FanHouse LadislavSmid

The Clash once posed the question: Should I stay or should I go now? We take a look at the big names surrounding the NHL trade deadline and whether they'll be staying in place or going to finish the season in another city.

Chris Pronger is the classic case of a player you love when he's on your team, and absolutely hate when he's not. A hulking 6-foot-6, 214-pound mass of humanity, Pronger has been one of the game's best (and most controversial) defenseman for the past decade.

He's won a Stanley Cup with Anaheim and helped lead the Edmonton Oilers to the finals during the 2005-06 season. Currently, the Ducks are in a four-way tie with Minnesota, Dallas and Edmonton for the No. 8 spot in a wide-open Western Conference playoff race.

A couple of weeks ago, TSN hockey analyst Gord Miller came to the conclusion that in order for the Pittsburgh Penguins to remain competitive in the NHL, they would have to deal the league's leading scorer, Evgeni Malkin, for a first-line winger, a No. 2 center, and "hopefully" a pick or a prospect. It was a laughable proposal.

On Sunday night, Rob Rossi, Penguins beat writer for the Tribune-Review, appeared on a weekly Pittsburgh talk show and suggested the team would be wise to put Sidney Crosby on the trade block this offseason. I guess this is what happens when you go from being two wins away from hoisting the Stanley Cup to being the No. 10 team in the Eastern Conference in a matter of one season.

You'd never have thunk it, but the Edmonton Oilers' brass was cheering heavily for the Anaheim Ducks to make the Stanley Cup Finals.

The reason? The Oilers now get the Ducks first round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Lowe held out for an extra first-rounder last July after Ducks GM Brian Burke agreed to give up a first-round choice in this June's draft in Columbus. If Anaheim won the West in 2007, the Oilers would get a first-rounder next June. If they won in 2008, it was a first-round pick that year. If not, the same scenario held for 2009.

"I wouldn't have done the deal for Chris just for the four assets we got," said Lowe, who drove a hard bargain over Pronger, also nabbing Ladislav Smid, Joffrey Lupul, a first-rounder this June and a second-rounder in 2008.

A hard bargain? Really? Wouldn't you think quite a few NHL teams would have come up with a better package to secure one of the most dominant players in the game? I recall quite a few people laughing at the Oilers, including Oilers fans (in between the tears of pain and anger) for getting so little in return in a very rushed trade.

Do you really think the Ducks are all that upset about losing a low pick in the first round for the shot at the Stanley Cup? Methinks not.

Joffrey Lupul? He scored a whopping 28 points and went -29 (!) in 81 games.
Ladislav Smid? He'll be a solid defenseman, eventually, but he's no Chris Pronger and never will be.

The low first and second round picks? What are the chances they will turn into an impact NHLer, especially given the Oilers track record? The draft is a lottery at the best of times, especially after the Top 15 picks.

While Oilers fans will be relieved to get a little more out of the Pronger deal, don't think the Ducks didn't get the better of this deal by a country mile.

See also:
Ducks GM Whips Out Protractor: Defends Pronger.
Pronger Suspended for Game Four Against Detroit.