Out with the Young, in with the Old!

Well, I can't say I'm surprised, but it will be sad to see Stoll and Greene go. Two young players who might end up being the best players hockey has ever seen. Ever.

Well, maybe not, but in comes Vish, and I guess everyone's expecting Pitkanen to head out later today. He's an odd duck. I mean a really weird bird who probably won't ever fit in easily with any North American team. Too bad. His apparent lack of heart will probably end up killing him as blood ceases to flow into his brain and nourish his various body parts.

heh, heh....ha?

Anyway, Jarett Stoll left town the way a player should, so kudos to him (are you listening, Thoreson? No, I suppose you're not.) Here's what he had to say:

"I'm obviously happy, but it's also a bittersweet feeling," he said. "I had a lot of great memories and great years in Edmonton. I'll always be fond of that and fond of those times.

I'm from close by (Saskatchewan)and I have a lot of family and friends that supported me. The organization was great, the fans were great. The support for the team in Edmonton was unbelievable. For me to be a part of that for six years, I couldn't have asked for anything more than that.

It's a great organization, I had a lot of fun there, and it's sad that it didn't work out, it's definitely sad leaving Edmonton and all the great times I've had there, but this is a new chapter in my life and I have to move forward now."

It's hard to say he's surprised when his name was attached to every trade rumour that came down the pike, but he did think he'd be getting another chance to prove himself in Edmonton.

"It did catch me off guard a little bit,"he said. "Obviously I heard all the talk, it's been going on for a while, and I kind of prepared myself a little bit, just in case it did happen. But it's still shocking and surprising.

But pretty quickly you realize that you have to move on -there's a new team and a new organization that you're part of, someone that wants you. I'm excited about that. I'm very excited to be with the Kings. I know they're going in the right direction. They have a great young core and I want to be part of that."

Stoll said it's tough leaving Edmonton on a downer, knowing the last impression fans here have of him was the tentative and unproductive shadow of the player he still believes he can be.

"It's unfortunate that the organization felt that way, that they had to move me. That's fine, that's the way they think and that's the business side of the game.

I definitely wish it could have worked out and I could have rebounded and had a great year and proved a lot of people wrong. That's the kind of person I am. I know, looking back at last year, that I can be a better player. That's what my whole focus was on this summer.

"I know how I can play and I'm confident in my game and what I can bring. I'll just bring that to another team and another organization now."

On the bright side, he doesn't even have to pack.

"I live 10 minutes from the Kings practice rink," he said. "It worked out really well if it had to happen at all. I'm a little bit still in shock, but I'm happy.

I wish Edmonton all the best."

-ROBERT TYCHKOWSKI, Sun Media

I don't have any quotes from Greene, but I did find this picture that I photoshopped only slightly for minimal dramatic effect. I'll always remember Greene's beauty first (and only?) goal, and the way he straight armed CheeChoo. Adequate times, man. Adequate times.

So, better minds than this one are analyzing this move in hockey blogs across the Oilogosphere, so check it out, leave your two cents and see those pennies ripped to shreds by the ravenous hoards.

Have fun!

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In other news, at least there's one Torres who earns his monies. Spain's Fernando Torres chipped the ball over German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann during the 33rd minute to score the only goal of yesterday's Euro 2008 championship game in Vienna.

Fernando. Torres. hmm...


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