News / Sports
Edmonton Oilers Shock Hockey Fans, Trade Ryan Smyth to N.Y. Islanders
Out of the playoff race and unable to make headway in contract talk, the Edmonton Oilers dealt Ryan Smyth to the New York Islanders on Tuesday.
For a franchise that has had the dubious distinction of trading Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier, the added pain of dealing Smyth may be too much for Edmonton fans to bear. While Smyth was set to become a free-agent after the season many believed that management and the star would strike a deal to keep him in Edmonton.
Instead, the two sides couldn’t agree on a long-term deal and facing the prospect that they could end up empty handed at season’s end the Oilers sent him to New York for Ryan O’Mara, Robert Nilsson and a first-round pick in 2007.
The Islanders are in a dog fight for the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race. They are currently in 7th place, sitting on 72 points, Montreal has 72 points as well but has played three more games. Carolina is in ninth with 71 points with two more games played than the Islanders.
In 53 games this season Smyth totaled 31 goals and 53 points.
