Oiler Fans Stunned

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Many Edmonton Oiler fans were, if not outright crying, a little bit weepy after the news brook of an 11th-hour deal trading star-forward Ryan Smyth to the New York Islanders. Some fans have even considered this trade the "Wayne Gretzky deal" of this generation for the Oilers, a team which made a Cinderella-story Stanley Cup run just last year. The team has struggled this season and prospects for a playoff spot look slim.

Ryan Smyth, 31, has been with the Oiler franchise since his 6th overall draft in 1994. Smyth is in the final year of his contract, set to become a free agent this summer. This has some speculative Oiler fans hopeful for Smyth's quick post-playoff return. A brief reminder of the recent savvyness of the new Islander GM Garth Snow would suggest otherwise. Snow, who joined the NY Islander executive this year, has managed to bargain shrewd deals for Freddy Meyer, Randy Robitaille, Richard Zednik, and Marc-Andre Bergeron.

The Edmonton Oilers received two first-round pick players in the deal: Ryan O’Marra and Robert Nilsson. The atmonsphere in Edmonton, however, remains one of disbelief and a slightly disturbing sadness.