Nashville coach Barry Trotz didn’t tell the Predators’ team bus to pull up the front door at Rexall Place Monday night so he could get off and get in line for a Ryan Smyth bobblehead but nobody’s a bigger fan than Trotz.
“I may go upstairs (after the team bus arrives at the ramp into the Oilers’ home rink) and beg for one (on the concourse). Yeah, I want to get one for sure,” said Trotz.
“Smytty’s one of my favourite guys of all time,” said Trotz, who had Smyth on a few Canadian world championship teams and has always valued his dogged work ethic.
“It seemed strange to see him playing on other teams and not have an Edmonton Oilers’ jersey on. It didn’t fit. It’s good to see him back here. I know how much he loves Edmonton. He’s got oil for blood,” he said.
SportsNet’s Gene Principe had a Smith bobblehead in the Oiler dressing room Monday morning and asked teammate Ryan Whitney what he thought of it.
“I’ve never actually seen a bobblehead that’s totally accurate but this one’s pretty close. Nice mullet, legs seem to move the right way,” said Whitney, who said he’d never had his own bobblehead while Smyth, had one here before he got traded Long Island in 2007, and when he played for the Kings.
You’d never catch Whitney with a mullet but if he ever had a keepsake bobblehead, he knows what he’d find.
“Big ears,” he laughed.
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Centre Gilbert Brule has only played one of the first four games in Oklahoma City, on the Oilers AHL farm club. What’s wrong? “Ribs,” said a team spokesman. “It’s not supposed to be serious.” Whatever it is, Brule can’t really afford to be sitting out games as he tries to recalibrate his career. He’s missed far too many games the last few years. He has to stay healthy, somehow.
