in the NHL for some time now(25 years?). Banff is alot more of a Calgary thing anyway.

Yes, both are World Hockey representatives...but the numbers says it all, not only this season but overall, Ryan Smyth has put up bigger numbers than Shane Doan. On the other hand, Doan's more of a defensive player, compare to Smyth and his offensive presence. Both have passed their prime years. Ryan Smyth ain't no Wayne Gretzky, but let's not forget when Gretzky left Edmonton, Wayne still had his stuff for the years he had with the Kings. Kevin Lowe, try not to make the same mistake.

Ryan Smyth means to Edmonton what Steve Yzerman meant to Detroit, loyalty and class. Smyth wants to stay, the team wants him to stay, and the fans love him. Why not give him what he wants? Instead of counting pennies, Kevin Lowe needs to look back at how many great Oilers had to leave for greener pastures only to win the cup for their respective teams (Messier, Weight, Coffey to name only a few). Edmonton has a competitive team that absolutely cannot lose a player of this caliber, regardless of the return!!

I think that if they do not sign him or if they feel like he might not sign in the summer that they sould trade him for other players. I feel they sould sign him for something around 4 mill and I just want to mention that the money he will get is not everything and it shouldn't matter if he is paid a lot or not, he should play where he wants.

i know ryan smith is going to cost the oilers approx 6 million a year but he is worth it to this franchise. without ryan ther will be no oilers, bite the bullett and sign him, if you dont there is probably 20 teams will beat you with him as the top player on their team. hard decesion but do it.

remember this is still ayoung man's game.if kevin can get the right deal make it. edmonton is going nowhere this year, ryan smyth isn't getting any younger and i think there are alot of dumb gm's out there that are ripe for picking. good luck kevin lowe i know you can do it .

I second rodeo skunk's comment on players in their option year having career years. I don't blame them for being more motivated in those years but I don't like it. Marchant did the same thing with the Oilers a few years back.

The reality is, the salaries, even with the salary cap are not in line with the market for hockey. How can league and players justify the average salary in the NHL being on par with the NFL!!!??? The problem for hockey fans is that that more then any other sport, gate reciepts from fans make up the brunt of team revenues. The price for tickets are astronomical and ridiculous. I wish one of these media guys (who don't pay for tickets) looking for a "cause" would start really looking at how fans are getting screwed in this whole deal.

if the oilers do not sign ryan smyth this year
i am finished watching hockey
last year chris pronger walked out on us to go to anaheim after saying he wanted to play here
no more defections
disilusioned in edmonton

Give him what he wants. He's Oiler blue, a Banff boy who wants nothing more than to be an Oiler for life. He gives 100% every night, plays through injuries, is their best goal scorer, and is a great leader. Time for Kevin Lowe to get off his wallet and give him what he deserves. He cannot let a player of this calibre go. The team would be devastated if they lost him. He is the heart and soul of that franchise.

I believe the Oilers will be out the playoff picture by the deadline. Trading Smyth would be very difficult from an organization standpoint as he is the face of the franchise. However, he would also demand a pretty high value at the deadline, possibly a young all-around defensemen that the Oilers so desparately need. Although, it's tough to think of one off the top of my head that would be available, maybe a Nicklas Kronwall or Joe Corvo. The reality is, it doesn't look like the Oilers will be able to sign him so the the tough decision is to move him.

First of all, congratulations to Shane Doan. Ryan Smyth also deserves a "pat" on the back. Smyth has been a true soldier and Ambassador to this great game. Smyth has never been a "hold out" to contract talks and always been a true professional. Like the great Oilers of the past(Gretzky,Messier, Kurri,Coffey) Captain Canada will someday leave his beloved Oilers, but no doubt will do it in a classy high fashion. Like Gretzky's patience behind the net, Captain Canada will get his worth.

The Oilers had a chance to sign Smyth to a multi-year contract in the summer at something like 5 million a year and never got it done. Now they will have to face the tough decision of sucking it up and paying him more or trading away the heart and sole of the Oil.

Over to you Kevin Lowe.

As a long time Oilers fan I shutter at the thought of losing Smyth, but that does not mean that he is indispensible. Lowe cannot mortgage the future of the team if the asking price gets too high. If we do end up loosing Smyth, we better get a player or players that will build up our team well into the future.

this topic of salaries with doan n smyth, brings back team loyalty, with doan being with the winnipeg/pheonix organisation his whole career it usterstandable, but to base smyths salary off another players is unjust, n should be solemly on the players individual preformance plus wants of both parties

It's hard to comment on Shane Doan. Being out in Phoenix I never see him play. What I saw with Team Canada at the Olympics wasn't memorable.

But this editorial is a reminder that it is high salaries that are killing the game not schedules, clutch and grab and the width of goal nets. The guys play hard in the last year of their contract but once renewed, many players lack intensity.

Case in point: here in Ottawa, look at the great season Chris Phillips is having. His contract, of course, is up after this year.

Then look at Wade Redden. Last season he was terrific. He was rewarded with a nice pay raise, the Senators even sacrificed Chara and Havlat for him. This year Redden's had some tough nights.

How about Martin Gerber. Last year a star, big contract in the summer, this year he's been dreadful.