Chris Pronger reveals why he requested a trade after just one year with the Oilers
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Tyler Ball
Apr 13, 2026 (9:00 PM)
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Photo credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK
Today, Chris Pronger released new details of the messy end to his tenure in Edmonton in his new autobiography discussing what exactly led to the trade to Anaheim.
Chris Pronger is considered one of the best defensemen of the early 2000s and of all-time a player to be feared and respect on the ice.
With this reputation, his decision to join the Edmonton Oilers on a five year contract with leaving the St Louis Blues came as quite a shock.
The Oilers at the time were in a slump having missed the playoff in two of the previous three seasons but with the addition of Pronger things changed quickly.
Pronger was able to lead the Oilers to a Stanley Cup final appearance against the Carolina Hurricanes where the Oilers would come up just short.
Despite his great success in season one with the Oilers, Pronger was traded that summer to the Anaheim Ducks and now the reason why the move was made are known.
Chris Pronger reveals why he requested a trade after Stanley Cup Final run with the Oilers
In his new book, Pronger admitted that he signed the initial contract with the Oilers while under the influence in a short conversation with his agent without consulting his wife.
My phone rang. It was my agent. I ducked into a quiet room, half-drunk, thinking I was headed to Los Angeles, Florida, maybe Boston. Those were the teams we had heard whispers about. Edmonton,” he said.
Edmonton? Nobody mentioned f—ing Edmonton.
Edmonton? Nobody mentioned f—ing Edmonton.
Pronger then outlined the conversation from the morning with his wife after he signed with the Oilers where they realized that Edmonton was not going to work long term.
Five years,” I told her the next morning. The silence that followed was louder than any arena crowd. “You made a five-year commitment about our lives without talking to me? While you were drunk?” No excuses. That was my standard. So I owned it.
Still, Pronger did not back out of the deal or hold out he showed up and gave Oilers fans one magical run before parting ways with Edmonton.
While many have disagreed with Pronger’s actions throughout the years when it comes to his time in Edmonton no one can argue he gave his best on the ice.
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