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Post by habsgm on Aug 3, 2005 7:43:03 GMT -5
The deal:
To edmonton: Chris Pronger
To st.louis: Eric Brewer Doug Lynch Jeff Woywitka
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Post by habsgm on Aug 3, 2005 7:48:36 GMT -5
My thought is that they gave up a little too much . . Brewer is a great D-man, if Woywitka live up to the hype then the is definitely an St. Lous win (not to mention cutting all that salary). I think if they gave one of Lynch and some other not as promising spect then it would have been a fairer deal.
Time will be the ultimate judge, but I think given the replacement of Pornger with a allstar D-man in Brewer and cutting salary - give the win to St. Lous on this.
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Post by Bryce - Minny on Aug 3, 2005 8:32:14 GMT -5
Lynch was terrible last year, and Lowe realized that Woywitkas ceiling was nowhere near as high as he thought it was, at BEST Woywitka would have been another Staios, which isnt bad, but isnt an elite prospect.
Brewer, while I am a fan is one of the most overrated dmen in the league. He is solid defensively, but his offensive skills are highly overrated, he can't run a PP, and makes way to many mistakes when he has the puck..
While this is a huge gamble on the Oilers part, its nice to see us make the deal where we clearly get the best player, that hasn't happened in a very long time.
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Post by habsgm on Aug 3, 2005 11:06:44 GMT -5
You really think Brewer is overrated?
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Post by FincanSJGM on Aug 3, 2005 11:32:39 GMT -5
I think it was deffinitely a fair deal. Pronger is the best player in the deal by far. He is only turning 31 in the first week of the season and guys of his calibre (see Al Mac, Stevens, and Chelios) play very good for a long time if they are in good shape. He played a full season last year and has had time off so I think his health is probably 100% right now.
Brewer is an exceptional talent, but was frustrating at times. You could see an immenses amount of skill and he has the tools to be a Norris finalist, but he goes through bad stretches and often makes poor decisions. He is a good return for St Louis though and they will come to enjoy having him there. The reality is that Pronger just signed a 5 year deal for a reasonable salary considering he is an elite SUPERSTAR (the best player in Edm since Messier, and I believe the highest paid Oiler ever). Pronger at 5 years >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Brewer at 2 (apparently was not willing to sign long term and he was to be a UFA in 2 years).
Woywitka is a very over-rated Defenceman prospect. He is most likely NHL calibre, but I dont see huge upside. I think even Staois level would be a reach as he has not been overly impressive at the AHL level. He is not ready.
Lynch, depsite what Bryce says, is a better prospect IMO. He had a poor season just like Woywitka, but unlike Woywitka Lynch had an excuse............he was battling through a wrist injury most of the season. The previous year Lynch was an AHL All-star at 20 and has had more AHL success than Woywitka. I also think he has better offensive upside. Lynch IU can see becoming a second pairing guy and if healed I believe could make the Blues this season as a 5-7 guy, though if you're gonna put him as #7 might as well put him as 1 or 2 in Peiora.
All in all, yes we gave up a good return of an established young NHL Dman, and two NHL calibre prospects, but we got the far superior player and likely longer. We can sign guys of equal calibre if needed IMO plus the Oil were deep on D prospect depth so it does not sting that much, it was a position of strength. Matt Greene had also passed Lynch and Woywitka in the depth chart for D prospects and Bergeron and Semenov are young as well. It appeared with the team that was here those two were going to start stagnating on the farm before they got a chance. So why not deal them when they still had value as opposed to when they reach the play them or trade them stage and their value is less as they are viewed as not having asserted themselves or that the Oilers HAD to deal them.
Anyway, Im happy with the deal. Woywitka and Lynch wont be missed, and Pronger will quickly make us forget Brewer.
PS. Im thinking that Pronger can have an enormous positive affect on Semenov and Greene. If Semenov gets Nasty, with him Pronger, Smith, and Greene (for those who dont know him, you will soon enough) the Oiler net is not going to be a pleasant place to stand.
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Post by Bryce - Minny on Aug 3, 2005 12:45:07 GMT -5
I just wanna see Pronger and Semenov paired together, the frickin Twin Towers....PLUS now we have someone to throw on the 1st PP that can handle the puck. Brewer woud crap himself when he got the puck on the PP.
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