Edmonton Oilers
Pronger Says He Was “Vilified” for One Trade Request — Oilers Fans Waste No Time Responding
While trying to argue players should be allowed to ask for trades, Chris Pronger said was traded five times and vilified once… in Edmonton.
Chris Pronger was traded five times over his Hall of Fame career, but only asked for a trade once — and he says that one request cost him. Appearing on Daily Faceoff’s Morning Cuppa Hockey podcast, Pronger reflected on the current era of player empowerment, where stars like Dylan Larkin are calling their shots, and players like Darnell Nurse, Brady Tkachuk, and Jordan Kyrou have used no-movement clauses to ensure they land where they want to play.
The show hosts argued that teams can dump a player whenever they want and no one seems to take issue with an organization wanting to move on from a contract commitment. But when a player does it, there’s a different set of standards.
“The pendulum was so far skewed and the teams had all the power,” Pronger said. “I was traded five times. I asked for a trade once. I got vilified because I asked for a trade. But nobody complained the other four times when I got traded.”
Pronger argued that today’s players understand how short their careers are and are making smarter, more calculated decisions about their futures — without, in his view, hurting the product on the ice. He pointed to the emotion still visible in playoff hockey as proof that player empowerment and competitive fire aren’t mutually exclusive.
The comments come on the heels of a rocky year for Pronger’s public image in Edmonton, following revelations tied to his new book about the circumstances of his Oilers exit, which sparked a back-and-forth with former Oilers executive Kevin Lowe. In the book — and in subsequent interviews afterward — he said he signed a five-year extension while intoxicated, didn’t ask his wife for her opinion, and regretted it immediately. His story isn’t exactly the kind of narrative that helps him argue his stance on player contracts.
If Pronger is really advocating for players to make intoxicated decisions, not communicate with their spouses, take a team for a ride, then ask out after playing what he called one of the best hockey experiences of his life?
The Reaction From Oilers Fans As Brutal as Expected
Oilers fans didn’t take kindly to Pronger’s framing. One fan pushed back on the timeline itself: “It’s the fact that you signed a five-year contract with the Oilers and then left after one season after going to the Final. Oilers fans all thought they had finally turned the corner from having to off-load players. It felt like a slap in the face.”
Another was more direct: “Pronger, you signed long term with the Oilers and helped take us all the way to the Stanley Cup Final. Thank you for that. What a run. But then you asked for a trade and set this team back for years. Oilers fans had every right to be pissed off and vilify you for it.”
Another took a more direct, somewhat inappropriate shot at his personal situation. “I wonder if Chris Pronger realizes his ongoing PR tour trying to convince everyone that it is the Edmonton Oilers organization and the City of Edmonton’s fault that he cheated on his wife is not really working.” (The cheating allegations were a rumor that was never proven.)
However, fans’ reactions show that, yes, Pronger was vilified. The question is, was it justified? So too, is his example a good one when it comes to advocating for more player control over their trade situations?
Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Senators, Oilers & Hockey Night in Canada
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