How will the Edmonton Oilers winning the Connor McDavid sweepstakes affect their offseason plans? Read on for the latest speculation.
Having won the McDavid sweepstakes, could the Oilers trade one of their other young guns for defensive help?
NBC SPORTS: Jason Brough notes Oilers GM Craig MacTavish reportedly told Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Jordan Eberle earlier this month to ignore the trade rumors as they won’t be dealt, but he wonders if that’s still the case. Brough wonders if Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers first-round pick (third overall) last season, could be shopped for defensive help. MacTavish recently acknowledged he has young assets to use as trade bait and there will be teams pressed for cap space this summer looking to shed salary for affordable returns.
TSN.CA: Darren Dreger believes this presents a wonderful opportunity for the Oilers to pursue a goaltender or a top-three defenseman, perhaps by moving Leon Draisaitl. They also have the Penguins first-round pick in this year’s draft to use as a trade chip. Dreger feels the Oilers are in position to go “big-game hunting” this summer and believes the addition of McDavid could improve the Oilers’ efforts to sign free-agent talent.
ESPN.COM: Pierre LeBrun wonders if the Oilers might trade one of their young forwards this summer (“Maybe Jordan Eberle?”) to beef up their defense.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: David Staples isn’t so sure Draisaitl could be dealt, citing his size as a significant asset worth retaining in the physical Western Conference. Staples acknowledges the Oilers need a true number-one defenseman badly, so much so they’ll have to consider trading a young player not named McDavid or Nugent-Hopkins if it’ll fetch a true blueline ace. The addition of McDavid could improve the Oilers’ efforts to sign free agents.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In McDavid, the Oilers have landed a player who could become almost as important to the Oilers as Wayne Gretzky was over 35 years ago. That’s why I don’t believe MacTavish will trade him. In fact, I don’t believe there’s an offer big enough to pry the first-overall pick away from him. He knows what he’s got in McDavid and will not part with that pick.
The Oilers are loaded now with young talent at forward but are lacking skilled depth in goal, on defense and on their checking lines. Having McDavid could change the trade status of Hall or Eberle, as I doubt they’ll move Nugent-Hopkins. It could make Draisaitl or even Yakupov expendable. Packaging any one of those kids with the Penguins first-round pick and perhaps one of their promising young defensemen could fetch a significant return for the Oilers.
There are clubs which must shed salary this summer (hello there, Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Boston, to name the most notable candidates) who could be very interested in talking to MacTavish. There are also teams about to rebuild (Toronto, New Jersey, Carolina) who could also have assets to offer up.
This will be the most important summer of MacTavish’s tenure as Oilers GM. The moves he makes will determine if the Oilers finally get on the right path toward playoff contention or remain mired in mediocrity. It’s not enough to have a roster filled with two lines of exciting young forwards. If MacTavish fails to properly rebuild around these kids, they’re remain a laughingstock no matter how great McDavid is.
all i can say is i’m glad ottawa or montreal didn’t get mcdavid
ummmmmm the habs or sens couldn’t get mcdavid??
The subtleties of humour really escape you don’t they Jello?
No durt pretty sure he’s a laugh fan and was being serious not having a clue outside of the embarrassing franchise knowing as the leafs
Lots does lol
I believe ESPN summed this up perfectly. “Dysfunctional Oilers get another #1 pick”. As far as moving assets to obtain a d-man….I doubt that happens. It seems management would rather just hold on to all of these picks/youth and stay at the bottom of the standings for yet another……. high pick. How MacT and Lowe have not lost their jobs yet is beyond unbelievable.
ESPN staff couldn’t find Edmonton on a labelled map. Must have been a slow day in US college sports.
By Mcdavids reaction, I don’t think he wants to find it on a map either.
I’m just glad he stayed in Canada and won’t have to worry about getting shot or beat up by the police in the states!
LOL. Canada is crime free now? Aye aye aye……Of all the dumb comments you have had here, This has to be in the your personal top 3…..And that is a serious accomplishment.
“This has to be in YOUR personal top 3….
lmao and still doesn’t make your top 10!
FOX News is more creditable at reporting the news then ESPN reporting on hockey.
Unless there’s a complete management change over in Edtn., then I think I’d do an Eric Lindros at the draft. The entire Edtn structure from top to bottom is a mess.
Malcom Subban, Dougie Hamilton, Bostons 1st and Ryan Spooner for Edmontons #1 this year. I’d do that trade all day if I was Boston. Of course they would just trade McDavid in 3 seasons anyways…
the canes or leafs aren’t moving faulk or reilly so cant see edm wanting any other dmen from there could see macT talking to Chicago tho
I could see Edmonton management thinking Gardiner would save Shultz, who had a bad year. Perhaps leafs could do Gardiner and bernier.
Edmonton must address goalie situation. Whoever that may be.
Just ridiculous that they won the lottery by the way. Unbelievable.
That was my reaction as well. *Ridiculous*
As a Sabre fan, I expected this outcome. The NHL wants to keep teams from tanking to get the number one, but somehow they have funneled 4 number ones to Edmonton over the last few seasons. Nobody should be surprised that a dysfunctional league would railroad a generational player to a dysfunctional team. McDavid did not look thrilled at the draft lottery.
As for the Sabres, Buffalo has Eichel and Reinhart in the #1 and 2 center spots and the deepest farm system in the league. They will be OK.
Maybe we can hope he pulls an Eric Lindros?
Maybe the Oilers should hope so as well. The Lindros trade turned Quebec/Colorado into a powerhouse Stanley Cup champion.
Having Sakic, Foote, Roy, Deadmarsh, Ozolinsh, Drury Hejduk, Tanguay, etc probably helped. And I believe Forsberg was in street clothes for one of the cup wins….I think 2001? That leave Simon, and Ricci as the only other 2 players that were on the 96 team….and long gone by 2001.
Deadmarsh they got by trading Hextall, Tanquay they got from trading Ricci. Forsberg alone was a better player than Lindros. You won’t convince me that it wasn’t a great trade for Quebec/Colorado.
What a disgusting comment, you sound like a spoiled kid … The Lindros bullS*it was bad for the league
dino you just nailed NYR perfectly a spoiled kid is bang on what he sounds like thinking he is better than everyone
LOL…. @Jello, you don’t make it hard to feel superior.
@Dino….Hold on to your pants Dino…It was a joke…… Don’t worry, The Oilers will get the #1 pick, This year, next year, 2 years from that…..But how was the Lindros thing “bad for the league” and the Oilers getting every 1st rounder or top 3 for 27 years good for the league?
I thought you spoke 2 languages not just stupid?? lmao
,I do agree no matter the sport the Prima Donna aathlete that refuses to go where he was drafted is an embarrassment to the league, that being said, so is the way that the NHL conducts its draft lottery and a system that rewards teams for being terrible, the NHL takkes tanking to a whole new level compared to other sports and thats saying something. Sure so e NBA teams might not really improve over the course of a season content to get out of some cap problems but you dont see teams in anyother sport strip down with the intention to be as bad as possible and gather picks like in the NHL where 20 – 30% of league does it every year, if the league didnt want to be embarrassed by actions like this it may be helpful to change some of the rules around the draft….
Coming from a guy that can’t intelligently speak one language.
@Shticky. This is kind of my point. The league has set up a cap structure to “create parity”. Yet the current system rewards failure and punishes success. The cap keeps teams like Chicago, LA, Boston etc. from maintaining a long term successful franchise, while it rewards Edmonton with young, cost controlled players that they cannot manage…or even keep cost controlled. Edmonton was one of the teams crying the loudest about money or lack thereof (leading up to a cap)keeping them from competing. Now they hand out 6 million dollar deals to guys they should have a better handle on, and continues to give them top 3 picks year after year? If Edmonton had shown ANY growth over the last 4-5 years, or even any attempt to maybe move some assets for team needs, I wouldn’t have as much of a problem with them winning the lottery. However, they have made NO attempt to truly better themselves other than through failing and drafting.
I agree 100 %, not saying anything about McDavid or sittiting out, thats nonsense but the joke of it all is the NHL draft lottery
But he would have been smiling and doing cartwheels to go to Buffalo ?
Maybe it is just the kid’s demeanor.
Serves Buffalo right anyhow , the tank stunt was obvious and pathetic , wish they could have fallen further in the draft.
McDavid actually wanted Buffalo or Tronna and said so publicly on several occasions. He’s played alotta hockey in Buffalo so he was cool with going there.
This rebuild started almost 3 years ago, not this season.
As for the Sabres tanking – did they? you bet they did but so did other teams in the chase. Arizona was an 89 point team last year, sold off as many players as they could to finish last. Leafs tried to sell of a lot of their core at the deadline AND fired their coach when they were still in the playoff hunt. So everybody had their eyes on the prize, Sabres were one of the teams that actually committed to going for him.
Eichel is a nice consolation prize.
See the thing that really bothered me here was Murray’s bonehead comment about being disapointed….talk about lack of respect, I question this guy more, everytime he speaks.
Buffalo started rebuilding LAST season. It wasn’t like a few weeks before the deadline their GM woke up and looked at the standings and thought “Golley gee! If we lose just a few more games, we could possibly get a generational talent! Fire the staff! Trade the players! NHL basement, here we come!”. If you wanna talk about teams intentionally tanking, let’s discuss the Maple Leafs
I hope the Leafs were intentionally tanking, for 1 it may mean they are not all that bad and can turn it around a little quicker for 2 what does that say about how bad the Sabres Oilers and Coyotes are? Sad thing is I dont think they were..lol
So are you saying it was a fix? Or what is your point?
Yes it’s ridiculous Edmonton won, but I don’t see how it has anything to do with the league trying to prove a point. The rules and odds were set before the season started.
Totally agree Buffalo is in great shape. Plus we have a lot picks and cap space
I think it is best right now for the Oilers to go and dangle the Pens 1st & Draisiatl for a return that can improve their defense … The real question out there is who is obtainable?
Phoenix probably shopping Yandle, who offensively pairs nicely with the kids up front. I don’t see the teams looking to shed salary parting with a defense man of note this offseason either. As a precursor to this I am not a Leafs fan, in fact I dislike them. But JVR & Phaneuf could be good targets for the Oilers.
I think the Rangers would be furious if Phoenix shops Yandle. They’d probably want at least Duclair back.
I don’t think Phoenix would care about Yandle but Arizona might wonder WTF how many times do we get to trade this guy.
LOL the Rangers would definitely be pissed if Arizona shopped Yandle. MacT could offer the Pens #1, Draisaitl and Nurse for OEL. Then offer the Canucks their 2015 2nd and 3rd and their 2016 1st for Eddie Lack.
LOL. If they do shop him NY will just ask for Duclair back. They can keep J.Moore free of charge.
JJB – Last Time I looked Keith Yanddle was already traded to the Rangers.
The Penguins first and a lower a mid prospect for Talbot from NYR will be a good start. Right now I believe that the bigger need is a goalie. The Oilers can always package their 2016 1st with a young player for a d-man.
it was really important for the league that a former WHA team land McDavid.
Another player for Edm to destroy. What a f`n farce of a draft. And yes, I`m a Leaf fan but had realistic expectations that we wouldn`t get the 1st but Edm. Come on, I`d rather him go to Arizona or Buffalo, who could actually use him properly. I`m utterly disgusted.
Many here seem to know what the future will bring.
Any thoughts on the price of oil or the stock market?
Most economist believe you should stay away from Oil, both in the stock market and free agency. They are expected to reach all time lows by August 1st.
Economists say you stay away from Oil when it is reaching an all time low? Seems like the time to buy in to me.
mawman… don’t mind nyr his thinking is way above ours! lol
Says the guy with the 4th grade education…. I think I just offended every 4th grader on the planet.
Jello is offensive to far more people than just 4th graders…you under value him.
oh the 2 genius have spoken everyone listen and agree!! lmao
“The 2 genius”….? LOL….I’ll let you figure that one out on your own.
LMFAO!! you fixed another spelling error on a hockey chat fourm!!LMFAO
LOL….When you try and insult someone, at least TRY to get it right.
I just try to do it in your prime language stupid!! lol
You need to get out more Jello. I really am starting to worry about you. You seem WAY too lonely.
Well the worst possible situation just unfolded And did you see the look on Mcdavids face. Look im not about to say the fix was in or Edmonton doesn’t deserve it. It is what it is. The thing was I was all set that buffalo was winning the lottery and Edmonton would take Hanifin and the Leafs Would Take Stome,That was my hope. Now, Arizona not at least getting Eichel Means Strome Will almost certainly will be gone when the leafs make their pick. So who do they pick? I think the Leafs must ,must pick Hanifin the highest rated Dman in the draft. But more importantly he’s a big Dman in the same breath as Jones or ekblad. but above those two has the leadership qualities to be a future Captian. Now I know that Marner is a little dynamo of talent, The leafs don’t need another small forward prospect who looks a lot like another possible sam gagne imo. If Strome is no available, Then the prospects of a Hanifin/Rielly 1,2 (think possible future Keith,Seabrook pairing)is to good to pass up. And besides Edmonton now has a log jam of top good young centers, May be the leafs make a trade that might land them Leon Draisaitl and the Oilers getting Phanuef.
Leebird76 from a Leafs prospective this is probably the second best possible outcome. Arizona owns the rights to Marner’s linemates in London (Max Domi and Christian Dvorak). The fact that they aren’t picking in the top two gives us the biggest chance of them reuniting that line and the Leafs getting Dylan Strome. Obviously not a sure bet, most have Marner in the top 5 but not all…anything can happen. But if you want Strome, there’s still a big chance he’s still there at 4.
marner wont go in the top 5
Jello, 8 out of the 11 draft rankings I’ve seen have Marner in the top 5. So I’m listening to what paid scouts are saying, not you.
I could see Hunter taking Marner easy enough…not what I hope but certainly plausible, lots of teams tend to take skilled forwards over D men and some are already talking about Hanifin dropping so Id say Marner is just about a lock for top 5 or 6
and durt you think he will go top five so its pretty certain he wont
I never said it was a sure thing Marner would be picked in the top 5 Jello, only that most scouts have him ranked there. And the chances of Arizona picking him will be greater than Edmonton had they not won the Lotto. But hey, maybe I can borrow your crystal ball some time…
and you know those websites aren’t scouts for nhl teams right?
lol no but I am sure everyone here is certain you are neither a scout or working somewhere in the nhl Jello. Thats kinda the point.
He may not get back to us right away NYR despite saying he was a lucky enough scout to get tickets to game 2 in Montreal 3 days ago I am sure the Habs have sent him on the Jello-copter to start scouting the next series, he is probably on his way to New York Detroit or Tampa….jezus.
Well if 50/50 is a big chance. Arizona has as big a need for a big bodied center as we do. I don’t believe that GMs draft players based on the their relationship in junior. they will draft based on the best talent available. And Hanifin and strome are rated higher early in the draft. Its just wishful thinking that Strome falls to 4th. Now I do see them trading down a spot maybe two if Marner is who they target, Collecting some more assets and still drafting the player they want. The second best out come would’ve been the seeding’s remain the same, Edmonton drafting Hanifin and the leafs Strome. But I hope the leafs get lucky and strome falls to to 4th
I’m fine with the Leafs drafting Hanifin if the Yotes take Strome, the blueline needs a top pairing guy and if they were set on taking a big center Pavel Zacha is a beast who I feel was a little overlooked this year with some injuries and suspensions. Not sure there is as big a drop off as soome think between him and Strome, Zacha is easily faster and more physical and Sarnia had nowhere near the talent that Strome was playing with in Erie…not saying Zacha is better just saying its not like he is a total fall off from Strome, the guy kinda plays like Backes or Kopitar, not flashy but a hard mean game with some skill. Almost exactly what the Leafs could use. Well over 6 ft and over 200lbs. Hanifin would be my first choice but Id be ok with Zacha.
I cant believe im saying this shticky!! lol but I totally agree about zacha he could be steal
From scouting reports throughout the season, it seems that teams in the top five or six will find it pretty hard to screw up at the draft. I’m looking forward to seeing this group of prospects as they mature – they sure sound good – and Hanifin would be a great pick imo. Same for Strome and Marner and on and on.
It was just a crazy year in the OHL I found myself going to games in Bellville and a couple games in Oshawa and Ottawa to see some of these kids this year as the world jr stuff. normally I just stick to seeing them here in Kingston or Belllville… but with how bad the Leafs were I couldnt bring myself to spend the money on those tickets so…lol anyway hope the Leafs can find away to pick up another top 10 pick to go with that 4…be a great way and year to start a rebuild.
Forget McDavid pulling a Lindros I think Eichel should refuse to go to Buffalo. Tim Murray is being an A-hole about this situation. This kid Eichel is going to be a superstar and the way Murray is publicly handling his future star is counterproductive. I get it disappointed you didn’t get McDavid. You knew this was a possibility have a statement ready and some kind of poker face would you. All Eichel hears is McDavid is going #1 and he’s better this way or that way. He doesn’t need this crap from his future GM too. Go back to BU for one more year or pull a Lindros.
Not sure if you watched his interview or not, but Murray stated that he was still excited for Eichel. He also said he was disappointed about not getting the 1st overall, which every other GM was since there team didn’t get it. Murray had nothing but good things to say about Eichel. Eichel has also already publicly stated that he’d be excited to play for Buffalo, and there’s a video of the kid drunkenly saying, “I’m coming for you Buffalo.” (Then he slams a beer, kid is a beauty)…so I don’t think Eichel would pull a Lindros, bub.
As a german I hope Draisaitl gets traded out of Edmonton to a franchise able to develop their young players well.
@Lyle: How long does it take to be draft eligleble again or to be a FA for a player if he refuses to sign with the team that drafted him? Not that I expect that to happen with Eichel and Buffula, I’m just curious!
Buffalo….
3 years juss
Thanks jello!
draisatl to det for jimmy howard and xavier oulette
or
Hall and pouliot for howard mantha this years first and oulette
cant see oilers wanting anything to do with howard avg nhl goalie at best
If the D prospects continue to develop properly I think that an avg NHL goalie helps out the Oilers a bunch…its much better than they have now.
Yeah, but an average goalie for Draisatl, I don’t think so. Ward isn’t worth Draisatl let alone Howard.
This is probably true.
bang on kevjam
… AND a $5+ mil cap hit to 2018-19!
If I managed the oilers I’d put RNH on the trade block. I like the size Driastle brings and would not want to move either Hall or Eberle. I’m curious where my logic fails.
Hey Lyle why do not you beleive the oilers will move RNH?
On another note, The Sens need a top line Centre and have extra goal tenders, d and forward depth to move. I wonder if there is a deal to be made to bring RNH or Driastle to the actions capital. The oilers may not even need to add the pittsburgh pick.
Then again, my assertion that Lack and Jones are the preferred Backups to be given stater jobs hasn’t changed, Lack on the Caucks lately has on solidified my belief in him, a deal one of the two oiler centre men may make this happen as well.
Oiler town is going to be fun to watch this summer. Oh and no Reimer won’t be going there.
Sorry typing on my Ipad causes me more issues than normal and I have lots of typing issues.
I meant to ask Lyle why he thought the Oilers would not move RNH.
Keeping RNH means the Oilers now have two top-line center for both scoring lines. Such centers are scarcer than hen’s teeth. Oilers won’t part with RNH and risk Draisaitl struggling to fill the void.
I totally agree. Keep RNH and put Draistle in the AHL for atleast one season along with Nurse. That should only improve Draistle’s stock and next offseason his worth should increase and the Oilers could get more for him then. This year use the Penguins 1st round pick, the Oilers 2016 1st round pick, Yakupove and/or mid level prospects to get the goalie the Oilers need. There are some interesting d-men the are UFA this offseason, ie Mike Green, to work on the defence.
I see, Draisaitl potential is not yet ascertained. He is still much a project. I thought he was further along and likely be in the league next year and would be a good power forward Centre.
Hmmmm….Perhaps the Oilers need to hold on to both and give it time to see who they should move.
Whatever they do I predict the Oilers are playoff bound next year.
“The Oilers are loaded now with young talent at forward but are lacking skilled depth in goal, on defense and on their checking lines.”
They have been awful and picked 1st overall 4 times in 6 years (including coming draft) and outside of those players they have nothing. McDavid is not gonna fix that. Hopefully it does help them attract some decent UFA’s this year. I don’t hate Edmonton but either most NHL players do or they have had a more dysfunctional front office than the leafs have had.
I disagree. MacDavid can fix a lot of things for them. The biggest is remove the reservations that management has had to trade one of these young top draft picks. Now they can consider moving Hall, RNH, Eberle or Yakupov. They can also look at moving prospects that they were waiting to move in as MacDavid is likely to be NHL ready next year. So Players like Draistle can be on the table with little reservation as they have an elite talent to fill any how they move.
I also think it will attract coaches. The Chance to coach the Next Crosby, Tavares, Stamkos, Ovechkin must be tempting.
I also think it can only help to attract free agents to their team. Edmonton has long been the team most wanted to go to least. Perhaps the possibility of being a winner or a perrenial cup contender may perk some players interest.
The fear I have is in a few years they sell him to the south.
Sell him to the South? Or he runs for the border at the 1st opportunity? McDavid fixes nothing in Edmonton. Nothing. Unless he can play d or goalie? Yak has little to no value. He isn’t bringing back a #1-2 d-man. Not even combined with a 1st rounder. ( Pouliot, outscored Yak, Playing 23 less games) Unless they are willing to part with Hall, RNH or Eberle, They aren’t getting a true #1 or #2 guy. And they may even want to consider “over paying” with one or more Draisaitl, Eberle and a 1st…For a #1 -2 d-man. Trade Pitts 1st for a goaltender. Start SOMEWHERE! Look at Florida and the NYI’s as a example how to improve your team over night. Defense, Goal tending.
On the bright side for Buffalo, this is why it was so important to finish last, to protect one of the two top picks. If the trade with wpg doesn’t happen, there would’ve been a good chance myers and Stafford help the Sabres pickup 3 additional pts, pushing them ahead of Arizona and subsequently losing out on both 1st and 2nd. Don’t be surprised if Eichel is an all around better player, he plays a more physical game. He’s an American playing in the states which lacks the media attention of a Canadian playing in the OHL. Either way sound like one potentially great asset to have.
Well what’s the media now saying in Philly Scott? Are they trading Matt Read and The Schenn brothers for the Oilers first ? Has Babcok bought his new home in Philly?
BAHAHAHAHAHANAHAHAHA
Yes????
big win for the islanders caps rely to much on one line
maybe the Oilers try Draisaital on the wing ? every NHL team has wingers that were natural centers converted to play wing. I can see Yakupov on the block.
I would prefer the Oilers send him down to the AHL for one season.
for sure send him to Ok City to learn to play the wing.
Actually it’s no longer OKC, it’s Bakersfield. The AHL has expanded to include a Pasific division.
Taylor Hall for Tuuka Rask.
Boston is trying to get under the cap, not farther over it.
Also, Boston has nobody to replace Rask with.
Pretty sure Rask makes as much as Taylor. Goalies show up all over the place play one and if you need an upgrade make a move at deadline.
Your right, Rask has a 7mil cap hit and Hall has a 6mil cap hit, but still Boston has no body to replace Rask with.
What about a dion, bernier and panik to Edmonton for drasaitl, Purcell, nitkan and Pitts 1st trade? Maybe Babcock ends up in Edmonton then?
I don’t think any trade involving Dion would be good for the Oilers. He makes to much for to long. His cap hit would hand-cuff the Oilers in the long run. It’s not the matter of the Leafs retaining any salary, it’s just the fact that his cap hit is to much.
On one hand I’m glad Buffalo didn’t get the #1 pick. They were blatantly tanking the season in the hopes of getting McDavid and it didn’t work. That being said the fact Edmonton got him is another sign of the whole system not working and needs to be rejigged so that all non-playoff teams have equal chance at the #1 pick. It’s also the only sure-fire way to prevent tanking.
As a Habs fan I was so Happy to see Connor Mcdavid go to the Oilers instead of the Sabres or Leafs because no Hockey Player wants to play in those Markets because they would be blamed for everything but the HABS will lift the Cup this year