So....... LD/Bear/Spooner (cap reasons) for Parayko/Schwartz?

STL would want Jones, but I'd most likely say no to that.
- EdmHockeyMan

Switch Schwartz with Tarasenko. Then yes, even if they want Jones.

Fandom isn't something I pride myself on, but alas, the reality of it for many is that you connect with a franchise for some reason or another (Hemsky and the colour scheme in my case) and pretty much imprint on it into your mind/heart. It's not something you can always just throw away. Interesting to hear that Flames fan's can so easily throw aside their fandom and cheer for their rivals.

Further, this isn't loyalty to the people that run this stuff, if anything it's a loyalty to a brand/logo that you grew up with. That logo represents a team that fulfills part of our innate human desire to tribalize and compete by proxy rather than actually doing so... and tearing apart the fabric of modern society in the process. It's similar to how religion and things like gladiatorial combat allowed people to congregate and build their identity into a collective with a unified goal.
- MaximumBone

Well put Maxbone.

I must admit that the Oilers are testing me mightily though. If next season is more of the same, well...

Well put Maxbone.

I must admit that the Oilers are testing me mightily though. If next season is more of the same, well...
- Wildschwein

I agree, but I'd characterize that as more of a turning away from them rather than throwing it away. You'd be ignoring them in favour of the Isles who you seem to already have as a backup.

I know in a lot of ways the +- stat is useless but I had a good laugh when I seen Benning has the teams best +- at +7......I did find a positive tho....our PP sits at 9th in the league...there I did my positive stat of the day (PK ranks 30th)
- RatedR80

That's because Benning has value when placed in a proper role. Not that the Oilers will recognize that. Benning trade announced in T-minus 4, 3, 2, 1...

Its time to move some ugly salaries with draft picks and prospects, and bury some others in the minors. Its going to be a rough offseason but at least next year we will have cap flexibility.

Fandom isn't something I pride myself on, but alas, the reality of it for many is that you connect with a franchise for some reason or another (Hemsky and the colour scheme in my case) and pretty much imprint on it into your mind/heart. It's not something you can always just throw away. Interesting to hear that Flames fan's can so easily throw aside their fandom and cheer for their rivals.

Further, this isn't loyalty to the people that run this stuff, if anything it's a loyalty to a brand/logo that you grew up with. That logo represents a team that fulfills part of our innate human desire to tribalize and compete by proxy rather than actually doing so... and tearing apart the fabric of modern society in the process. It's similar to how religion and things like gladiatorial combat allowed people to congregate and build their identity into a collective with a unified goal.
- MaximumBone

He is the reason why I started watching the Oilers back in '05. I bought his alternate jersey from '06 (one with the gear) too. Loved that jersey scheme. I never know why they didn't keep it.

I agree, but I'd characterize that as more of a turning away from them rather than throwing it away. You'd be ignoring them in favour of the Isles who you seem to already have as a backup.
- MaximumBone

True enough, though I've actually been debating whether to make the Isles my "A" team as opposed to my "B" team. The earlier starts and lack of broadcast blackouts make it both tempting and somewhat logical.

True enough, though I've actually been debating whether to make the Isles my "A" team as opposed to my "B" team. The earlier starts and lack of broadcast blackouts make it quite tempting.
- Wildschwein

I wouldn't think less of you for it So long as you don't stop coming around here, that is. If you did that, I'd have to resent you.

- ChonDerry

That's because Benning has value when placed in a proper role. Not that the Oilers will recognize that. Benning trade announced in T-minus 4, 3, 2, 1...
- MaximumBone

Nah. They'd waive him.

I don't think there's any chance in hell that Panarin comes to Edmonton. At least Stone is Manitoba-born and would fit with the "hard work" #OilersCulture.
- MaximumBone

This will most likely be the case.

Talks are back on with Nenshi and the Flames brass about a new arena. Nenshi can’t hide anymore. It’s now a regular topic in the paper, on TV, on Radio and the interwebs. Every bodies light a fire under Nenshi’s asś to get this going. Plus with the new influx of old Oilers fans coming over, it will get done.
- Flamin_Irishmin

Calgary needs to boot out Nenshi

I wouldn't think less of you for it So long as you don't stop coming around here, that is. If you did that, I'd have to resent you.
- MaximumBone

Well the Oilers would still be my "B" team, so you'd still have to put up with lovable antics.

Switch Schwartz with Tarasenko. Then yes, even if they want Jones.
- Wildschwein

LD/Jones/Spooner for Parayko/Tarasenko? I'd definitely do that. Don't think STL would though unless they're sold on Jones.

LD/Jones/Spooner for Parayko/Tarasenko? I'd definitely do that. Don't think STL would though unless they're sold on Jones.
- EdmHockeyMan

What about the Rangers? They'll need a legitimate top 6 C next season.

Kreider, Skjei and Buchnevich for Draisaitl, Jones and Spooner/Manning?

This will most likely be the case.

RNH-McD
&
Panarin-LD

though.... damn is that good. Fill in the gaps with upcoming players in Benson, Yamo, Pulj, and possibly Marody. Hell, even Khaira deserves a solid shot at cracking the top 6 at this point.


- EdmHockeyMan

We couldn't even afford him save for those aforementioned hypothetical, worst case scenarios of trading the big boys. Instead we'd have:

Zucker- Zibanejad- Buch
Benson- Trocheck- Stone
Borgstrom- Howden- Coyle
Khaira- Gambo- Kassian

That's a pretty wholesale change over a single offseason and a good chance at three competitive scoring lines. We'd use our 1st this year on the best scoring C we could get and then build.

What about the Rangers? They'll need a legitimate top 6 C next season.

Kreider, Skjei and Buchnevich for Draisaitl, Jones and Spooner/Manning?
- Wildschwein

I wouldn't do that. Rather keep LD/Jones.

Well the Oilers would still be my "B" team, so you'd still have to put up with lovable antics.
- Wildschwein

Praise be unto Lord Larsson!

What about the Rangers? They'll need a legitimate top 6 C next season.

Kreider, Skjei and Buchnevich for Draisaitl, Jones and Spooner/Manning?
- Wildschwein

I don't think either side makes that trade.

We couldn't even afford him save for those aforementioned hypothetical, worst case scenarios of trading the big boys. Instead we'd have:

Zucker- Zibanejad- Buch
Benson- Trocheck- Stone
Borgstrom- Howden- Coyle
Khaira- Gambo- Kassian

That's a pretty wholesale change over a single offseason and a good chance at three competitive scoring lines. We'd use our 1st this year on the best scoring C we could get and then build.
- MaximumBone

My apologies, for a moment I forgot that you dismantled the team and traded the big boys when writing that post. I'll recorrect the initial post.

Regardless, getting Panarin and Bob with that cap space would be a huge boost.
Nonetheless, settling for Stone isn't bad by any means.

Or go after Panarin & Bob if they hit F/A.

Stone is good too.
- EdmHockeyMan

I actually believe the rumours that the panthers will get both during the off season

I don't think either side makes that trade.
- MaximumBone

Guess that makes it fair.

I actually believe the rumours that the panthers will get both during the off season
- RatedR80

If they do.... They'll be a really hard team to beat.

My apologies, for a moment I forgot that you dismantled the team and traded the big boys when writing that post. I'll recorrect the initial post.

Regardless, having Panarin and Bob with that cap space would be a huge boost.
Nonetheless, settling for Stone isn't bad by any means.
- EdmHockeyMan

I might honestly prefer Stone to Panarin- even ignoring likely cost. That's not to say Panarin isn't an exceptional player and a more talented player than Stone, but he doesn't bring the kind of balanced two-way game that Stone does. There's some potentially valid fears that Stone's game will degrade sooner because of "the big guy effect", but I'm not worried about that. He doesn't hit very much, has pretty much always been an average of below skater and has still managed to keep scoring and defending as the league has gotten faster.

I mean, you could probably build a whole top-6 just from the returns you'd net from McDavid and Drai. If you want a Dman in one of those returns, maybe send Nurse with 'em. McDavid is also an opportunity to clear some other dead weight.

If we were to try to envision McDavid and Draisaitl trades, what would it look like?

Draisaitl to Florida for Trocheck and Borgstrom?

McDavid and Sekera to the Rangers for Zibanejad, Howden, K. Miller and Buchnevich?

Nuge, Puljujarvi and Spooner for Zucker and Coyle.

Acquire Gudas.

Half-retained Lucic buyout

Chiasson, Rieder, Petrovic and Talbot out for whatever picks you can get.

Zucker- Zibanejad- Coyle (14mil)
Benson- Trocheck- Buch (9.5mil)
Khaira- Howden- Borgstrom (4 mil)
NHL Vet- Gambo- Kassian (4mil)
Tweeners and proven vets

Klefbom- Larsson (8.3mil)
Nurse- Gudas (6.5mil)
Gravel- Benning (2.9mil)
Russell, Persson

Stacked D prospect pool with Jones, K. Miller, Bouchard, Bear, Lagesson, Berglund, Samorukov, etc

Leaves around 17-20 mil in cap space with which to ACTIVELY pursue Stone and a good 1A goalie. If there were a way to guarantee Stone, I might even take these drastic measures.
- MaximumBone

If you want to envision and true McDavid trade look no further than the Eric Lindros trade.

Quebec Nordiques - Steve Duchesne Peter Forsberg Ron Hextall Kerry Huffman Mike Ricci, Chris Simon, 1993 1st round pick, 1994 1st round pick and $15M cash.

Philadelphia Flyers - Eric Lindros

Now let's assume the Oilers put McDavid on the market... you would have an epic bidding war. If the Oilers made your suggested trade with the Rangers it would go down as one of the worst trades in NHL history.