LOMBARDI UNLOADS ON OILERS
12 years ago
Those who thought the kerfuffle was over between the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings regarding the Ryan Smyth for Colin Fraser trade might want to think again.
Los Angeles GM Dean Lombardi, obviously unhappy about receiving what he considers damaged goods in the form of Fraser, unloaded on the Oilers over the trade today in tweets sent out on the Twitter account of respected veteran L.A Times hockey columnist Helene Elliott (thanks to DJ Dynasty Handbag — Team PIZZA for the heads-up in pointing this item out in our comments section).
LOMBARDI SAYS:
The following tweets from Elliott:
— helenenothelen Helene Elliott more lombardi: "The bottom line for me, I would have rather invested my money with Bernie Madoff than invest in Edmonton’s word." 37 minutes ago
— helenenothelen Helene Elliott this came after Kings determined Brule wasn’t procedurally cleared to play and took Fraser instead. says cyst, blood disorder not disclosed 39 minutes ago
— helenenothelen Helene Elliott Says Fraser needs surgery. ‘he’s not anywhere near being cleared to play according to our doctors and in fact is going to need surgery. more 41 minutes ago
— helenenothelen Helene Elliott Lombardi says Oilers told him Fraser would be cleared to play after foot fracture but Kings’ docs found fracture, cyst and blood disorder 43 minutes ago
— helenenothelen Helene Elliott Kings GM Dean Lombardi says club will "look at our legal avenues" regarding Colin Fraser’s injuries and inability to play following trade 45 minutes ago
Just got an e-mail from Helene and she’ll have a blog up soon. It’s pretty obvious we haven’t heard the last word on this one.
UPDATE:
I spoke with Oilers media relations manager J.J. Hebert and he tells me the Oilers aren’t going to comment on Lombardi’s latest remarks.
WORD FROM TINSELTOWN
Here’s most of Elliott’s blog entry from the L.A. Times website:
Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi, contending the Edmonton Oilers have twice traded him players who are not able to play, said Friday he will “look at our legal avenues” to get a remedy.
“The bottom line for me, I would have rather invested my money with Bernie Madoff than invest in Edmonton’s word,” Lombardi said.
Lombardi initially agreed to take forward Gilbert Brule in exchange for left wing Ryan Smyth but balked when he said the Kings’ lawyers determined Brule had not been procedurally cleared following a concussion. Unwilling to void the trade because Smyth had asked to leave Los Angeles—and because Smyth’s departure would take a huge burden off the Kings’ salary cap–Lombardi agreed to instead take center Colin Fraser and a seventh-round pick in the 2012 draft.
Lombardi said he knew Fraser had suffered a fractured foot last season but was told Fraser was days away from being cleared.
However, Lombardi said the Kings’ doctors found not only an unhealed fracture but an alarming cyst in Fraser’s foot and a blood disorder. Lombardi said Fraser will require surgery that would keep him out four months. Lombardi also said Tim Leiweke, the chief executive of the Kings’ parent company, AEG, tried to broker a settlement but the Oilers have not responded to the Kings’ requests for further discussions.
“Tim has made several overtures to try and settle this in a fair manner to put the deal back where it’s supposed to and we’ve gotten no response,” Lombardi said. “So the heck with it, we’ll look at our legal avenues right now.
“This kid needs surgery now, which is going to put him out four months. It’s not even close. To be told he’s going to be cleared that Wednesday and now we get him and he’s clearly not cleared and to clear him he’s going to need surgery … and that’s the one [injury] they told me about, let alone the other two. On the heels of Brule? Holy smoke.”
He added, “In my 20 years I’ve never had this happen once, let alone twice in one week. And people used to think maybe I was crazy but when I was scouting for Philly, Edmonton was my favorite city because of the history of the building and the crowds seemed like honest, working-class people. You still had a blue-collar feel at times. And I don’t think this conduct is emblematic of that city at all.”
Lombardi said one possible solution would be for the Oilers to take Fraser back until he’s fit to play. The Kings can’t waive or trade Fraser if he’s injured and unable to play . . ."
The L.A. Times link is here: latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2011/07/kings-ryan-smyth-dean-lombardi-colin-fraser.html
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