In a candid and revealing interview on the Dropping the Gloves Podcast hosted by former NHLer John Scott, former NHL defenseman Sheldon Souray opened up about his tumultuous time with the Edmonton Oilers, providing perception into the challenges and controversies he confronted throughout his tenure with the workforce.
From the sounds of the interview, Souray’s expertise with the Oilers is one he would relatively overlook. Identified for his rugged model of play and booming level shot, Souray was signed to the workforce as a big-ticket free agent when not loads of gamers had been concerned about becoming a member of a membership that had struggled within the standings, had an outdated constructing, and wasn’t precisely a prime vacation spot for high-profile gamers. When you hearken to and imagine Souray’s feedback about his expertise in Edmonton, it’s not exhausting to see why.
Souray Says His Harm Was Poorly Dealt with by the Oilers
One of the putting tales emerged when Souray mentioned an harm that occurred in January 2010, leading to a damaged hand. The incident finally led to Souray spending time within the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and dealing with the potential menace of getting his hand amputated.
Souray revealed that he requested medical consideration for his hand from a specialist in Los Angeles, the place he had a residence, and from a health care provider who had achieved the surgical procedure numerous occasions. Nonetheless, the Oilers denied his request, indicating that the CBA at the moment didn’t grant gamers the best to hunt a second opinion, thus giving the workforce the authority to dictate the course of medical motion. He obtained the work achieved by an Edmonton physician however he famous it wasn’t achieved correctly.
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The scenario took a dire flip when Souray returned to Edmonton. He started feeling more and more sick and observed alarming bodily signs. Regardless of his struggling, the Oilers’ response was lower than empathetic. Souray recounted an interplay with the Oilers’ physician the place he was instructed to drive himself to the hospital regardless of his situation. He famous after he arrived, “An ambulance now takes me to the U of A hospital, now I’m within the ICU for 4 days, I obtained a bone and blood an infection they usually’re speaking about amputating my hand, they must re-cut my hand open…” He provides, “I’m on all types of anti-biotics that they provide most cancers sufferers, dude it was dangerous.”
Issues Solely Obtained Worse From There
After reaching the hospital, Souray was recognized with a staph an infection, a severe and doubtlessly life-threatening situation. The scenario escalated additional when he was admitted to the ICU, the place he confronted the potential of not solely dropping his hand but additionally coping with infections that would have an effect on his coronary heart. He stated that’s when he knew it was severe.
Nonetheless, what makes the story notably intriguing is the Oilers’ administration and possession’s perception that Souray was exaggerating the severity of his harm.
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The Oilers’ energy coach was with Souray not lengthy after he obtained the intense information and when Souray requested if the coaches and administration had been up to date on his situation, he obtained an alarming response. He defined:
“I stated ‘have you ever advised the coaches or administration?’ He stated ‘Yeah however they assume you’re milking an harm since you don’t need to play for the Oilers’ once more.’ I stated okay, so I picked up the telephone. Now you gotta perceive I’m on all these painkillers, I’m on these anti-biotics. I’m sitting in a hospital and I left Kevin Lowe and Daryl Katz a voicemail, and I wasn’t comfortable.”
Souray’s Exit from the Group Was Ugly
Souray elaborated on his dissatisfaction as he exited Edmonton, recounting his try and confront Steve Tambellini through the year-end assembly. He recalled, “We had a troublesome one. In my year-end interview, I kinda say, ‘Hey, it’s most likely greatest for me to maneuver on, however we’ll speak about that this summer season.’ The subsequent day, the headlines learn ‘Souray calls for commerce’ and so forth.”
Following this, Souray had a productive summer season of coaching and aimed to behave cooperatively within the hopes of securing a commerce. However, the Oilers uncared for to increase an invite to coaching camp. Kevin Lowe instructed him to publicly apologize and communicate to Daryl Katz, a requirement Souray declined.
Ultimately, the Oilers relocated Souray to the AHL’s Hershey Bears. Souray perceived this maneuver as a petty gesture from the group, sensing an try and depict him as a ‘spoiled brat’ and to solid him as a detrimental affect on the Oilers’ youthful skills throughout these years. He stated he wasn’t invited to the ultimate dwelling recreation at Northlands Coliseum in 2016 the place nearly all of the Oilers’ alumni, even Chris Pronger — who had an arguably uglier exit from the workforce — was in attendance.
Earlier than the interview was up, Souray made positive to trash Edmonton’s harsh winter local weather and known as Rexall Place (the previous area the Oilers used to play out of) the worst area within the league. He talked about the workforce appears to be like like they’re not off course underneath Ken Holland (who he stacked heavy reward upon) however known as proprietor Daryl Katz an fool.
Evidently, Souray’s expertise as an Oiler was not a constructive one. He didn’t blame everybody, however he clearly had a distaste for Steve Tambellini, Kevin Lowe, and Daryl Katz.