It would be a very bold move for sure.

Draisitl ,this year's first , and Griffin Reinhart. I doubt they would give up Nurse.
- VANTEL

Say what u will about needing to trade- untouchables etc etc

The oilers won't deal mcdavid, nurse or Leon. Hall's a long shot as well

I think nuge/eberle/yakupov are all on the block for the right price

So let's ponder this for a second, in 2002 the Hawks drafted Duncan Keith, four years later they draft Jonathan Toews and then the next year, five years later, they draft Patrick Kane. That fifth year after they drafted Keith is when Toews and Kane made their debut with the Hawks and the rest is history.

Moral of the story is it takes time to build a winner. OEL was drafted in 2009, so it's five drafts since, what if the Yotes pick a Toews type player this year and then a Kane the next year! They need OEL to anchor that blue line for years to come.

Last year was twelve years since Keith was drafted and I believe he won the Norris didn't he?

Patience young man....patience!!!

No McD,Nurse,Hall or Draisaitl!! Nuge and one of a first or Reinhart.

Your cat Pete is alright in my books
- poohcrumbs

He appreciates you saying so.

It would be a very bold move for sure.

Draisitl ,this year's first , and Griffin Reinhart. I doubt they would give up Nurse.
- VANTEL

I'd do that.

Sam Reinhart for OEL.

Buffalo becomes a contender next year with OEL and Ristolainen. Yotes have one of the youngest, brightest center ice in the game

EDM will want to wait until the lottery positions are handed out. I could see that happening at the end of the season if EDM somehow didn't win the 1st pick this year. What else ya got?
- jfkst1

The smartest thing Edmonton could do is bet on themselves and trade their #1 pick right now, while everyone still thinks it might be a lottery pick. It will increase the value and help them right now. They have points in 4 of 5 games.

This thread now.

Well said John.

Pretty amazing that the Hawks just won their 3rd Stanley Cup with 30 year old Brent Seabrooke, and 32 year old Duncan Keith, anchoring their defense. Both players are well past their statistical prime!
- MJL

It's amazing to me how many people neglect to mention how massive the acquisitions of Brian Campbell, Marian Hossa and even kopeckyvwere to move the rebuild forward

It's almost a forgotten fact that It was integral to them taking the next step. Just feels like it's a fact that they did everything right. But they also had opportunities not everyone does.

They were able to sign an elite defender (at the time) in Campbell to take the toughest minutes and shelter Keith and seabrook for that first year and a bit.
Even when they were ready, he was still a great secondary option behind them

Or Hossa to give them a proven offensive weapon and a great defensive player in their top 6

Take away the ability to attract those stars and things may have went differently

Eberle and a top five protected first this year. Your blog did say that OEL is just about over the hill so don't get to greedy.
- NEONDOUBLEDION

That's not a package I would even consider.

Say what u will about needing to trade- untouchables etc etc

The oilers won't deal mcdavid, nurse or Leon. Hall's a long shot as well

I think nuge/eberle/yakupov are all on the block for the right price
- Ihateallofu

It's chances of happening are slim to none but if the Yotes are trading OEL it will be very costly. They won't give him away.

He appreciates you saying so.
- James_Tanner

I wish Pete wrote the blogs

I don't think the oilers pay it for a couple reasons.
Nurse is gonna be cheap for the next few years.

I think they want multiple elite top pairing defenders (sekera and klefbom are nice- but not that) and nurse is the only opportunity they have. 15 games in and he's already playing really well. Just feels like it might be a sideways move long term.

The big one is that Nurses tenacity and mean streak are something that can't be taught. And an attribute that they're desperately in need of.
I think nurses develipment is as important to the organizations as mvdavids in many ways.

The proposal wasn't crazy and any gm would have to seriously consider it for a guy of oel's caliber. But I think they'd say no considering he's gonna want a gazillion in 2 seasons. But they'd desperately try and steer Maloney in another direction


nuge, 1st and Simpson

oel and samuelsson
- Ihateallofu

Excellent points.

This thread now.
- tomburton99

Some of these offers are downright hysterical

That's not a package I would even consider.
- James_Tanner

And I would not even consider trading OEL. The guy is to good to trade. Plus it is nice for a rebuilding team to have a stud on the blue line already or else they may never find one like the Oilers haven't.

It's chances of happening are slim to none but if the Yotes are trading OEL it will be very costly. They won't give him away.
- VANTEL

Oh totally

Like non existent. Just good conversation


I don't think nuge and our first is giving oel away by any stretch. It's better than Sam Reinhart straight up by a mile

The smartest thing Edmonton could do is bet on themselves and trade their #1 pick right now, while everyone still thinks it might be a lottery pick. It will increase the value and help them right now. They have points in 4 of 5 games.
- James_Tanner

I don't follow prospects at all, but from what I understand, Matthews is 2nd only to McJesus in terms of perceived value this decade. It wouldn't be a terrible calculated risk. Getting McJesus and OEL into the lineup should be enough to get them out of the basement.

All players have a price tag . . . Gretzky, Messier, even (dare I say it) OEL.

So, in theory, yeah, if the Yotes were offered 2-3 prospects who legitimately projected as top 6 forwards/top 4 defensemen, a 1st round pick and maybe another later pick, a nice rebuilding package, you'd have to look at that.

Question is, how many teams are that desperate for an admittedly very, very good defenseman?

Otherwise, if you're the Yotes, you follow the formula that has driven most Stanley Cup teams of the last several years:

1) accumulating picks through dealing veterans that fill a need elsewhere but don't really help you be anything better than a bubble team
2) using those picks very wisely (amateur scouting)
3) making very shrewd trades and acquisitions of younger players (pro scouting)
4) smart cap management
5) holding on to legitimate franchise players (see point 4)
- John Jaeckel

Good points, but one thing to remember: The Coyotes won't ever spend to the cap, so they have to take more risk to win than a normal team.

Sam Reinhart for OEL.

Buffalo becomes a contender next year with OEL and Ristolainen. Yotes have one of the youngest, brightest center ice in the game
- sbroads24

I'd seriously have to consider that trade.

I don't follow prospects at all, but from what I understand, Matthews is 2nd only to McJesus in terms of perceived value this decade. It wouldn't be a terrible calculated risk. Getting McJesus and OEL into the lineup should be enough to get them out of the basement.
- jfkst1

Should be? hell, they aren't even in the basement now.

Good points, but one thing to remember: The Coyotes won't ever spend to the cap, so they have to take more risk to win than a normal team.
- James_Tanner

You don't take risks when it comes to a player like OEL. You build around him. It get's back to my original point, if the Coyotes won't ever spend to the cap, then it will be difficult to maintain a top team for long.

Should be? hell, they aren't even in the basement now.
- James_Tanner

Oh really? They are currently 27th in the league. That is the basement. Even you can't deny that.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/st...?season=20152016&type=LEA

Should be? hell, they aren't even in the basement now.
- James_Tanner

By 2 points

Some of these offers are downright hysterical
- Vukota

It's quality. Tanner wants Oilers only good d-man, and the 1st overall pick. Oiler fans want to ship of Reinhart, Eberle and trash for a complete d-man. Just amazing.

By 2 points
- Vukota

Canes also have 2 games in hand and the same amount of ROW. But remember they are both guaranteed to make the playoffs per Tanner.