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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 2908646" data-attributes="member: 2012">Phone calls pouring in for ProngerCanadian Press6/24/2006 10:09:56 PMVANCOUVER (CP) - Kevin Lowe was a little busier than he thought he'd be considering the Edmonton Oilers didn't have a first-round pick in Saturday's NHL entry draft.The Oilers GM's cellphone was ringing non-stop a day after star defenceman Chris Pronger and his agent officially asked for a trade due to personal reasons. ''I thought I was coming here and going to have a nice, quiet draft and sit around and wait for the second round for our pick,'' Lowe said. ''But there's been a lot of talk, at the same time we have to be careful not to react too quickly and do the right thing. ''There's no question there's a lot of interest. It's almost like having the first pick, you get all the calls.'' Lowe was coy Friday when first asked about Pronger's trade request but by Saturday acknowledged his new-round reality. ''We're certainly going to look around because the (trade) request was made, but we're not going to be knee-jerk to anything,'' said Lowe. ''We'll do it, like we always have, when it's in the best interests of the hockey club.'' Pronger, coming off an MVP-like playoff performance, has four more years on his contract paying him $6.25 million a season - worth every dime. There won't be a shortage of suitors because of it and Lowe isn't handcuffed by having to try and deal him to specific U.S. cities. ''Not really, he doesn't have a no-trade clause so there can't be many stipulations,'' said Lowe. ''But I don't want to get into the particulars. If we do in fact pursue it, there will be all the options we need.'' Lowe, in fact, knew for quite a while that Pronger might demand a trade because of the personal situation in question but it still didn't dull the blow Friday. ''Yes I knew but I was always hoping that things would change,'' said Lowe. ''It's a personal matter and I don't want to get into it from their perspective. It's not like it caught me by surprise but it's still a shot in the gut after you finally digest it.'' Lowe still used the word ''if'' when discussing a Pronger trade, leaving the door slightly open that perhaps a move could be avoided. ''My favourite motto is expect the unpexpected but I don't want to lead anybody on. I just don't know what will happen,'' Lowe said. ''For our fans, everything will work out. We'll make sure it does.'' The Oilers finally did get to draft Saturday, selecting Michigan native Jeff Petry 45th overall, a 6-2, 176-pound right-handed defenceman who is an agile skater. He had 15 points (1-14) in 48 games with Des Moines of the USHL this past season. ''We had him rated in the top 15 on our list,'' said Oilers scouting director Kevin Prendergast. ''Our scouts really, really liked him only because of the upside. We're a little thin on defence within the organization and we think he's going to be able to play for us in four or five years.'' Edmonton's other picks: - 75th overall, D Theo Peckham, Richmond Hill, Ont., Owen Sound (OHL); - 133rd overall, G Bryan Pitton, Mississauga, Ont., Brampton (OHL); - 140th overall, D Cody Wild, Limestone, Maine, Providence (High school); - 170th overall, F Alexander Bumagin, Togliatti, Russia. Lowe, meanwhile, has his work cut out these days. He has nine players headed for unrestricted free agency next Saturday, chief among them goalie Dwayne Roloson. Lowe has already contacted Roloson's agent. ''We've made an offer. And let's leave it at that,'' said Lowe.</blockquote>

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