Jordan Belfort Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Earlier in the season when the Oilers were still somewhat in contention for a playoff spot Craig Mactavish was quoted several times saying the teams first round pick would be in play if they could obtain some immediate help on the blue-line and/or in goal. The Oilers now sit 29th in the league, four points ahead of the last place sabres and five points behind 28th place Flames. If all stays the same they would be picking 2nd come June. Every year it seems like Edmonton is stuck in the same position, holding on to a high pick in the draft and struggling with the decision as to whether or not it should be traded. They have continually made the same choice and kept the pick only to have the same results in the next season. My question is have the Oilers learned from their mistakes and realized that they require bonafide NHLers in their line-up or will they continue to stock up on elite-level prospects now that they have played their way into a top 5 pick? I feel like the sticking point will be whether or not Ekblad is drafted first overall, or whether he is still available by the time Edmonton is on the clock. He seems by all accounts to be a franchise defenseman in the future, and looks physically ready to play in the NHL next year. The pick however would be sure to garner a lot of value through trade ecspecially if it was packaged with another asset like Eberle, Yakupov, or Gagner. So there it is, will the Oilers trade the pick? Who would be interested and what woul the estimated return be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 If Edmonton nets that 1st overall via lottery they're drafting Ekblad without question. If they fall to the 2nd overall or 3rd overall pick it depends on if they trade someone like Gagner, Eberle or the like. Gotta figure out which would net the best return. Basically you have to ask, who in the league has a stud bonafide young Winger, Center or D man they'd be willing to give up for a 1st round pick in the top 3 of a shallow draft. And then if that player would help the club long term more than a solid stud D prospect would Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. White Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 They would be stupid to not wait and see if they can snag Ekblad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
It's a process Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 1st overall + a young gun should get them a pretty good big center Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Prediction: Ekblad will never put on an Oiler jersey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowYaDrouin Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 If I'm MacT right now, I'm calling up Tim Murray and asking what it would cost to trade up to #1 to draft Ekblad, if Buffalo has no interest then I could see them trading down to 15-16 to take McKeown or Honka. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan Belfort Posted January 30, 2014 Author Share Posted January 30, 2014 If I'm MacT right now, I'm calling up Tim Murray and asking what it would cost to trade up to #1 to draft Ekblad, if Buffalo has no interest then I could see them trading down to 15-16 to take McKeown or Honka. If I was Edmonton I wouldn't be trying to give up anymore assets than I have to, they need them all to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raffi Torres's Smirk Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Buffalo drafted Zadorov and Ristolainen last year, I dont see them drafting Ekblad. Crazier things have happened though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thad Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Maybe if it was the ninth or tenth pick. Doubt they'd trade another first overall. Might as well just draft ekblad and be a little more patient, as hard as that sounds. When him and nurse are anchoring the blue line behind yak nuge hall ebs, As hard as it is to believe, they might actually be really good soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan Belfort Posted January 30, 2014 Author Share Posted January 30, 2014 Buffalo drafted Zadorov and Ristolainen last year, I dont see them drafting Ekblad. Crazier things have happened though. They also have Meyers and Ehrhoff which raises the point that the Sabres might look more towards Reinhart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caboose Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Sabres need scoring, they will draft Reinhart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowYaDrouin Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Like i said, I could see them moving up to #1 just to make sure that buffalo doesn't try to screw them by drafting Ekblad, knowing they have no use for Reinhart. Wouldn't cost much outside of the #2 pick.. #2 + Horak for #1 or something along those lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronalds.Kenins41 Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Prediction: Ekblad will never put on an Oiler jersey. 100% certainty that happens. Totally agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangelos Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Buffalo drafted Zadorov and Ristolainen last year, I dont see them drafting Ekblad. Crazier things have happened though. You draft the best player available for trading purposes later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billabong Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 Best case scenario, ekblad doesn't become the player they hope him to be 3-4 years from now... Can edm fans wait that long? I think this 1st ovr pick if it falls to edm has a real good at being moved for a stud defenseman 2-3 years into their development What if the subban/mtl contract talks go real sour? That would make things real interesting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowYaDrouin Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 PK's not leaving... There would be a revolution in MTL if PK was traded... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan Belfort Posted January 30, 2014 Author Share Posted January 30, 2014 I feel like Nashville is a very intriguing team as far as having the assets to trade for that pick. They are obviously in rebuilding mode and as it stands they would have the 8th overall pick (which would be within striking distance of Haydn Fleury the second highest ranked defensive prospect). Poile has said that they are certainly looking for offense. Having two top ten picks would do wonders for them. Package Eberle, Nurse, and the 2nd overall pick for Shea Weber. The Preds would go forward with Forsberg, Eberle, Reinhart or Ekblad, Jones, and Nurse as their star players, as well as whoever they draft at that 8th spot. Plus freeing up some cap space would let them make a splash in free agency (maybe a d-man like girardi?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoneypuckOverlord Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 It's never in play. They are just wasting other gms time by saying it's available and to see what others will give up for it. This is were I appreciate Brian Burke when he said his pick is going to be moved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 I feel like Nashville is a very intriguing team as far as having the assets to trade for that pick. They are obviously in rebuilding mode and as it stands they would have the 8th overall pick (which would be within striking distance of Haydn Fleury the second highest ranked defensive prospect). Poile has said that they are certainly looking for offense. Having two top ten picks would do wonders for them. Package Eberle, Nurse, and the 2nd overall pick for Shea Weber. The Preds would go forward with Forsberg, Eberle, Reinhart or Ekblad, Jones, and Nurse as their star players, as well as whoever they draft at that 8th spot. Plus freeing up some cap space would let them make a splash in free agency (maybe a d-man like girardi?). Shea Weber in Edmonton. I just shuddered.. for his career's sake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForsbergTheGreat Posted January 30, 2014 Share Posted January 30, 2014 You draft the best player available for trading purposes later. I think that philosophy has lost its appeal the last few years. Unless there's a crosby in the draft Players in the 1-4 are all a gamble on which player ends up being better. 5-10 again who knows, Then once you hit past 15 it's a shot in the dark. The player you think is the best may not be the become the best. Look at what happened last year with Seth Jones who was rated #1 overall ended up dropping down to #4. Look at the oilers who drafted the best player each year instead of drafting to team needs they've got 3 high offence players. Imagine what that team would look like if they drafted Seguin, Landeskog and traded down the 1st round (yakupov) pick to say the 15th-20th pick for some team needs plus decent draft pick. Unless the pick is a can't miss player, you draft what your team needs our and if there's no one available that helps your needs you trade for more value. As an example I can easily see Oilers trading their pick away if say they end up 3rd overall and Ekblad is taken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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