Former Oiler and Stanley Cup champion calls out fans for vilifying him over one decision

Chris Pronger has never been shy about calling things the way he sees them, and his latest comments on trade requests prove it.

The Hall of Fame defenseman joined Morning Cuppa Hockey this week and didn't hold back when the topic of player empowerment came up around the league.

Pronger pointed out that he was dealt five separate times across his career, yet only one of those moves actually came from him speaking up.

He said the backlash he took for that single request never lined up with how quiet everyone stayed the other four times he got shipped out, and honestly, that says a lot about how the balance of power used to sit almost entirely with teams.

According to Pronger, that imbalance is exactly what has changed.

He believes players are simply doing better math these days, understanding just how short a career in the NHL truly is and how much control they actually have over where those years get spent.

This summer offered a pretty clear example, with Brady Tkachuk pushing his way out of Ottawa and landing right next to his brother Matthew in Florida.

Pronger doesn't buy the idea that any of this new openness has softened the product on the ice either.

He still sees the same desperation once the games matter most, and he pointed to the raw emotion on players' faces the moment a playoff run comes to an end as proof the intensity hasn't gone anywhere.

Given everything he went through in Edmonton and beyond, Pronger's support for today's players asking for a fresh start carries a bit more weight than the average take.

He framed it simply, saying players are the ones providing the product, so they should have a real say in where they go while they're still able to perform at that level.

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