Ugh. I hate think that we're giving up on the season. Last year's playoff run was so much fun that I was really hoping we'd be able to get at least one playoff series this year. However, with the Ryan Smyth trade that happened earlier today before the trade deadline, Kevin Lowe is throwing in the towel for this season. The oilers *might* still make the playoffs, but that's looking pretty unlikely given how they played tonight against Phoenix. Reading the Edmonton Oiler forums is mildly entertaining though. People are so attached to Smytty ... and I admit I was too. But fans are so betrayed that Smyth was traded ... but what they don't realize is that Kevin Lowe was put in a rather awkward position. The Oil weren't in good shape to make the playoffs, and the contract negotiations with Smyth weren't going so hot. So what do you do? Keep him for the rest of a season that is unlikely to be a playoff year, and chance that he won't re-sign at the end of the year? Or get what you can get for him and attempt to sign him in the offseason if you'd like to (or go after a higher impact guy if one is available). Seems like a pretty clear decision to me!

The age of franchise players is almost over. The number of players who actually stick with one team their entire career are diminishing quickly. Smyth is really one of the last of his kind ... so I'm sorry fans -- you're gonna have to get used to this.

Now that I've got that out of the way, we can take a look at the trade. I think Kevin Lowe got an amazing deal. He picked up two players who were drafted in the first round, and a first round pick in the upcoming draft. That means we get THREE first round picks in the upcoming draft! Sounds like we're in the position to either get some really good young talent, or trade some young talent for some current talent. As much as I hate the idea that my dear Oil are giving up on the year, I can't complain about this trade that much.

Heraldk