How we can tell the new NHL financial reality is working

The St. Louis Blues tendered then traded Chris Pronger, all-world and way-gaptoothed blueliner, to the Edmonton Oilers for some guys, including one good defenseman whose name escapes me but who isn't in Pronger's stratosphere. In recent years past (well, dating to when they had to trade Wayne Gretzky) the Oilers have been sellers in deals like this. Nice to see them as buyers for a change.