THE SIDES OF SMYTH DEAL

Most fans believe the Oilers should jump at the chance to bring Ryan Smyth back to town, but do the Oilers have a legitimate reason not to?

When Smyth left the Oilers over an alleged $100,000 contract dispute at the trade deadline in 2007, many fans blamed the Oilers for not stepping up. The relationship didn’t end well and neither side was happy. Smyth was pretty upset about leaving and the Oilers ended up getting Alex Plante, Ryan O’Marra and Robert Nilsson; all of whom have become #15th overall busts.

Fast forward to today and you wonder if the Oilers are feeling pressured into bringing Smyth back. When Bob McKenzie broke the story earlier this week, the majority of fans felt it was a no-brainer to welcome #94 back home. The Oilers had supposedly had talks with the Kings prior to the McKenzie article, so clearly they knew about Smyth’s interest to return home.

Had the negotiations gone on quietly behind the scenes then Steve Tambellini could have surprised his fanbase by announcing the Mullet was returning, but that isn’t the case now.

Suddenly all the pressure is on the Oilers to bring home the Prodigal Son.

I wonder if the Oilers have any hard feelings considering in 2007 the Oilers were the bad guy in most people’s eyes, and now if they don’t bring him back, Tambellini will be the villain.

This might not be an issue at all, but I wonder if the Oilers feel that once again it appears Smyth is holding all  the cards?