It might happen. I'll give you an example: Shea Weber. Let's say the Preds want to dump Weber, mostly because of the money involved with his contract. Nashville can demand four assets for Weber, including at least two of star quality. So let's say the Oilers give up Jordan Eberle and Oscar Klefbom, along with their 1st round pick in 2013 and a 4th asset (not sure what).

I would cringe if they made this deal, even though Weber would be by far and away the best defenseman on the Oilers.

The problem is, big blockbusters like this have been tried and they never seem to work out correctly. See the Eric Lindros to Philly trade for an example.

Part of the reason I value the Oilers superkids so much is because of the chemistry they have together. I've heard...but this is rumor from a "source" who I don't know but he keeps emailing me claiming he's an insider...that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is not that popular inside the room because he's too quiet and he doesn't associate with other players on the team. If this is true, you could see him perhaps dealt ahead of other players. But the problem is, I just don't believe it. Nuge is quiet but he handles himself with class and very appropriately.

Long story short, the only way I could live with the Oilers dealing one or two of their top young players is if the deal was absolutely and clearly a win for the team.
- Maxbone

I see where you're coming from especially with the point on chemistry but Im not sure the Lindros trade is a fair comparison here. What I mainly meant was (like someone else posted here) is a Hodgson-Kassian type of trade. You can argue who won and lost and who is a better player but the basis of the trade itself is one team sacrificing talent for need at a position of weakness (toughness) from a position of strength (centres) which is what got me thinking about the Oilers and more specifically Eberle/Yakupov.

I too lean towards the notion that with the right players Yakupov can be a consistent goal scoring machine. But like Hodgson in Vancouver, he has to beat out an equally skilled winger in Eberle who the Oilers have invested quite a bit of money in. To summarize, I kinda get the feeling that you might have to deal one of them otherwise you aren't really getting a full return in your investment. I know depth is key but neither one of Eberle or Yakupov will be thrilled to be career second liners.

Like a Hodgeson for Kassian deal; VAN trying to fill a need for size and take a lesser player (arguably I guess).
- TandA4Flames

Yes this is what I was trying to get at. Whether they win the deal or not is irrelevant. The move made sense at the time. Trade from a position of strength to fix a glaring weakness

Where's Cloutier's blog on how Schultz was snubbed for the Norris?
lol

What would your opinion be if Mactavish traded one of those untouchables for a "less valuable player" to fill a need (either goaltending or defense)? I'm not trying to troll here I'm actually curious.
- Sabresfan-365

He would have to win the trade without getting the best player - which is a tall task with what i have in mind.

It might happen. I'll give you an example: Shea Weber. Let's say the Preds want to dump Weber, mostly because of the money involved with his contract. Nashville can demand four assets for Weber, including at least two of star quality. So let's say the Oilers give up Jordan Eberle and Oscar Klefbom, along with their 1st round pick in 2013 and a 4th asset (not sure what).

I would cringe if they made this deal, even though Weber would be by far and away the best defenseman on the Oilers.

The problem is, big blockbusters like this have been tried and they never seem to work out correctly. See the Eric Lindros to Philly trade for an example.

Part of the reason I value the Oilers superkids so much is because of the chemistry they have together. I've heard...but this is rumor from a "source" who I don't know but he keeps emailing me claiming he's an insider...that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is not that popular inside the room because he's too quiet and he doesn't associate with other players on the team. If this is true, you could see him perhaps dealt ahead of other players. But the problem is, I just don't believe it. Nuge is quiet but he handles himself with class and very appropriately.

Long story short, the only way I could live with the Oilers dealing one or two of their top young players is if the deal was absolutely and clearly a win for the team.
- Maxbone

No...BSteinley is not an insider.....

And Weber is not getting dealt. And if he did it would be for more than he's worth. As MacT said, they value the kids more than anyone else; so it would need to be an overpay by the other side to get them.

Where's Cloutier's blog on how Schultz was snubbed for the Norris?
lol
- qwijibo

Havent you already made this joke?

Havent you already made this joke?
- Oilfan19

nope, maybe someone else did

He would have to win the trade without getting the best player - which is a tall task with what i have in mind.
- BigDre

Please decipher this.......

Please decipher this.......
- TandA4Flames

You're welcome.

A

Hall will be the captain when Horcoff is dealt off. Which will hopefully be soon. There's no doubt about that. On a side note, Vancouver needs a miracle. I absolutely hate that team. I enjoy watching them lose.
- mbxiphos1527

I see what you're saying, but risks must be made. Lombardi gave up a King's ransom for Richards when he dealt Simmonds, Schenn, and picks. Richards is arguably the best player in the deal, but to give up two young up and coming players was very tough and risky. The Oilers will have to stop babysitting their kids and be a man.
- RedwingsAreKHL

Yeah,but LA won the Stanley Cup....so hands down Lombardi won the trade, unless Philly comes back and wins a couple cups in the next few years.

This, I was a die hard Avs fan back in the day, the Oil got my attention in 06 and I never really looked back. But Philly would have been wise to hang onto Forsberg let alone all the other assets they parted with
- Forsberg4Prez

I dont know about that. The Flyers did very well for about 5 years,even making the finals once. The Avs won a couple cups with Foreskin (with an amazing supporting cast) and over all he was the better player long term, but it was still a good trade by Philly.Were they drafted in the same year or a year apart? My thoughts on that was that if anyone could predict Foresberg would be better he would be drafted in that spot in the first place.

Wow, Fleury is crumbling under pressure! Still amazed that some people consider him elite!

Please decipher this.......
- TandA4Flames

The proposal is to trade from a position of strength, which I assume to be one of the super kids (Hall, Ebs, Yak, RNH, JSch) for a lesser-skilled player + to fill a need (big 2LW, 1-2D, G). Typically the team who receives the best player is thought to "win" a trade. Trading away who you know to be the better player in a deal means you need to receive a massive overpayment to make it worth it (and "win" the trade), especially if you don't really need to move the better player.

To me, the Oilers position of strength currently is the right wing, and Hemsky has insufficient trade value to get what we want. That means Ebs or Yak, and in a hypothetical situation I'm partial to keeping Yak.

So MacT needs to get one good big 2LW, 1-2D or G, and needs to get at least another good prospect who is big 2LW, 1-2D or G and then a first to make it worth it, and I do mean good players, not plugs. A team would have to be very deep where we need them to be for this to work.

So yes, I'm suggesting a huge overpayment for Eberle cause that's the only way I would accept it and the only way MacT would. He said so himself, no one is untouchable, meaning that a huge overpayment for a superkid would not be out of the question.


that was a lot of thinking

I love how Clouts tells us his info he gets from his sources in the organization



Don't say what the oilers think. You don't know
- TheNugeIsHuge

Hey, how dare you. He clearly stated it is in the form of an email from someone claiming to be a source. Clearly, sources don't get much more legit than this.

Wow, Fleury is crumbling under pressure! Still amazed that some people consider him elite!
- MaximumBone

Because he won a cup, duhhhhhhhhhhh. Just like Antii Niemi, Tim Thomas, Nik Khabibulin and other Elite goalies who only have to do one thing, be on an incredible team and perform well during the playoffs. If St. Louis wins this year, Brian Elliot will be elite.

We all try to keep an eye out in here from time to time...

It's more than a one man job.
- jtommyt

Sooooooooo we can't make fun of Clout's anymore about his sources or lack of hockey knowledge or mood swings or being big boned??? Well there goes my summer. This is (frank)ing bullpoop. Guess it is back to making fun of Sanfordson and his chronic marijuana abuse.

Because he won a cup, duhhhhhhhhhhh. Just like Antii Niemi, Tim Thomas, Nik Khabibulin and other Elite goalies who only have to do one thing, be on an incredible team and perform well during the playoffs. If St. Louis wins this year, Brian Elliot will be elite.
- ruttager17

I somewhat agree.The term elite is way overused. An elite Goalie takes an average or even sh!t team to places they have no business.Like Patrick Roy did with the Habs,Cujo with the Oilers,Hasek with the Sabres, and to a lesser degree Brodeur with the Devils...etc.Great Teams can win with average goalies as well (like whom you mentioned plus Detroit with Osgood) but when great teams get great Goaltending it's a whole different level. I've always wondered how Belfour would do if he wasn't on those deep Dallas teams, and I wonder the same about a couple so called elite goaltenders active today.

Sooooooooo we can't make fun of Clout's anymore about his sources or lack of hockey knowledge or mood swings or being big boned??? Well there goes my summer. This is (frank)ing bullpoop. Guess it is back to making fun of Sanfordson and his chronic marijuana abuse.
- ruttager17

I'm pretty sure Clots is still fair game, it's just the total D-Bag trolls that are on notice. That last bum starts sh!t and then reports anyone who tells him off. He got myself and Iggysbf a 2 day Shannaban each a couple weeks ago, and we were only sorta harsh.

No...BSteinley is not an insider.....

And Weber is not getting dealt. And if he did it would be for more than he's worth. As MacT said, they value the kids more than anyone else; so it would need to be an overpay by the other side to get them.
- Iggysbff

Nice. I am not even here to defend myself and you go after me. That is week. Nuge is a friend of my brothers. Back from his rebels days. Nuge hasn't said anything about having troubles with the team. I do know that the guy is easy to get a long with. Quiet or not he makes friends easy. People are okay with quiet if you are polite like him.

He might have friction but I doubt it. I think we would have heard something and he would have mentioned something. I know he spends his off time with the guys from the team and my brother has to go to him to visit, rather than him coming back to see his friends in Red Deer. He hardly ever gets back. Which sucks for me because I have another jersey waiting for him to sign.

I do agree that weber is not being dealt as well, I feel it very unlikely that Nuge of anybody would go as his stock would be at its lowest with the surgery. Oh and thanks again for talking trash about me for no reason. Feel free to go have intercourse with yourself.

I somewhat agree.The term elite is way overused. An elite Goalie takes an average or even sh!t team to places they have no business.Like Patrick Roy did with the Habs,Cujo with the Oilers,Hasek with the Sabres, and to a lesser degree Brodeur with the Devils...etc.Great Teams can win with average goalies as well (like whom you mentioned plus Detroit with Osgood) but when great teams get great Goaltending it's a whole different level. I've always wondered how Belfour would do if he wasn't on those deep Dallas teams, and I wonder the same about a couple so called elite goaltenders active today.
- Jeropotato

*cough* Mike Smith *cough*

This is part of what makes Dubnyk's numbers more impressive than most people (and yes, I mean MOST people) give him credit for.

The proposal is to trade from a position of strength, which I assume to be one of the super kids (Hall, Ebs, Yak, RNH, JSch) for a lesser-skilled player + to fill a need (big 2LW, 1-2D, G). Typically the team who receives the best player is thought to "win" a trade. Trading away who you know to be the better player in a deal means you need to receive a massive overpayment to make it worth it (and "win" the trade), especially if you don't really need to move the better player.

To me, the Oilers position of strength currently is the right wing, and Hemsky has insufficient trade value to get what we want. That means Ebs or Yak, and in a hypothetical situation I'm partial to keeping Yak.

So MacT needs to get one good big 2LW, 1-2D or G, and needs to get at least another good prospect who is big 2LW, 1-2D or G and then a first to make it worth it, and I do mean good players, not plugs. A team would have to be very deep where we need them to be for this to work.

So yes, I'm suggesting a huge overpayment for Eberle cause that's the only way I would accept it and the only way MacT would. He said so himself, no one is untouchable, meaning that a huge overpayment for a superkid would not be out of the question.


that was a lot of thinking
- BigDre

I still think it's unlikely in the near future. If we were closer to being contenders I could see a 1 for 2 or 3 trade to add what we need, but the team is not in danger of anything like that right now. In a few years,when the prospect pool is deeper I could see it though.

I'm pretty sure Clots is still fair game, it's just the total D-Bag trolls that are on notice. That last bum starts sh!t and then reports anyone who tells him off. He got myself and Iggysbf a 2 day Shannaban each a couple weeks ago, and we were only sorta harsh.
- Jeropotato

I was gonna include Osgood in that list of goalies but he won more than one cup so figured would give him the benefit of the doubt.

That last dude who has been trolling here, not even sure I have seen him before a couple weeks ago, unless he is someone who just changed his profile name. Sucks getting banned but look at all the extra time you have for two days not bantering on in here with us (frank)heads.

*cough* Mike Smith *cough*

This is part of what makes Dubnyk's numbers more impressive than most people (and yes, I mean MOST people) give him credit for.
- MaximumBone

Well said kid.

Well said kid.
- ruttager17

Thanks, Grey Balls