News Article: Patrick O'Sullivan to Edmonton; Justin Williams to LA (3-way Trade)

[lak4ever]

I dont really know what to think about this deal. I really like osullivan, and would have liked to see him stay but like others have said a healthy Williams could do a lot for us. I dont know, will see how this works out.


actually you know what nevermind, I'm slowly starting to hate this deal.

 

[wicker]

I don't like this deal. If you're going to trade Sully at a time like this, at this point in his career, either you add pieces to it to get back a player that is clearly better than him (maybe even a healthy one, huh), or you keep him for another year and see how he matures. This is too risky of a move, I fear.

 

[William H Bonney]

I don't mind trading O'Sullivan but this was a massive overpayment IMO. I like Williams as a player, and he'll definitely help if he comes back to 05-06/06-07 form, but he's not close to that form at all right now and he's injury prone.

We know what Williams upside is; we don't know what O'Sullivans will be, yet we tossed in a 2nd round pick? A straight-up trade would of made A LOT more sense, but even then, we took on the older, injury prone player, not them.

I also wonder what Patty O's take is on all of this. It wouldn't surprise me if he actually had requested a trade, and it wouldn't surprise me if he comes out and bashes Terry Murray. I think his frustrations with the coaching staff are team-wide, just that Patrick was the only one to air his feelings.

That being said, I've always like Patrick and I think when he hits his prime, he'll be a better player than Justin Williams is or ever has been. I really think Sully is going to shine in Edmonton and I wish him all the luck and will continue to follow his career.

 

[kingsholygrail]

I'm on the fence. All depends on Williams' health.


However, I am not happy with yet another King going to a conference rival. Sully ended up on Edmonton when all was said and done.

 

[Live in the Now]

the same people who earlier in the day were yelling DO IT DEANO over Marian ****ing Gaborik. They were all ready to make every excuse in the world for him. Williams is going to make a lot of people sorry they hated this trade, and sooner rather than later.

I'm proud to say I wanted neither. And believe you me, after one year, I'll be mad to be right.

Just no more damn injured acquisitions.

We will be moving on another top six player in the offseason, guys. Bet your *****.

 

[DapperDan]

I know i might get crucified for this but I thought that last game Moller played a better game than O'sullivan has ever played in the NHL. There are two camps here the pro o'sullivan camp and the o'sullivan haters. I hope this doesn't get ugly. But I don't understand how DL keeps on aquiring injured players and the whole reason the kings are struggling is due to the trade to get Sully. It just isn't adding up.

This was probably a huge factor. Dean saw that Moller was bringing the same skills to the table as O'Sullivan, and in many cases, better. Dean's sending a clear message. If you don't step up and start living up to your potential, there are plenty of younger guys in the pipes that can replace you and play with more heart. This is the strategy, create a super competitive environment within the organization to weed out those who simply don't care enough. That's how you become a high caliber team like Detroit.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Someone load a gun and hand it to me...

Kopitar, Brown and O'Sully were the core forwards....Now what?

Williams-Kopitar-Frolov
Brown-Stoll-Moller
Simmonds-Handzus-Purcell
Richardson-Army-Ivanans

Can we get rid of Calder yet and move Harrold back to D please!

 

[greengiant91]

What BS wonder if the CANES threw in a cane for WILLIAMS and his bum KNEE DUMBO DEAN should have stayed away from the trade table because most of the time he gets BENT OVER, at least he admitted TO BEING A LIAR, don't believe anything he says POS IS a part of the core BS, This guy changes philosophies more often than the weather changes in Vancouver

He should have waited and dealt POS in the off season
in a package to try and get an impact player, boy Dumbo
Dean you sure can spin it like a true lawyer (his quotes on hammonds blog), you got ***** and if you were in court you would have not only lost the trial but you would have been humiliated at the the same time way to go! I wish i was a fan of a team that wanted to win, but the heart wants what it wants here's to another 42 years of losing. You couldn't have gotten more for POS I don't believe it.

 

[Legionnaire]

EGO maniac. Said it last time and it bears repeating. If you don't submit to Lombardi's will, you're gone. God I wish we'd fire him already.

 

[hans]

I love when people say "When he is healthy"......Williams has only played in 70 or more games only 3 times in 9 seasons....that means if he is consistent he will play in 70 games or more 1 time before his contract expires.

4 times in 8 seasons. He was traded in the 2003-04, and you're counting both halves of his season. He played 79 games that year - 47 with Philly, 32 with Carolina. And his first season, where he only played 63 games, he only missed 12 with injury - he was 18 years old, so he probably got healthy scratched some (like Brown did for us). So I would say it's closer to 5/8 than 3/9. Not ideal obviously, but also not horrific.

 

[DIEHARD the King fan]

Trading Sully AND a 2nd for a guy who has played under 60 games in the last two seasons is just plain stupid. Sully has far greater upside than Williams, who is seriously injury prone. Two knee surgeries, a torn achilles and two broken hands in 8 years of NHL hockey.

This trade sucks, and it shows, IMHO, that when you scrap with DL on money issues he does hold a grudge.

What really bothers me is why we would go for an injury prone justin Williams when for exactly what we traded away we could have landed Eric Cole. Ask yourself who you would rather take a chance on, an injury prone Justin Williams or Eric Cole? The answer is a no brainer, unless you were previously connected with the Flyer organization.

I think we got hosed on this deal, while the other two teams improved their lot.
Keep thinking that DL is a genius boys, but there is no way to sell this faux paux as a good deal!

 

[Thrice]

Trading Sully AND a 2nd for a guy who has played under 60 games in the last two seasons is just plain stupid. Sully has far greater upside than Williams, who is seriously injury prone. Two knee surgeries, a torn achilles and two broken hands in 8 years of NHL hockey.

This trade sucks, and it shows, IMHO, that when you scrap with DL on money issues he does hold a grudge.

What really bothers me is why we would go for an injury prone justin Williams when for exactly what we traded away we could have landed Eric Cole. Ask yourself who you would rather take a chance on, an injury prone Justin Williams or Eric Cole? The answer is a no brainer, unless you were previously connected with the Flyer organization.

I think we got hosed on this deal, while the other two teams improved their lot.
Keep thinking that DL is a genius boys, but there is no way to sell this faux paux as a good deal!

Have you watched Erik Cole play since he broke his neck?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I love this trade. I realize not everyone will. But the hysterics over it, at least as evidenced by the comments in Hammond's blog, are seriously insane. Has nobody ever seen Williams play before? He's a very, very good player. Despite his ACL tears, his skating is still fine - he'll likely be the fastest player on the team. His shot is deadly. He's defensively solid. He's got tons of heart. And it's hilarious seeing all the people whine over his injuries - the same people who earlier in the day were yelling DO IT DEANO over Marian ****ing Gaborik. They were all ready to make every excuse in the world for him. Williams is going to make a lot of people sorry they hated this trade, and sooner rather than later.

Also, I think it's time to seriously consider the possibility that LAX Attack is actually Dean Lombardi secretly testing out his ideas on the fans. Thank you for not trading Kopitar a few months ago, Dean/LAX!

I agree 100%. Especially on the comments...they're obscene.

 

[funky]

I did not like the trade for the first few hours but that could be based on my homeristic attitude to O'Sullivan.

Stepping back I realize the following:


We pick up a feisty 2nd line winger that can put the puck in the net when healthy.
We trade a perimiter player for a go to the net guy. I am not happy about the injury tag but hopefully a fresh start will go a long ways,

It opens up a spot for another smaller winger ie) Moller, who hopefully will put up O'Sullivan type numbers.

Long live the rebuild.

 

[kingsholygrail]

I don't think POS helped the matter. He mopes around and doesn't seem terribly connected with the team. Some nights you could see he was in it, but most nights it just seems like he goes through the motions.

There may be more going on that we're just not privvy too.

 

[wicker]

We moved Cammy because Lombardi felt that Sully could take his place. We move Sully because Moller might grow into the role. It's not looking too good for Moller being a longtime King, the way it's going...

 

[wicker]

EGO maniac. Said it last time and it bears repeating. If you don't submit to Lombardi's will, you're gone. God I wish we'd fire him already.

This better not be solely the result of contraction negotiations, is all I'm saying...

 

[William H Bonney]

Two points:

We know from Hammond that DL spoke to Frolov about elevating his game. There is no doubt he had the same conversation with Patrick. Frolov responded, Sully didn't. It's that simple. Frolov showed a whole lot of desire over the past month whereas O'Sullivan seemed to mark time. This may be step one in singing Frolov to a long term extension this summer.

Secondly, I don't like the deal. O'Sullivan has not reached his potential, and I think we gave up on him too early. Williams has won a Cup (and was the second best player on that team) but is damaged goods. We should not have had to give up a second. Having said that, DL has earned the benefit of the doubt from me, and I will keep an open mind. The guy hs proven heknows what he is doing.

Horrible point. Frolov has responded this year and shown much better all-around effort, but he was given YEARS to do so. Sully gets a little over half a season? It took Fro 4 seasons (counting his lockout year in Russia) to put up the #'s the Sully put up in his first full NHL season.

I trust Lombardi though (I think) and I'm guessing this trade was more to due with Sully not liking Murray or his style than it was about potential because if Lombardi thinks an injury-prone Williams is the player to put us over the top, we're in for a lot more misery.

 

[LAX attack*]

B-B-But Sully is the franchise winger!

NOT.

I guess Edmonton is becoming the hat stand of marginal young players - Nilson, Penner, now Sully

Point being that, we need to end the rebuild sometime. Williams (without injuries) >>>> Sully, and will probably for the window in which Williams is in his prime...

Our top-6 has just improved by quite a bit.

I can't believe how people would bag on this trade. We add a cup ring and a veteran

V-E-T-E-R-A-N

We need some of em, eh?

And this also paves the road for Fro to get a nice longterm deal. Fro>Sully

And if Moller is ready to step up into Sully's role, than we just had a great trade.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

With all due respect, some of these comments make me question whether some of you guys think we got Justin Williams or Jason Williams. Justin Williams is a friggin stud and he's a better, more complete player than O'Sullivan will ever be.

I really hope some of you revisit this thread in a year. If he stays healthy, it's an amazing trade, maybe even a steal. If he doesn't, I'll eat my words.

 

[voxel]

Justin Williams is by far the best player in the trade. The injury history is a major concern, but skill-wise he is a bonafide 30+ goal scorer.

 

[Chazz Reinhold]

Horrible point. Frolov has responded this year and shown much better all-around effort, but he was given YEARS to do so. Sully gets a little over half a season? It took Fro 4 seasons (counting his lockout year in Russia) to put up the #'s the Sully put up in his first full NHL season.

I trust Lombardi though (I think) and I'm guessing this trade was more to due with Sully not liking Murray or his style than it was about potential because if Lombardi thinks an injury-prone Williams is the player to put us over the top, we're in for a lot more misery.

I think it's important to note that Frolov's first two seasons were played in a different era of NHL hockey.

 

[Kurrilino]

This was probably a huge factor. Dean saw that Moller was bringing the same skills to the table as O'Sullivan, and in many cases, better. Dean's sending a clear message. If you don't step up and start living up to your potential, there are plenty of younger guys in the pipes that can replace you and play with more heart. This is the strategy, create a super competitive environment within the organization to weed out those who simply don't care enough. That's how you become a high caliber team like Detroit.

I think it's more Purcell who played very well.
He played lightyears in front of O sullyvan.
Right now i'mhappy not to hear "He shoots... deflected into the netting"
soon

 

[Sandino]

I knew Sully was going to be traded sooner or later. I don't like the return though. AND a 2nd round pick? Questionable move obviously.

 

[Stupid Sexy Flanders]

2 points:

With DL it's ALL ABOUT CHARACTER. You don't come to camp, you're gone.

I love how he's thinking about what it takes to compete with San Jose. The goal is NOT to come in 7th or 8th. I love that.