Thanks a lot for pointing it out. I actually love the political process, so I'm sure why you can see that aspect in my post
I suppose I could start in the old CBA era, however that would be unfair, but nonetheless I'll say it. I remember when Cujo left, there were cries from fans suggesting that Joseph was a greedy player.
Cujo left for more money. A great deal more money, as I recall (TO, 6m) Edmonton got nothing for him, as they let him leave as a UFA. He left on (relatively) good terms with the organization - which is good, as he came close to being traded to Edmonton at the trade deadline last season.
Then when Weight left, the impression from a lot of fans was that it was Weight who was greedy, when all honesty given the market value at the time (ie: Roenick), Weight should have been paid more money.
Edmonton couldn't afford to pay Weight at that point and time. Given the amount of money the Blues paid him, his subsequent injuries and performance, Edmonton appears to have dodged a bullet on that one.
Edmonton traded him to a team of his choice.
Then the whole Comrie situation, many people seem to imply that Comrie is a jerk and a selfish guy for seeking all those bonuses.
The Comrie situation may have had nothing to do with bonuses (wink-wink-nudge-nudge) Comrie appears to have been pissed at how they threw him under the bus, however. They refused to trade him to the team of his choice.
Edmonton screwed Comrie over - no question about it.
And then Pronger somehow tied up Lowe's hands and screwed him over, when in fact Lowe knew about the situation 6 months earlier, and didn't have a backup plan.
Pronger signed a five year deal, and the needed to get out of the city. Rumors swirl to this day about that deal (another wink-wink-nudge-nudge), but they traded him to a team that allowed him to be happy with his family.
And just recently, there have been several people who have claimed that in fact it is Smyth who is the greedy party. The evidence certain isn't concrete, but the perception is there that the Oilers are always the ones who are perpetually screwed over.
Smyth simply didn't sign the deal in front of him. As I said in a different post - in this deal, everyone wins:
- Isles get a wonderful player for a playoff run.
- Edmonton gets three young players.
- Smyth gets to try free agency.
I don't see anyone getting screwed over.
Matheson's response to the letter today proves that the perception that the Oilers are poor still exists. He claims the Oilers are going to be a "have not" when the cap figure goes up, when in fact the Oilers are 8th in revenue and in the upper tier of ticket-prices and attendance. If Edmonton's leading hockey journalist spews this stuff, I can't imagine there is anybody else in the media who would say otherwise.
Matheson is a journalist - and when we make media by asking the journalists what they think, then we are really in for it.
See, it's the perception of being cheap that frustrates me.
Looking at the past two years, they've thrown money at Roloson, Horcoff, Pisani, Sykora, Moreau, Hemsky, and Staios. All overpayments.
After a year in which Edmonton picked up Pronger (31.25m) Peca (4m) and a number of rentals in Spacek, Samsonov, and Tarnstrom.
Add to that the contract offers to Chara, Spacek, Samsonov, and Smyth, and this is not a team that's afraid to throw money around. Hell, Edmonton's been within 2 million in salary with some of the best teams in the league.
Which 2 million dollar player is going to put Edmonton over the top?
