Oilers staring down Smyth

[Smyth94]

Ryan Smyth may not have expected to go this far into the offseason without a contract. But it seems a stalemate right now. His agent Don Meehan will be talking to Steve Tambellini and/or his right-hand man Ricky Olczyk this week at the NHL Combine in Toronto, trying to move this thing along. Meehan says the Oilers have offered a two-year contract. This is a goodwill gesture by the Oilers, who could just as easily have decided they will go year to year with Smyth. ... The holdout here is not term. It is the money. Nobody is saying what the Oilers are offering, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was in the $2.5 million-$2.75 million range. Smyth could be looking for more than $3 million a year.

[cunt]

I'm amazed he was offered a 2-year deal and even more so that he turned it down. I'd maybe give him max $4M on a one year deal this year then little $1M one year deals until he wants to retire (a'la Sakic). No two year deals and no big money. We can afford to possibly overpay him this year in the $4-5M ballpark (why we would I don't know though), but with Ebs and Hall's deals up next year I would not want a multiple year cap hit for him. If he's going for the big money again it kind of ruins the whole homecoming thing. Go play in Calgary.

[thedarkangel1975]

I agree Jay. Smyth is acting like this is 5 years ago

[Smyth94]

i agree the oilers are trying to sign but he's playing hardball with them what is it the 500k again that he wont take

[FNG™]

It's Meehan playing hardball again. Smyth just needs to tell him to shut the fuck up and let him sign.