Why did Pronger leave Edmonton?

[vadim sharifijanov]

ignoring rumours and speculation

there is one thing to keep in perspective

About 2 months after Pronger's wife(Lauren Pronger) moved to Edmonton she moved back to St Louis. Pronger wanted to be near is wife, some guys actually like their wives and he decided that he wanted to be near is wife.

Lauren Pronger never his the fact she came from a certain background and it was not the same in Edmonton as she had elsewhere. She was and is not a typical hockey wife. She is a socialite and whether Edmonton likes it or not--it is a working man's town and while they have somethings socially--it was not up to her standards

http://edmontonjournal.com/sports/h...en-pronger-was-never-going-to-accept-edmonton

now i don't know lauren pronger aside from what people have said about her, so it's hard to say. but i find it hard to not at least entertain the fact that aside from the weather differences, a southern debutante from maybe the most famously racist and segregated metro area on the continent, you can at least see why she'd be more comfortable in an orange county suburb than edmonton right? because as much as edmonton is the butt of a lot of jokes, some in fact already aired in this thread, it's also a pretty multicultural place.

that said, and of course that is all inference and speculation, it was a similar story with luongo's wife. moved back to miami, where she was from, where she'd lived her whole life, where she was more to the community than just the appendage to a hockey star's career. and so roberto eventually moved back too. and depending on what rumours you believe, gina luongo's repatriation may also have been due to reporters, in this case because vancouver reporters crossed a line and reported on her difficult pregnancy when luongo was traveling on his off days to be with her. she never came back to vancouver after that.

and on that note i'll say this: montreal is damn lucky carey price is still there.

 

[Ducks in a row]

What a silly point -- there is nothing wrong with Edmonton, from a NHL player's perspective. NHL players don't work 9 to 6, five days a week, in the same city until they're 65.

The players are independently wealthy (except 18-to-19 year-olds, who don't know any better anyway), and only have to be there from September through April, during which time they're often away on the road anyway.

If you have kids, I'd say Edmonton is a great place to set them up in school for a few years before you move on, or retire, or whatnot. By the time an NHL-er is 30, he doesn't need to work anymore for the rest of his life, so at that point you can move anywhere you like and settle in.

As with other wintry, smaller and less-cosmopolitan Canadian cities (Calgary, Ottawa, Winnipeg), Edmonton is a 'big-fish-in-small-pond' environment wherein players are under a lot of scrutiny by the local community. But then again, it's only for a few years, during which you're a major celebrity and probably never have to buy a drink again.

In short, suck it up and play there. You'll probably find you like it.

Dany Heatley is another player like Pronger who got what he deserved. As soon as he turned down the offer from the Oilers, his career went into the toilet. Serves him right.

If someone suck it up they wont be liking it at all. If they like it then no suck it up takes place. How someone can like Edmonton compared to places like Anaheim or St.Louis is beyond me (unless your Canadien and loves to live in your home country over another country).

 

[shazariahl]

No offense to Oilers fans but I lived in Edmonton for years and there's no city I dislike more. The way it's laid out to me etc. just doesn't feel right. The downtown is the worst I've seen for a major city in terms of having an energy, buzz or identity, I treated Whyte like it was the real downtown. Add in the cold and I can see why it'd turn off some people who aren't employment driven, let alone the apparent queen of St Louis social scene, there is no sports city a worse fit for that type

That's certainly true about our downtown. It's terrible. Even while Pronger was here and we had the cup run, people would get drunk at the games, then have to bus to either downtown or Whyte Ave to go party. Unlike, say... Calgary, where you just walk out of the stadium and start to party.

Also, as others have said, Edmonton is not a place for socialites. It's a workers city, with tons of people in the trades, the oilfield, warehouses, etc. We actually have a lot of very successful people, but it's usually business owners and tradesmen, not celebrities. We love Our sports and drinking beer. So I can see why she wouldn't be happy here.

 

[shazariahl]

The players are independently wealthy (except 18-to-19 year-olds, who don't know any better anyway), and only have to be there from September through April, during which time they're often away on the road anyway.

As with other wintry, smaller and less-cosmopolitan Canadian cities (Calgary, Ottawa, Winnipeg), Edmonton is a 'big-fish-in-small-pond' environment wherein players are under a lot of scrutiny by the local community. But then again, it's only for a few years, during which you're a major celebrity and probably never have to buy a drink again.

In short, suck it up and play there. You'll probably find you like it.

It's funny you mention celebrities and never buying drinks. I was at a bar once and met Grant Fuhr (Hudson's, downtown). At first I was wondering why this old guy was getting high 5's from all the bouncers, but then when I saw him clearly I recognized him. I actually had a brief but nice conversation with him even. But ya - this is a guy who played here 30 years ago, and he's still a celebrity when he shows up and people know him.

Another time I was at a bar and saw one of the most beautiful women ever, making out with some guy who was actually kinda ugly and goofy looking. My confusion was quickly dispersed when I realized that she was with Jordan Eberle. These players aren't just "kinda famous" here, they are THE biggest celebrities Edmonton has. No one else is even close to the status afforded to the Edmonton Oilers.

 

[Neutrinos]

It's funny you mention celebrities and never buying drinks. I was at a bar once and met Grant Fuhr (Hudson's, downtown). At first I was wondering why this old guy was getting high 5's from all the bouncers, but then when I saw him clearly I recognized him. I actually had a brief but nice conversation with him even. But ya - this is a guy who played here 30 years ago, and he's still a celebrity when he shows up and people know him.

Another time I was at a bar and saw one of the most beautiful women ever, making out with some guy who was actually kinda ugly and goofy looking. My confusion was quickly dispersed when I realized that she was with Jordan Eberle. These players aren't just "kinda famous" here, they are THE biggest celebrities Edmonton has. No one else is even close to the status afforded to the Edmonton Oilers.

That's not unique to Edmonton though, it's true of any sports town with a rabid fan base

 

[kaiser matias]

That's not unique to Edmonton though, it's true of any sports town with a rabid fan base

Especially if said athlete is from that town, and has an arena named after them (Fuhr is from Saint Albert, a suburb, which has said arena).

 

[sr edler]

All this talk about how awful Edmonton is as a city makes me curious to go there.

I'm from the Nordic peninsula so I probably wouldn't be shocked by the weather at least, and yeah I've visited some bleak places. I remember when I visited Turku in my teens, I thought it was so empty and cold, and this was in April–May. So when I say cold it's not only about the climate.

Only time I got shocked by the weather was when we were in Miami. Super humid and if you were inside or in a car you couldn't breathe real air because everything was through the air conditioning systems. And I got the chills & fever there at the hotel, because of the air conditioning, only time that has ever happened to me in my life, with the chills.

Cool story? Yeah, I know.

 

[Del Preston]

I mean, Anaheim I can see. There is lots of that type in Orange County, she would fit right in with the "socialite" mentality. Not to mention a hop, skip and a jump from places like Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Malibu, Beverly Hills, etc.

But what about St. Louis? It is definitely a sports town. Maybe not as blue collarish as Edmonton but they certainly love their teams down there. You'd think she would have trouble fitting in there, no?

I believe she's from St. Louis.

 

[GMR]

Doesn't Edmonton have that giant mall?

[MOD]

 

[Big Phil]

Doesn't Edmonton have that giant mall?

[MOD]

Yeah, the West Edmonton Mall. Really a sight worth seeing. The closest thing Edmonton could get to a Disneyland.

 

[Merya]

I think the climate is a completely legit reason. Like Bryz says in that clip, it's minus 32.

 

[Voight]

About 2 months after Pronger's wife(Lauren Pronger) moved to Edmonton she moved back to St Louis. Pronger wanted to be near is wife, some guys actually like their wives and he decided that he wanted to be near is wife.

Anaheim still isn't all that close lol.

But what about St. Louis? It is definitely a sports town. Maybe not as blue collarish as Edmonton but they certainly love their teams down there. You'd think she would have trouble fitting in there, no?

She was born & raised in St Louis.

Should have stayed in Edmonton. He would have had a longer career and not been done prematurely. That was his karmic payback.

He would also have no Stanley Cup Ring, the one thing he was missing in his career.

 

[sr edler]

Doesn't Edmonton have that giant mall?

[MOD]

Oh, please. She's apparently a socialite and those look down upon simple malls. They only attend 16th century themed masquerades and drink champagne from fragile crystal vases.

 

[golfortennis]

Winnipeg is usually reserved for that sort of discussion.

But here's the thing, why was it good enough for Gretzky, Messier, Coffey, Kurri, Anderson and Fuhr?

Why was it good enough for those guys in the era where free agency was nothing but a farce(5 first round picks for compensation) and the PA was in cahoots with the owners and the players had basically no rights? You really want to ask that question?

Don't get me wrong, Sather was brilliant at building that team, and they were all a bunch of kids and seemed to form a nice tight group, but don't kid yourself that they wouldn't have done the same in another city. And to a man all of them would say they were idiots to let things be the way they were in terms of free agency, etc.

If it was good enough for them, why weren't they there when they had choices?

 

[Crease Master]

Should have stayed in Edmonton. He would have had a longer career and not been done prematurely. That was his karmic payback.

Come on, you had the Great one fall into your lap and then a ping pong ball gives you McDavid. You have no reason to be bitter about anything Edmonton fan. If you want to talk karma, perhaps the losing seasons and nobody wanting to play there is Edmonton's karmic payback for winning a bunch of cups in the 80's.

 

[BagHead]

What a silly point -- there is nothing wrong with Edmonton, from a NHL player's perspective. NHL players don't work 9 to 6, five days a week, in the same city until they're 65.

The players are independently wealthy (except 18-to-19 year-olds, who don't know any better anyway), and only have to be there from September through April, during which time they're often away on the road anyway.

If you have kids, I'd say Edmonton is a great place to set them up in school for a few years before you move on, or retire, or whatnot. By the time an NHL-er is 30, he doesn't need to work anymore for the rest of his life, so at that point you can move anywhere you like and settle in.

As with other wintry, smaller and less-cosmopolitan Canadian cities (Calgary, Ottawa, Winnipeg), Edmonton is a 'big-fish-in-small-pond' environment wherein players are under a lot of scrutiny by the local community. But then again, it's only for a few years, during which you're a major celebrity and probably never have to buy a drink again.

In short, suck it up and play there. You'll probably find you like it.

Dany Heatley is another player like Pronger who got what he deserved. As soon as he turned down the offer from the Oilers, his career went into the toilet. Serves him right.

I'm not some big 'All-Star' apologist, but seriously? Yeah, how dare he exercise his contractual rights to not go to a team that wasn't in "win now" mode. What a horrible person that makes him, so it's only right that his career went downhill. Man, wishing that much ill on somebody... you better watch your own karma, dude.

Say what you will about dumb decisions he made as a kid, but choosing to not waive his NTC to go to Edmonton isn't among his wrong decisions. Seems like you can't get past perceived slights to your city. Which is ridiculous, because not all of this has to even do with the city (but instead the team and it's level of competitiveness), and because every city has its charms.

 

[The Panther]

I'm not some big 'All-Star' apologist, but seriously? Yeah, how dare he exercise his contractual rights to not go to a team that wasn't in "win now" mode. What a horrible person that makes him, so it's only right that his career went downhill.

I am deeply ashamed. I hope those millions he was paid for the 100-odd goals he scored for San Jose, Minnesota, and Anaheim will go someway towards compensating the horrible feelings I've caused him by Internet comments.

Say what you will about dumb decisions he made as a kid

I said nothing about this.

Seems like you can't get past perceived slights to your city.

I've never lived in Edmonton. I do consider Edmonton a fairly mediocre city and not a particularly desirous place to live (I much prefer Calgary, where I lived for 5 years). But the Oilers are a proud franchise that any Canadian athlete should be pleased to spend a few years with. Good enough for Jacques Plante, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Doug Weight, Curtis Joseph, and Connor McDavid... but not good enough for Dany Heatley, I guess.

 

[The Pale King]

Some guys don't care that much about climate. Sekera and Lucic both moved on from LA to Edmonton in successive seasons over ~$1 million bucks per (rumoured). Lucic at least really did seem like he wanted to stay in LA. So Edmonton might have to overpay a bit for certain guys, but the trade off is they can ice a losing team for 10 seasons and still sellout most (all?) nights. That's not a dig at Oilers fans either. Every market has pros and cons.

 

[The Pale King]

Oh, please. She's apparently a socialite and those look down upon simple malls. They only attend 16th century themed masquerades and drink champagne from fragile crystal vases.

I think the one of the fastest ways to out yourself as not "high-cultured" would be to start drinking out of a vase. Try to keep the roses out of your teeth, it's not a good look.

 

[SidGenoMario]

Dany Heatley is another player who got what he deserved.

I don't know about that

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

Some guys don't care that much about climate. Sekera and Lucic both moved on from LA to Edmonton

or maybe also, as the edler suggested above, for some guys +40 is just as bad if not worse than -25 (104 and -13 fahrenheit, respectively).

 

[The Pale King]

or maybe also, as the edler suggested above, for some guys +40 is just as bad if not worse than -25 (104 and -13 fahrenheit, respectively).

Yeah exactly. Or on a different note, ask Ryan Smyth how he feels about his time in LA. Hint: he's not exactly beloved amongst Kings fans.

Smyth asked the Kings to trade him back to Edmonton in the summer of 2011 for reasons he never explained, though it’s thought that his wife wasn’t happy in Los Angeles and wanted to bring the family back to Canada. After a proposed deal that would have sent Gilbert Brule to the Kings fell through, the Kings traded Smyth to the Oilers for Fraser and a seventh-round draft pick.

Smyth acknowledged that he had conflicting feelings when the Kings succeeded last June. “I’d be lying to you if I’d be sitting here and saying I didn’t,” he said. “It was tough to swallow, for sure, but it was great to see some of my friends win it.”

He said he was happy with his decision to return to Edmonton. “No regrets,” he said. “Obviously, you can’t live in the past. You can’t sit there and dwell on things. My family’s safe, and that’s the most important thing.”

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/feb/19/sports/la-sp-sn-kings-ryan-smyth-20130219

Oilers fans? Panther? Anybody? Pronger at least never came out and bashed the city.

 

[The Pale King]

I never thought I'd get to the point where I was defending Chris Pronger. I need to take a shower. What have I become?

 

[sr edler]

Yeah, I've been to LA too, and while I liked it a bit more than Miami it wasn't my favorite city ever. It had some nice things there but it also felt too spread out, like it almost didn't feel like a city at all but an extended village or something.

I loved San Diego though, because they had a great marina there and a real nice breeze. And chill seals!

 

[Voight]

I've never lived in Edmonton. I do consider Edmonton a fairly mediocre city and not a particularly desirous place to live (I much prefer Calgary, where I lived for 5 years). But the Oilers are a proud franchise that any Canadian athlete should be pleased to spend a few years with. Good enough for Jacques Plante, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Doug Weight, Curtis Joseph, and Connor McDavid... but not good enough for Dany Heatley, I guess.

Most of those guys were drafted by EDM and thus had to play there. Especially McDavid, who is bound to them as a RFA until hes 26. They have to overpay free agents to come there, look at Sekera and even Lucic.