Favorite Edmonton Oilers of All Time: #5. Sheldon Souray
By Kris Hansen
Alright, we’re in mid August and we are in the top five for my all time Favorite Edmonton Oilers. At number 6, I had Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and today I have the first possible controversial pick: Sheldon Souray.
Huh? Is that right?
Souray Recap
Sheldon Souray recently retired from the game after being sidelined all of last season due to injuries. Souray was drafted in the 3rd round, 71st overall in the 1994 NHL Entry draft by the New Jersey Devils and would make his debut in the show during the 97-98 season where he played 60 games. Souray would miss winning a Stanley Cup with the Devils as in the 99-2000 season he was traded to the then struggling Montreal Canadiens for veteran defenseman Vladimir Malakhov. However, it was a boon of a trade because Souray arguably came to his own as a member of the Montreal Canadiens. His best year was during the 2006-07 season where the offensive minded Souray potted an impressive 26 goals and 64 points in his final year with the Habs.
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He would enter Free Agency as a prized free agent and would sign with his boyhood team, the Oilers. It was with the Oilers where he played three seasons, albeit hampered by injuries. His best season with the Blue and Orange was in 2008-09, where matched a career high in games played with 81 and scored 23 goals and 53 points. For his efforts, he was named to the NHL All Star game in 2009.
Yet, his time in Edmonton had far from a happy ending. Frustrated with management, Souray lashed out at then General Manager Steve Tambellini over his injuries as the General Manager did not keep tabs on him and felt he was rushed back from injury. This resulted in a trade request, which only made the situation muddier. Souray was instead banished to the AHL to the point where he was loaned to the Hershey Bears rather than play for the Oklahoma City Barons.
Souray would later sign with the Dallas Stars, where he would play only 64 games and score 21 points. After that, he signed with the Anaheim Ducks, where he played in 44 games in a lockout shortened season and had 17 points total. However, unfortunately for Souray, injuries would force him to sit out and eventually force him to retire from the game.
Why Souray at #5?
He demanded a trade out of Edmonton! He was another long line of villains from Carson to Pronger that wanted out of Edmonton!
When Souray demanded a trade from Edmonton, that is what was being said at the time. He was the villain. Heck, even I sided with management at the time, thinking of Souray being entitled.
You know what? Mistakes were made. I was wrong. Souray did not deserve the hatred spewed on his way out. Despite the messy divorce from the organization and hurt feelings aside, Souray will have a spot on my list.
In 2007, you have to realize, even with the new NHL, Free Agency + Edmonton= losing names or not signing anyone big. Pre NHL lockout, it was a long, depressing list of players who depart for greener pastures. However, in 2007, after drafting sixth overall and having a bad season, Edmonton landed a big fish in Sheldon Souray. He was coming off a career year with 64 points! He (could) be the replacement to Pronger, 18 year old me thought. Sure, he was not as dominant as Pronger, but Souray did signify to me at least, that Edmonton could compete in Free Agency. In hindsight, the Oilers still struggle a bit when it comes to big names, although signing Andrej Sekera is a plus.
Souray was an offensive defenseman but he was big. He had a heavy cannon of a slapshot that was awe inspiring. He played mean and could lay down the body. He could fight to the point where one time, he moved then Captain Ethan Moreau out of the way to get at his opponent. That shot of his though, was just a bullet at the point.
Another reason I loved Souray was just the way he was off the ice. He seemed like a good leader, to the point where I really felt he would of been the next Oilers captain if the messy divorce did not take place. He wrote a great piece on his retirement , where he made a special part for Oilers fans:
The people of Edmonton: Thanks for treating me so well even when things got ugly with management. All I ever wanted to do since I was a little boy was play for the Oilers. I wish it turned out better in the end, but you always made me feel at home./blockquote]
It’s that part that makes me regret as a fan how Souray was treated. This was the guy who’s jersey was the first crested jersey I bought. Souray deserved better from management and the falling out. I’m glad he did not take it personally from the fans.
Next: Edmonton Oilers: Five Players for Fantasy