The original trade went sideways but by the Sunday of draft day (June 26) the Oilers and Kings made a deal (details here). It was one of the true feel good stories of the last 5 years for Oiler fans; a great one who "never wanted to leave in the first place" pressuring a big city GM to send him home.
Nice.
However, since then there have been a mountain of arrows sent Edmonton's way and much anger pointed toward the Edmonton Oilers organization. Some very negative comments from Mr. Lombardi and a push to resolve by peaceful means have not ignited discussion and produced a solution.
Where are we now? Helene Elliott tweets on but nothing lately from her or Mr. Lombardi on the subject. It would seem Mr. Lombardi is waiting for a time when all other summer business (Drew Doughty's contract) has been finished before returning to the issue.
Right? No one gets that angry one week and forgets about it the next. Right?
Day 32. We wait.
I think a lot of Lombardi's HOT AIR about the Smyth trade is to deflect the mess of the contract talks with Doughty.
ReplyDeleteThe more he whines the less time people have to ask him about the most important contract he needs to negotiate this summer.
Lombardi's overreaction to this is so inexplicable that I wonder if there isn't a stronger ulterior motive at play? One possible explanation is that the Oilers could've put out some feelers to Smyth's camp indicating that they were amenable to him returning if he could force Lombardi's hand? It would certainly help to explain Lombardi's ire here if he felt the Oilers facilitated the exit of one of his Top 6 wingers for next to nothing in return.
ReplyDeleteI exchanged tweets with Helene last night. She will see Lombardi today and said she was going to ask aboutt his. Stay tuned . . .
ReplyDelete@Spot The Loon,
ReplyDeleteNothing like poking the sleeping bear. This could make for some fun twitter activity this afternoon.
I heard rumors of Smith's return last winter..So Lee's theory might have some merit..
ReplyDeleteRight? No one gets that angry one week and forgets about it the next. Right?
ReplyDeleteNot unless it's a smoke screen to try to obsure the fact that Doughty hasn't been signed yet. And August is knocking on the door. Wag the dog anyone?
Lombardi can go grab a spoon and eat my ass.
ReplyDelete@Regwald
ReplyDeleteHelene was saying that she has been trying to find out what was going on related to this but that Lombardi wasn't returning her calls. lol But, apparently, she is seeing him in person today.
Lombardi can go grab a spoon and eat my ass.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing pleasant about that metaphor. For anyone.
hah, smarmy was obviously referring to this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.howzyafatha.com/5451/steve-johnsons-birthday-cake-is-banging
@Loon,
ReplyDeleteMaybe he's quiet on the subject because he's had his wrist slapped by Bettman for his pettiness. We can always hope.
happerni - italian word for happiness
With regard to Doughty having yet to re-sign, I think it's worth considering the idea that maybe Lombardi had some not-so-nice comments for the wonder-child behind closed doors.
ReplyDeleteWhen Doughty came to camp out of shape last fall, perhaps Lombardi made some snide comment to him along the lines of what he said about Penner this spring. Doughty, realizing that he is far more valuable to the organization than his boss, is now holding Lombardi's feet to the fire out of spite.
Of course, this is all pure speculation, but it's not a huge reach to think that Lombardi ran his mouth, pissed Doughty off, and is now having trouble getting him to commit long term at a discount.
Given that their ex-con former owner helped to orchestrate the sale of the 'Great One,' effectively spurring the dismantling of a hockey dynasty, I am on-board with any actions that result in the LA Kings franchise getting screwed by the Oil. Dumping Dustin Penner and stealing Smytty off the Kings in the same season? That's a good year in my books.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me or do Oiler fans spend a lot of time waiting?
ReplyDeleteIs it just me or do Oiler fans spend a lot of time waiting?
ReplyDeleteNope! Have 4 kids 31, 7, 3, 10 months. Allways doing. oilogosphere and detroit lions are ny current break.
Got a recomendation for you! Went to the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. Tons of interactive displays for my 7 yeaar old. went there for 3 hours. Will probably need two more visits.
Pulled up in the car and walked to the entrance and said wonder if it will be memorable.
Stepped in and Is it just me or do Oiler fans spend a lot of time waiting?
Vick emery's 64 bobsleigh was at the door and I thought this is on.
the video replay of the atheletes great moments at a touch.
It better be on everyone`s list.
I wonder if Alex Anthopolous would agreed to GM the Oilers. He just pulled off another heist today.
ReplyDeleteI think Lombardi is just mad that Mike Richards went on a club crawl of all the VIP lounges on the Sunset strip and didn't invite him along.
ReplyDeleteLT: it could be that we're not hearing anything because Lombardi's options are basically spent. He can't afford to have the trade reversed and the Oilers have clearly resisted his pressure to pay him off. If he has no options left, he may have just taken his ball and gone home.
ReplyDeleteDucey: absolutely. Another great trade for the Jays - they might actually be good in a couple years.
My understanding was that the cyst that was found in Fraser's ankle would require a subsequent operation. Has that occured yet? If not, why not?
ReplyDeleteIf we are still in a wait and see on the ankle, then the stated issue (Fraser's undisclosed or underdisclosed injury) may or may not still be an issue. It could simply be that he is waiting to see how long he is going to be out before determining if, or how much, the Kings have been "hurt" by the greater than expected injury.
Are we all getting worried now about Gagner's next contract ?
ReplyDeleteCallahan gets $13M over 3 years - $4.33M cap hit.
boxcars starting with 2010-11
60 23-25-48 -7
77 19-18-37 -12
81 22-18-40 7
52 8-5-13 7
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteYes the dreaded and well described "cyst" complication(???). Don't forget about the "blood disorder". Sounds very ominous.
ReplyDeleteWe women may not be as fast, strong, or make as much money (on average) than you guys, but if there is one thing we are really good at, it's identifying when a guy is talking out of his ass.
ASHLEY with the big fly. :-)
ReplyDelete@Ashley,
ReplyDeleteAre you trying to say that Lombardi doesn't get a second date ? ;o)
Ashley: In other words, do you think certain guys might be termed as being "bullshitters"?
ReplyDeletePS: Some of my best friends are women. They admire my sensitivity, and support my stance on various issues which I feel might impact them.
We women may not be as fast, strong, or make as much money (on average) than you guys, but if there is one thing we are really good at, it's identifying when a guy is talking out of his ass.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, I know a lot of guys who you guys end up sleeping with or dating. As a group, you aren't.
Wait...Ashley isn't a dude?
ReplyDeleteAlice is the dude. Ashley...Not as far as we know...
ReplyDeleteLOL. Nice one Tyler.
ReplyDeleteDepends on the girls. Smart ones with some experience they mighty do.
Girls on the internets = Lies anyway. Jk.
I think Lombardi is just trying to cover up the fact he got screwed big time, and was inapt all the way.
Anthopolous is the silent assassin. Lurking in the reeds waiting to strike.
ReplyDeleteSB: Swapping old stuff who cost nothing for new stuff.
ReplyDeleteGreat old trick. Too bad the Oil isn't too familiar.
The problem for Lombardi is that Tambo can't acquiesce. One would think the Oilers would quietly put this to bed with a simple settlement behind closed doors - considering how great a deal it is for the team. Now, after Lombardi's ill-fated verbal diarrhea, any compromise from the Oilers and a red flag goes up around the league - Tambo trades injured players without full disclosure - proof positive. Or said another way - beware of Hemsky. It's a stalemate that Lombardi shouldn't win.
ReplyDeleteBendleson: There are arguments which take the position that Tambellini's a clever Italian style trickster with a keen sense of irony, and as such he has no intention of trading away Hemsky, despite Kevin Lowe's personal attempts to interfere with the operation of the franchise.
ReplyDeleteLombardi's a GM on the hot seat - he's basically fired after next year's playoffs, unless the Kings make the Conference Finals.
Tambellini has the equivalent of tenure, until Mr. Katz says otherwise, lol.
ReplyDeletehelenenothelen Helene Elliott
ReplyDeleteLombardi also said Colin Fraser is in LA and being xamined by Kings' doctors. said xpects to get doctors' opinions w/in 24 hours and still possible he will file official grievance w/the NHL, depending on what final doctor report is.
34 minutes ago
hunter1909 said...
ReplyDelete"Lombardi's a GM on the hot seat - he's basically fired after next year's playoffs, unless the Kings make the Conference Finals."
You're basing this on what. exactly?
During Lombardi's tenure the Kings have gone - 71,79,101,98 points and made the playoffs twice.
While a third consecutive first round exit might cost him his job, I'm almost certain that making it to the second round and getting the Kings the revenue from 8 potential home playoff dates would be sufficient to save his bacon.
DSF: A fairly high percentage of the LAK fanbase would want Lombardi gone, more than our illustrious GM for sure.
ReplyDeleteTo many Kings fans, Lombardi's seen as a bumbling, too sitting on his hands all the time never improve the team loser.
He doesn't get any more praise for Doughty as anyone who posts in here gives Tambo/Lowe for Taylor Hall.
Personally, I've always liked the Kings, so long as they're doing badly, lol.
Presumably Fraser has gotten the go ahead from the NHLPA doctors before going to see the LA doctors.
ReplyDelete@hunter
ReplyDeleteDoes he get praise for Richards,Gagne, Penner (if he returns to form) Williams, Stoll, Greene, Johnson, Mitchell, Scuderi and a host of high end draft choices?
The man has hardly been sitting on his hands.
DSF:
ReplyDeleteWilliams' has 50/50 healthy injured.
Scuderi and Mitchell are grossly overpaid.
Gagné's a lot like Frolov he kicked out of town.
He didn't exactly have the upper hand with Stoll/Greene.
Penner's been shit so far.
DSF:
ReplyDeleteRichards gets muted approval but nothing particularly glowing either.
Gagne No.
Penner LOL no.
Williams No.
Stoll+Greene both considered slightly overpaid spare part players.
Johnson NO!
Mitchell no.
Scuderi LOL.
A healthy 30% to half of the fans in LA hate Lombardi's guts for what they perceive as him screwing up their 1st line of 2 seasons ago, and with Penner now on it many want him sacked for this lousy deed.
Imagine Tambellini(impossible but try) screwing up our Hall/Eberle RNH line in 2-3 seasons just when the team starts to get good.
A FBV & Hunter.
ReplyDeleteLet's level the playing field just a little.
Williams has been the victim of a series of freak injuries. Still, last season he played 73 games, scored 22 goals and 57 points. All at a cap hit of $3.6M.
It should also be noted that he's played 135 games in the past 3 seasons, while Hemsky has played 141.
Williams has scored 100 points in those three seasons while Hemsky has scored 130 with a cap hit of $4.1M.
Looks pretty close to a wash to me.
Scuderi and Mitchell are "grossly overpaid" at $3.5M?
Jeebus...don't tell Tom Gilbert. I'd take either one of them at the number over Gilbert at $4M any day.
Not sure how you see Gagne as a replacement for Frolov since their totally different players. Frolov was used as a shutdown centre in LA but with Richards and Kopitar playing the top 2 C position he was expendable.
A healthy Gagne, playing with Richards in Philly out up 74 points. Expect to see more of the same in LA. He's only 31.
And, yeagh, Peener was shit in his debut in LA but we should also bear in mind he was the Oilers' best player for the last couple of seasons and, if he harnesses his ability with Kopitar as his centre, he could be a force to be reckoned with.
Stoll and Greene are "overpaid bit players"?
Really?
How nice would they look in an Oiler uniform about now?
Stoll, despite playing third line minutes would have been the Oilers leading scorer last season...scary isn't it?
He also managed a tidy 57.5 face-off percentage and at $3.6M look like a much better bet going forward that either a $5.5M Horcoff or a 34 year old Eric Belanger.
Matt Greene at $2.95M is likely a little pricey but I'd take him at $2.9 over Smid, Barker or Sutton who are all north of $2M. Hell, Sutton is 2 years older than Mitchell and can't even skate.
It should also be pointed out that Lombardi has put together a very strong playoff team and is still $10M under the cap pending Doughty's new contract.
Richards gets "muted approval"?
Good grief, Richards is a top 20 centre by almost any measure.
Let's hope the Oilers can find someone of that calibre in the next decade.
The Kings are loaded and still have a ton of high end prospects in the system.
That didn't happen by accident.
Sorry, reference above should have been to Handzus not Frolov.
ReplyDeleteFrolov put up 16 points in 43 games with the Rangers last season.
Looks like Lombardi made the right call there.
Lombardi also ran Cammelleri out of town.
ReplyDeleteHe created his own hole at left wing. But he's a genius in his own mind.
I think Ron Hextall has his job soon.
Lombardi doesn't take kindly to players who play contract hardball.
ReplyDeleteThus Cammalleri, O'Sullivan and Visnovsky finding new addresses.
Wouldn't shock me to see him sign and trade Doughty.
Good day, Lain.
ReplyDeleteLombardi is just rustling papers. Even if he wanted to risk having the trade reversed, he and/or the Kings doctors would have to convince Fraser to agree to surgery that will ensure he can't compete for a job at TC; and that the Oilers doctors, an NHLPA doctor, and probably his own doctor*, have deemed unnecessary.
*Most NHLers have their own doctors near their off-season homes.
---
OT, but near and dear to our hearts...
:-)
Did you happen to hear Oilers Lunch yesterday? Bob Stauffer had Tom Renney on in hour 1. Early he talked about the benefits of adding players like Smyth and Belanger. Then, about 13 minutes in, Bob asks about Sam Gagner having to now take his game to another level to establish himself as a top 6 forward.
I think I got the response right, only omitting a few "urmms".
Renney: "Well hey, what's been lost in the equation with Sam; and the expectations that he certainly has for himself, but also everyone else does too; he's really worked on his defensive game. He's worked on his two-way game.
"I can't suggest for a second, Bob, the number of clips that we showed last year of Sam being sorta that third guy high in the offensive zone... reloading hard and getting back above the puck as the first forechecker... taking his responsibility right back deep into our own end. Those are huge commitments from players and certainly a player like Sam, where instinctively at least, the offense comes real easy to him. The defense is something he has continued to have to work on, and he should continue to.
"I think he's becoming a more complete player. I think given the nature of our line-up now, and the depth and the competence of people... to do things on both sides of the puck. I think it'll actually allow Sam to really sort of spread his wings, reach a little further offensively and be that type of guy that we hoped he would be, certainly contributing to our offense."
In other words (Bob), since Renney was talking about Sam's '10-'11 season, he already has taken his game to a level that establishes him as a top 6 forward in the NHL... at 21 years old. And, Renney suggests he'll add some offense now that he has more capable support. Ya think?
Gagner will keep getting stronger over the next few years, and he'll continue learning from his coaches and teammates, and working really hard on everything that'll help him be the strong backbone of a five man unit. He's the perfect complement for dynamic wingers, imho.
Last year I watched Hemsky buy-in to Sam's game. Till then Horcoff was the only centre I've seen him trust. All others had to keep up, back up and adjust to the moods and idiosyncrasies of the artist that is #83. History shows us varying results, but Gagner held his own and I'd really like to see them reunited this year.
By my eye Samwise has been continuously adjusting to all that is thrown at him. I don't see that changing. The only caveat is the same one that faces every player... injury.
I know I'm preaching to the choir, Lain, but it's nice to have the coach validate what we've been seeing.
L8r
Louise
Um, the Kings didn't "steal" Gretzky.
ReplyDeleteThe blue-eyed fraudster who bought/won him in a backgammon/poker game from the other crook flipped him to the Fat Man a decade later.
Gretzky always was a piece of meat. He was only temporarily a Gainers product.
DSF:
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why you want to attack the messenger here.
For internet purposes I have many close personal friends who happen to be LAK fans. I'm merely trying to convey their opinion, which is fairly representative of a large part of their fanbase, so, if you want to keep arguing(with yourself), please feel free to do so, lol.
Art: Yes, the Kings did "steal" Gretzky, just like the Rags stole Messier)you know Art...this is a hockey(sports) forum)- the way some of you argue in here...Sheesh.
I blame hf boards.