Daigle Gets a Bolt of Reality
By CHRIS STEVENSON -- Ottawa Sun
Saturday, January 30, 1999
Alexandre Daigle was traded twice yesterday and has now worked his way through more than half the divisions in the NHL. His only hopes for a long career are improved play or another realignment.
He went to Edmonton from Philly and then to Tampa Bay yesterday. Last week he nixed a deal that would have seen him go straight to the Oilers if he had agreed to accept a $1-million deal for next year.
You hope the best for Daigle, a likeable kid, but you can't help but think he made a mistake turning down the Oilers deal. Two reasons: He's going to have to have a heck of a last 21/2 months of the season to convince anyone to offer him close to $1 million for next season. Playing for the Lightning, the worst team in the league, will make that tough.
Second, the Oilers might have been the best team in the league for him, the best environment for him to succeed. They are a skating team and that's the one thing Daigle can do well. He would also be surrounded by better players in Edmonton which would have increased his chances for success.
The Oilers also have a history of turning some careers around with another former Sen, Pat Falloon, being the latest example.
Daigle is putting himself on the spot. His NHL career hangs in the balance.
