Friedman: "It would really blow me away" if Petry re-signed with Oilers

Elliotte Friedman was on Edmonton’s 630 CHED on Friday afternoon.

On pending Oilers UFA Jeff Petry:

“I just wonder if Petry wants to really sign. Why would you?

“First of all, another defenceman’s off the market today. Staal signed. And I don’t think Petry is in Staal’s class, but I think Petry is a pretty good player. How many defencemen are on the market?

“Secondly, I think – This is Jeff Petry’s biggest chance to hit the market. If you’re really happy in your current situation, then go where you’re happy. I have no problem with that. But I look at kind of the way he’s been in and out of the lineup. He hasn’t really been committed to. The team hasn’t won and is probably not going to win in a long time.

“And also, I generally believe too – the closer you get, the tougher it is to sign, unless you’re really happy with where you are. And I just look at it right now and I look at Petry’s situation and I would just be really surprised if he signed. It would really blow me away if he signed, rather than seeing what was out there later in the year.”

Later in the discussion:

"If Petry wants to go to a winning situation, then he's going to wait. Or if he's going to say, 'You know what? I feel like I haven't been committed to by this organization, and I'd like to go try to start fresh somewhere else.' He's going to wait.

"I just think all the information that I've had over the last little while is that... Teams don't sign guys for one year the year before unrestricted free agency if they plan on keeping him. I just think that's where we are."

Source: 630 CHED/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

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