Man, this baby could hit 250-300 by midnight!

or just others who interpreted it differently...wait am i splitting hairs here?

my bad. sorry.

So much passion here on ON today....can hardly wait till Wanyes Eberle renewal article at this time next year.

Just throwing this out there but BOB was talking on his show today about going after Parise. This seems like a great idea when I think about it. Signing Parise allows the team to put easily put Gagner into play for something back in return on the defense. If tambo could add Parise and trade gagner in a package to get a top Dman and Sign Harding this could be a very different team some next year. Still need some work in the bottom six. But if belanger has a better season and Horcoff and Smyth play bottom six I think it might be alright.

What does everyone think? Would playing with the young guns be enough to make Parise consider signing here?

Bingo.

BS. Wanye has a man crush that blinds him, thats the message.

If Smyth will take a Bertuzi/Selanne type deal he will be an Oiler, if not he is not worth it.

I guess I don't see why this means he's being disrespected. Is a player disrespecting the team when he says he wants to go to UFA?

By that same rationale, the GM and coach are both being disrespected, along with Gagner and Petry.

"someone connected to the Smyth camp" is the most reliable source for contract rumors in north america, you heard it here first!

Sakic's last few contracts were 1 year deals, and mostly negotiated after season's end, I beleive.

Smyth needs to realize that, if he really wants to be any Oiler for life, that this is the best way to protect the team and the player.

Its not a lack of respect. It's about making sure the deal is fair value for both sides, and make sure the team does not get burned by an over 35 contract should Smyth's skills suddenly crater in the midst of a multi-year deal.

Again people, we aren't talking about his financial security hear. He made $42,232,013 up to the end of the 2009-10 season, and I think another $10M by the end of this season. That's $52M folks. $52M! He needs to relax.

Looks as though Kevin Lowes opinion of Ryan Smyth hasn't changed all that much since he traded him in 2007.

"Yeah, we make a lot of money, but we spend a lot of money too."

- Patrick Ewing

But I'll bet that Colorado had chats with him to let him know it was coming and feeling him out long before those contracts were signed. Something like: "Hey - we want you to be here, haven't done the paperwork yet but you can rest assured we will get something to you." Just ten minutes to let the player know where he is at would probably go a long way.

I get the distinct impression that those little deft touches to make a player feel important and wanted are missing.

Silence from Management leaves interpretation wide open.

Souray, Hemsky, Smyth.

Those are some pretty big name players, and all of them have felt ignored by management (if reports are correct). It's not like it's a Patrick Thoreson or Ryan O'Marra who is complaining that he hasn't had quality communication here.

It worries me.

LOL, ever since the Heatly incident I don't believe anyting rumor related anymore.

Didn't I hear on TSN near the deadline that they had talked to him about it? Edit: to answer my own question, TSN did report at the deadline that they were in contract talks and Tambo is quoted as saying "Smyth isn't going anywhere" and "there is a contract offer on the table"

The same respect that he gave Kevin Lowe on July 1st 2007?

I really don't know why this guy deserves more than any other Oiler.

Yes I want him back, yes I think he'll be back, but you don't make a contract offer just to save face.

When we're only hearing one side of the story on this, I'd rather not join in with the lynch mob. Everyone else can fill their boots, of course.

As for Smyth, I don't have as much an emotional attachment to him than most seem to. He's got his good points, but he's got his flaws to be sure.

I'm certainly open to having him remain an Oiler, but I hope his ego will be able to handle the eventuality that he will need to take a lesser role in the lineup.

And guys like Lander, Paajarvi, Hartikainen and Hamilton, while not being quite ready for the big leagues this year, will be a year older and stronger next training camp. It'll be interesting to see how Smyth fits in, assuming he's still here at that point.

Hold them or fold them? More like bent over the woodbench. Number of contracts like say, Horcoff, Pisani, Staios, Moreau. More recent examples are Khabby, Barker, Nilson. This management team could not play go fish, let alone no holds poker. If this was strip poker Tambo would be left wearing a tie.

I would not mistake Tambo silence as genious. In regards to his trading ability he's been taken advantage by other GM's. His only real steal was Ryan Smyth, and that one he almost bunged up.

Making a contract offer "just to save face" is what you took from my comment?

Way off.

As for respect to Lowe, Smyth had an idea what his market value was in 2007 and he and his agent stuck by it. What he got in his next deal, as opposed to what the Oilers were offering, tells me the Oilers were looking for a hometown discount Meehan and Smyth weren't willing to take -- and, ultimately didn't have to. Respect? That would be bargaining up until the 11th hour to get a deal done here. It didn't happen. Not getting it done has nothing to do with lack of respect by either side.

Bashing off a contract offer to Smyth in a rush now and giving him everything he wants by way of term and dollars isn't the way to go. Take Smyth aside and make sure it's clear he knows he's wanted here and that the team will do everything it can to make that happen when the time is right -- if the deal makes sense for both sides. When that time comes, stick to your word, but bargain hard. That's respect.

It's not really that complicated.

duplicate comment

Wanye, mabye you can help me understand things by clarifying. You say that Smyth is one of the most loyal players to his team. I'm wondering how you make a statement like that based on what has happened in the past. Did Smyth not eventually get traded because he no longer would take a hometown discount and therefore did not accept a deal which was reported as being 100-200k per year off from the Oilers offer? Smyth also could have signed in the offseason with the Oilers (unless management didn't want to because they were rebuilding?)but instead chose to hit the homerun with Colorado's offer. If he is so loyal to the team and bleeds copper and blue, why did he leave because of money? I'm not disputing that the Oiler's management may have been disrespectful in offering Smyth 100-200k a year less then what he wanted, but if Smyth loved playing here so much and was so loyal, why did he leave?

Maybe some of my facts aren't accurate which would completley disregard this message so if any of my info is wrong perhaps someone could tell me the accurate info so I can better understand.

Edmonton's offer was about $100,000 a season less than the absolute MINIMUM amount Smyth and Meehan were willing to accept.

That's a lot different than being $100,000 a season less than what Smyth thought he could get on the open market and what he actually signed for in his next contract.

I'm not interested in splitting hairs, but I'll admit I may have flat out misinterpreted Wanye. If all he's saying here is that the Oilers brass are poor communicators, well really... same old story, different day. Add this one to the pile of things that don't surprise me about the Oil anymore.

I guess there was so much over the top emotion written into the story that I thought this issue was being presented as a call to arms like Gregor seemed to do with Hemsky. "I'm mad about something I know and can't fully share with you to protect the source, but trust me, you should be mad too and if we're mad enough together, we can get them to sign Smytty. Come on, get mad!". That's what I was reading... (For the record, I don't think I'm stupid either, so what does that say about me!)

The management either has to change or BE changed to be better communicators, sure. I was worried the trend was developing that an angry enough fan base can be made to force management's hand (for good or bad) because that's a double-edged sword. If the media or we as fans could influence the incompetent management when enough of us got irrational, well, that would just make us the Leafs.

I hope that Smittys idea of what he is worth has come way down from his previous contract because lately he has been looking no better than a good third line winger and every year it will get worse. He has really been showing his age and god bless him he still has his hands but his foot speed has definitely deserted him...I do not blame the Mmgt for taking their time.

As much as I am a Smytty fan I am ultimately an Oil fan. He said, they said, doesn't matter. Do I see Smyth as part of the team in 3 years, likely not. He is going to improve during those three years, likely not. Is he going to provide undeniable leadership over those 3 years to our rookies to take them to the next level, perhaps. Is that leadership any different than what Horcoff offers? I heard rumblings that the rookies wanted Hemsky signed. Are there rumblings that they want Smyth signed? The list of things that the Oil management have done wrong appears numerous. But hasn't one of our complaints been the signings of non-productive players. What if the signing of Smyth to a "loyal and respectful deal" prevented management from signing a top d-man in the off season. Would the benefit of signing Smyth outweigh that possibility?

I was and is a Symtty fan. BUT... he has thrown a wrench into the rebuild "PLAN" and yes, maybe that can be used to our benefit. At this time I think everybody (Smyth and Management) knows he's here next year. I don't believe dollar amount matters next year but the one after probably. Speaking of after next year, do the Oilers have to sign Symth until he wants to quit (what if he wants to play for another 10 years?). Is it up to him, he left.

Anyway, summertime is fine to sign and stick with 1 year NTC deals at a time.

Lots of teams have contracts that you speak of. It's not an Oiler phenomenon.

I'm sorry, but whenever I hear the myth about how Smyth repeatedly took 'hometown discounts' for the good of the Oilers, I just shake my head.

I challenge anyone to go over Smyth's career as an Oiler, look at what he was earning at that time, and compare it to what other left wingers were making at the time, who also had the same or better offensive numbers. IMO you'll find that his salary was absolutely in line with what his peers were making, with the exception of maybe one season.

In my opinion, this 'hometown discount' myth is an old wives' tale that has been repeated so many times ad nauseam that people simply accept it as fact because it fits their worldview...and Don Meehan has happily played that card over the years whenever he feels like negotiating through the media, which is often.

Both sides have been fairly compensated over the years.

Wayne ......me thinks you are being used by the Smyth Camp.........it wouldn't be the first time an agent has used the Media and Meehan is a pro at this .

They definitely owed him something for trading himself to Edmonton for a 11th round draft choice or whatever it was Deano got in the end.

And they honoured that debt when they did not trade him for a pick at the deadline in the absence of a contract.

Some things they should not do:

1. Go beyond one year without serious mark downs with each year. If he needs to be paid for the upside of future years he needs to go short.

2. Insult him with a lowball offer. There is no hurry to sign a deal as long as they keep the channels wide open.

3. Give him deadlines. He wants to stay. If he wants a final offer give it to him but tell him it isn't final. It's what we can do today.

4. Listen to fans that think this is a hostage taking and the fuse is about to blow. Tell him they get that he wants to stay here and that the door is wide until July 1, start/end of training camp, whenever he wants it to be. The point is to realize that he is in the driving seat on when the deal will be struck not the amount of overpay.

To quote Mssr W. Gretz

We would rather the entire brass, coaching staff and front office be summarily fired and shipped out of country than for Ryan Smyth to have another moment of his unhappiness on their account

Im totally Ok with that, actually

I would love to see Smyth stay but only to a 3 year,3 million per and only on the 3rd line.

Hey Slug, I came late too but I read all the other comments just to make suer of what was going on.

If they haven't had that "chat" with Smyth, then I agree, they aren't handling it well.

But the media reports were pretty strong that there was a dialogue between Smyth and Management before the trade deadline to see if Smyth wanted to be dealt to a contender or stay around. It would be very odd to have that kind of conversation and not communicate that they intended to re-sign him in the summer, whether he stayed or was traded.

So, frankly, I suspect either Smyth didn't like that answer and is trying to pressure management, or they "source" is wrong.

Either way, I won't lose any sleep over it. The deal will get done and Tambo will overpay, because that is what he does.

Leave the second hand info on the curb. Goes against all the Stollery Stories and old lady mullet massages we come to know and love.

Next someone's going to say he slept with Tommy Salo's wife, burned his rental furniture, and knocked up a TV reporter, Yeesh.....

Mao, Putin, Stalin. What next? Sarris?

What to you pay the guy... You just resigned the high scoring Hemsky for $5m per for 2 yrs. SMyth has better numbers... I can see Meehan throwing this at Tambilini. Meeham will want the same deal Hemsky got for starters.The other angle he would use ,, hey your paying Horcoff $6m per year.. "My guy is worth $5.. for small. Yes my guy is older, but his injury history isnt as bad as those two other guys... etc etc. Tambilini is shaking in his boots with this problem.

What to you pay the guy... You just resigned the high scoring Hemsky for $5m per for 2 yrs. SMyth has better numbers... I can see Meehan throwing this at Tambilini. Meeham will want the same deal Hemsky got for starters.The other angle he would use ,, hey your paying Horcoff $6m per year.. "My guy is worth $5.. for small. Yes my guy is older, but his injury history isnt as bad as those two other guys... etc etc. Tambilini is shaking in his boots with this problem.

I think most people were clear on that until Wanye suggested that Smyth had lived up to his contract.

I agree with Wanye's article, that the Oiler's seem to have a disturbing number incidents based around respect & communication.

But I don't agree that Smyth has lived up to the contract he left Edmonton for, and I'm happy Edmonton didn't sign him for their reported final offer either. I don't think 25 goals/year was worth 6.25 million for 5 years.

He's over 35. 1 year contracts from here on out. Somewhere between 2, and 2.5 million. Anything more would be a bad contract IMO.

If Smyth wants to go elsewhere for more money that is his prerogative. That said I hope he stays.

The fans here have to stop looking at other bad contracts as comparables. The Oilers have enough of those.

The idea is to accumulate value contracts, not shackle yourself with ones you can't give away on waivers.

Then again, if 5 million per season for a smallish, one dimensional 15 goal scorer with 5 goals this year is as good a contract as the fans here believe, perhaps Smyth deserves to extended his current bloated salary for another year or two.

I nearly typed 'deep breath people', but I realized it sounded a little too much like the Edmonton classics "give your head a shake" and "you need to get your facts straight"

Yes I want him back, yes I think he'll be back, but you don't make a contract offer just to save face.

See: Hemsky, Ales

Wheres my gun is correct. Thats what he averaged over his contract. Its not too tough a concept.

I'm not entirely certain the Oilers took on that salary "willingly", which may be part of the reason they're dragging their feet on Smyth's extension.

Sorry guys, I obviously wasn't clear -- I was trying to indicate that I didn't believe it either, but at the end of the day the only thing the club needs to focus on is what the fans think. By treating a fan-loved player with disrespect the club ends up hurting its image.

Poorly structured post on my part.

Of course... secondhand info is the crux of this entire blog-post is it not?

And my "*" wasn't supposed to say that the part about Smyth being a bad community guy was accurate - I was saying it was likely accurate that you pooped a little when you heard what was being done to Smyth.

If Tambo hasn't taken Smyth to the next room and explained things so that he and his agent are good, then that's a blight on his skills.

As far as timing of the offer, we all know that there's intangibles, such as the discussion on the CBA and amnesty etc, all of which will impact capology scenarios. Waiting makes sense... But there better be communication to those who are waiting.

As far as what he gets paid... Sometimes you pay people for their point production, other times you pay for their past performances, other times you pay for their ethics and presence, other times you reward them for the number of jerseys they sell, and other times you reward loyalty.

In 94's case, you factor all of that in.

Poop. Heh heh.