The worst thing about professional sports?

Trading away the most loved local athlete?

Kevin Lowe may have some grand strategy. Maybe Smyth will be back. But — to me — this looks a huge, terrible mistake.

Ryan Smyth was, for much of his 12-year run in Edmonton, the face of the franchise, the heart and soul of the Edmonton Oilers. And now he’s gone, traded to the New York Islanders …

The loss of Smyth is not only losing the best player on the team and Captain Canada, he was a player who represented their work ethic and values.

edmontonsun.com – Oilers – It took incredible guts to trade Ryan Smyth