Twenty years ago in 2006, the Edmonton Oilers made one of the biggest trades in team history. The team traded star defenseman Chris Pronger to the Anaheim Ducks in a major deal that changed both franchises.

Pronger helped the Oilers reach the 2006 Stanley Cup Final. However, Edmonton lost the series to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games. Even after his great playoff run, Pronger spent only one season with the Oilers. The team traded him on July 3, 2006.

In the trade, as tweeted by Oilers Nation on X, Edmonton received winger Joffrey Lupul, top defense prospect Ladislav Smid, a first-round pick in the 2007 NHL Draft, a second-round pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, and a conditional first-round pick in 2008. That extra first-round pick became active after the Ducks won the Stanley Cup in 2007.

According to an ESPN article back then, after Edmonton's run was over in the final, it was Pronger who asked for a trade from his agent, citing personal reasons. Reportedly, his wife didn't like living in Edmonton.

When the Oilers made the trade, Pronger was one of the best defensemen in the NHL. According to NHL Stats, he stood 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 220 pounds.

He could skate well, play a physical game, score points, and defend against the other team's top players. The former second overall pick in the 1993 NHL Draft had already won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP and the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman.

The trade is still one of the biggest moments in Oilers history. The team traded away one of its top players just after reaching the Stanley Cup Final. Even 20 years later, many fans still see it as a major turning point for the franchise.

Chris Pronger remained one of the NHL's elite after leaving Edmonton

Pronger made a big impact in Anaheim right away. As per the same NHL Stats, in his first season with the Ducks, he helped the team win the 2007 Stanley Cup.

That championship also activated the conditional first-round pick that Edmonton received in the trade. Pronger continued to play at a very high level for the rest of his career. He finished with 1,167 regular-season games, 157 goals, 698 points, and a +183 rating.

Pronger also had a great playoff career. He played 173 playoff games and scored 121 points. He often played big minutes against the other team's best players. His strong play on both offense and defense made him one of the best defensemen of his time.

Edmonton received several good assets in the trade, including Ladislav Smid and future first-round draft picks. Those picks later became part of the team's rebuilding process. Even so, many people still talk about the trade because the Oilers could never truly replace a player like Pronger.

The trade still creates debate among Oilers fans, especially when they discuss the biggest "what if" moments in team history.

It's still one of the biggest deals in Edmonton Oilers history. It ended the team's Stanley Cup Final run, changed the franchise's future, and remains one of the most memorable blockbuster trades in NHL history.

What do you think? Do you think the Oilers got enough in return for one of the greatest defensemen of his generation? Let us know in the comments. 

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Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason