Former Oilers defenceman Chris Pronger says new book will discuss what went wrong in Edmonton

One of the most beloved, then hated, Edmonton Oilers will talk about what went wrong during his brief, but busy, tenure with the team twenty years ago. Chris Pronger’s new book, Earned: The True Cost of Greatness from One of Hockey’s Fiercest Competitors, becomes available for readers next week. The two-time Olympic gold medallist says the book is part memoir and part lessons learned through his hockey career. 

“I walk people through how to level up, how to create standards, how to be difference makers in their life, and then to go take action and execute,” said Pronger, who’s been making the media rounds in promoting the book.   

“Set the bar high, challenge yourself, trust the process, but also make sure that you own every decision. And throughout the course of the book, I own every good decision and every bad decision. There’s plenty of those in there. Yes, even Edmonton. It’s in the book.” 

In the years since the trade request, Pronger has spoken little about what really happened in Edmonton.

NHL legend Chris Pronger joins Devan Dubnyk on this week’s edition of Ask Dubey!

If you want a shot at having your question answered by Chris Pronger, drop it in the comments below to be featured on the on this week’s episode!

‘I knew I’d be Public Enemy No. 1…”In August 2005, the St. Louis Blues traded their captain to Edmonton for Eric Brewer, Jeff Woywitka, and Doug Lynch, as they looked to cut costs. Pronger minted the move by agreeing to a new five-year, $31.25 million contract. 

As the cornerstone piece of the Oilers’ blueline, Pronger produced 56 points in his lone season and helped the team squeak into the playoffs as the eight-seed. 

What happened next was an unlikely run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final with Pronger playing at an elite level, worthy of Conn Smythe Trophy consideration. The run ended in heartbreak against the Carolina Hurricanes.  

Then, the former Hart Trophy winner requested a trade from the Oilers for “personal reasons” with rumours of his wife, Lauren, being unhappy in the city. 

Former Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe said Pronger initially requested a trade earlier in the season, but stuck it out for the season. Within moments of Game 7 finishing, Lowe says Pronger’s agent repeated the request. Just two weeks after Game 7 finished, Pronger was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Joffrey Lupul, Ladislav Smid, and their 2007 first-round pick. “I knew I’d be Public Enemy No. 1…but I’m pissed off by all the rumors and innuendo surrounding my leaving,” Pronger told The Edmonton Journal in 2006. “I’ve heard all the nasty stuff, about all my girlfriends…that I’ve got more kids than I started with. I must have six kids out there.

“It started off with I slept with so-and-so, and I’m having kids, then it moved to my wife sleeping with some of my teammates. I was supposed to be having a kid with a reporter, then she said, ‘I don’t know what they’re talking about.’ Then it went from story to story. Some people even took my rental furniture from my house and burned it.”

‘I liked it there’

After being eliminated by the Oilers in the Western Conference Final the previous year, Pronger helped lead the Ducks to the Stanley Cup that season. He said at the time that he enjoyed Edmonton, but needed to do what was right for his family. 

He expected the wrath of Oilers fans, who felt betrayed after the ecstasy of the Cup run. Pronger received the wrath in spades, as a chorus of boos rained down from the Rexall Place faithful every time he touched the puck.

“I have nothing bad to say against the city of Edmonton. I liked it there. I had a fun year playing. It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

Earned will hit book shelves on Tuesday, April 14.

Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and co-host of PreGaming and Oilersnation After Dark. He’s also been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years of news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, Menzies collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues. Follow him on X at Menzies_4.

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