As the Edmonton Oilers bid farewell to Rexall Place, here’s the latest collection of Oilers-related rumors from the several days.
Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins could be on the move this summer.
EDMONTON SUN: After yet another miserable season for the Oilers, Robert Tychkowski believes big changes are coming this summer. He believes rookie Connor McDavid is the only untouchable forward. Looking at the club’s poor performance over the last three season, Tychkowski believes Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins failed to make their case to stay.
TSN: (via TODAY’S SLAPSHOT): Bob McKenzie also believes the “damaged” Oilers need to be “radically altered” after this season. “Outside of Connor McDavid, and probably Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse – there’s probably no option on the table that shouldn’t be considered – at least considered if you’re Peter Chiarelli and Todd McLellan,” said McKenzie.
McKenzie’s colleague Darren Dreger reports the message he got back from speaking with Oilers brass is Connor McDavid is untouchable, while Taylor Hall is “close to untouchable.” He feels it would take a “monstrous type of deal” to pry Hall away from the Oilers.
SPORTSNET: Judging by the size of the players added to the Oilers roster over the past year by GM Peter Chiarelli, Jonathan Willis believes he wants to make them a physical club akin to the roster he built for the Boston Bruins several years ago. He notes Chiarelli also significantly reworked the Bruins blueline and will attempt to do the same with the Oilers. Willis also wonders if Chiarelli will carry over his penchant for dealing away gifted young forwards, citing the mixed results from the Phil Kessel and Tyler Seguin trades. He notes Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins were trade rumor fodder throughout this season, while Nail Yakupov is all but certain to be deal this summer.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: McDavid’s not going anywhere and I doubt Draisaitl, Nurse and Oscar Klefbom will be moved. Hall could be traded, but I concur with Dreger that the return must be huge. As in superstar number-one defenseman huge. Otherwise, they’re better off keeping Hall. Shipping him out leaves a big hole at left wing. With Yakupov on his way out, I can’t see Eberle moving too, unless they swing a separate deal for a top-six right wing.
I still believe Nugent-Hopkins is the most likely of their notable young forwards to be dealt. There was talk back in January he was offered up to the Nashville Predators for Seth Jones prior to Jones’ trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets for center Ryan Johansen. Nugent-Hopkins on his own won’t land a top-two defenseman and bundling him with Yakupov won’t help.
Packaging RNH with their 2016 first-round pick, especially if they win the draft lottery again (and piss off fans and owners of rival teams in the process), might do the trick. They could also retain that pick, select Auston Matthews and bundle up RNH and maybe Draisaitl for a top blueliner. Of course, I’m merely spitballing here. We don’t know what Chiarelli has in store, but it’s safe to say one of those good young forwards not named McDavid will be moving out this summer.
When they win the # 1 pick – again – they’ll have yet another C in the mix and in that event he’d have no problem moving two of the current C for D.
Why would McDavid been even mentioned ? Astute for the obvious. Good homework and follow up Dreger
90% of what these guys say can be classified as such, they rail and rail against fabricated straw man arguments.
In TO, we heard endless arguments from the media about how we should not expect to get OEL + ARZ 1st + Domi for Matthews if we won the lottery – it’s irrelevant babble.
The people on this forum – with the exception of the small number of posters who focus their efforts on trolling – are far more knowledgeable than most media pundits.
dan39 if you were the gm of the coyotes would you trade oel,domi and a first for Matthews who hasn’t played in the nhl? and do you really think you are more knowledgeable than bobby mac,dreger,friedman etc,etc,etc?? all you’ve ever written on here comes from what you read from the media!! lmao
Bigbear, your illiteracy is shining through again as you’ve completely missed – in fact, you’re exactly backwards – on understanding my post.
read it again dan
I read it and he pretty clearly stats that the Coyotes would never do such a deal yet the media feels the need to bring it up….hes right big bear your reading comprehension skills are lacking. (Hintity hint hint The big word that starts with a c above means you dont understand words so well)
shticky you are dan39? lol
Bigbear I didn`t have any problems understanding what he wrote
I wouldn’t be trading Draisatl and retaining Matthews if that were an option – other way round, IMO. You move RNH + the 1st unless it’s in the 4-5 slot where you take a Dman for your Dman. Yakupov is utterly irrelevant in all of this, because he doesn’t add substantial value to the package. That wouldbe more of a face-saving exercise.
As an Oilers fan, if we get the first overall pick, I’d trade Matthews and retain Draisatl. Draisatl so far is proven in the NHL and works well with Hall. Matthews is not NHL proven yet and quite frankly, the Oilers doesn’t need another prospect. They need someone who is NHL ready to help the team. Besides, the first overall pick would also draw more return then Draisatl would. Packaging the first overall pick with either RNH or Eberle would most likely get the best return the Oilers so desperately need.
I know throwing names like Hall and Eberle makes for good reading but for those of us who have followed the Oilers and watched every single losing season we also know these players don’t magically appear. Hall isn’t going anywhere so stop the press remarks! Yes Jordan’s defensive play is at times suspect but he compliments McJesus and has such skill aroundl the net. He is a pure goal scorer. Do the Oil need a number one defender….abosulety! To accomplish that in a trade would require gutting the top two lines unless they can package a another player with Nuge and perhaps their first round pick. Let’s not forget the games lost to injuries the Oilers suffered this season. People seem to forget Connor, Jordan, Klefbom, Pouliut, Yak and Nurse missed significant games this season.
The Oilers need to target team like Nashville and Minnesota who are deep on defence and thin on offence to get their top d-man.
For example Suter, who I know has a NMC but just using as an example, who is 31 and still under contract for another 9 or 10 years could be a target considering that the Wild have a bunch of young guys like Brodin, Scandella, Spurgeon, and Dumba to fill in. Also with Suters contract it COULD make resigning these young guys difficult when they become UFA’s.
Injuries are an excuse. Good teams have the depth & structure to overcome such issues. The only significant injuries were McDavid & Klefbom & Klefbom is still a wild card/prospect really, sure he would have helped but he could just as easily experienced the dreaded sophomore slump & his production in 30 games this season wasn’t really any different than what he accomplished in his 60 game rookie season.
The remainder missed nominally more time, 15 to 25 games & really in the scheme of things that’s not really any different than a ton of clubs. Eberle, will miss 13 games, Nurse didn’t even start the season in the NHL & has played 68 games as I write this. Pouliot’s injury happened with Edmonton’s season long over before he got injured. He & RNH have battled injuries for stretches over their young careers.
9 years of being brutal is a serous distinction but blaming injuries for sitting 29th in the league this season makes me laugh. I like your positive outlook though. Ha-ha!
I agree with you on that injuries are not the reason the Oilers were not in a playoff race, but RNH and Eberle are also significant players who were injured this season. Not to mention that the four of Hall, McDavid, Eberle, and RNH didn’t play together until late January or early February is also very significant. Not to mention that the Oilers also had three or four of their top 6 d-men out all at the sametime for a significant amount of time, one could say that is enough to have a big effect on where the Oilers are in the standings. They could easily be at least 4 or 5 spots higher than where they are right now.
No other team has more player games missed do to injuries this season than the Oilers. I think the Oilers have been at the top or close to it in this category for the last 5 seasons or more. One other reason Oiler fans are looking forward to the new stadium, in hopes to leave this injury curse behind at Rexall Place.
Your stupid comments make me laugh!
Man we have a lot of articles on the most insignificant team.
They only exist because they held the “Gretzky card” back in the ’79-’80 expansion.
Let’s move on… There are a whole lot more teams to discuss out there.
Oilers have first pick. Oilers screw up first pick… This is getting old. and my favorite which is yet to come… “McDavid wants out of Edmonton” Can’t wait for that one!
Your comment was old a long time ago and should of stayed behind your lips.
What team would you like to discuss.
You know you’re free to do it. Introduce the topic. Perhaps you simply prefer to reveal your bias towards a team and add nothing of substance to the conversation that you so blatantly think is worth none of your time and waste the rest of our time reading your drivel.
As for me, I’m open to any hockey conversation. Any team any player and event. Yet some of us enjoy the game in its entirety.
I agree Jeff, the Oilers are highly topical on this forum given the rumoured (inevitable?) offseason activity to come and the quality of the pieces that are likely to move. In fact, they could be the most interesting team to watch this offseason barring a draft day Matthews for x, y, z blockbuster that’s possible.
Chareli has to be willing to “loose” these trades in order to make his team better. He needs to target the specific players that address the needs of his current line up, and then make those teams that have those players offers they simply can’t refuse. That means you might have to give up a top player like Hall for only a good #2-#3 defensemen. He may loose the trade but that may be the only way to assemble the right pieces in the right places to make the team better.
Fortunately for Edmonton Charelli has recently shown a penchant for loosing trades.
My thoughts exactly. A good GM will always listen to offers on anyone that comes through (“untouchable” or not). A great GM will properly evaluate what they have and target players they feel will help play a role and improve the club and through that, make deals when they feel they’ve been offered enough value in the areas they are targeting.
In my mind, “losing the trade” is thrown around in the media too easily. If they give up Hall for a quality #2 or even #3 D, I would only consider that a loss on paper. For the Oilers, that likely is a huge win because it meets what their needs are.
very good points guys
also ppl tend to forget if on a average a team takes 10 years to rebuid, draft and win a cup
then trading 1st rounders for a player that wins it for you is worth far more than that pick, unless that player wins a cup also
I’m curious as to what number 1 or 2 Defensman you all see that might be possibly available to the Oilers if they due give up such a huge package.
In my mind RNH and their 1rst rounder is a huge offer. Hall and something and the pick would be huge. Like over paying. Unless the guy coming back is truly top talent. Who is it that might come Edmonton’s way?
The names I hear available are Shattenkirk, Vatanen, goligoski and such. Most don’t think Arizona will deal OEL. I see no way the oilers over pay for equivalent to the first 3 guys. Surely moving out RNH or Hall alone can bring back a solid Defensmen to go amongst their current crop of young guys like Nurse and Klefbom.
This has been a small part of Edmonton’s problem. It’s been said that they need to move some of this core talent. The rest of the league are waiting to gouge them. Perhaps the Oilers will finally say OK enough is enough lets over pay and give up 2 or 3 1rst round draft picked players who are solid NHLers for this Defensman.
What are the possible trade scenarios?
Jeff NOel,
Well I believe Goligoski is an unrestricted free agent anyways from my understanding so that option wouldn’t require moving any pieces but then again the Oilers still remain at the top of the league in terms of teams players put on their DO NOT TRADE list… still not an attractive place to play. Shattenkirk is an interesting option, however, the issue is the player is only signed for 1 season… is there any guarantee the player resigns in Edmonton or skips to free agency where he’ll make a huge contract. Vatanen is a nice young and upcoming option on defense but how much will they be willing to pay for him… RFA, very much a Torey Krug type player (very similar in stats over the last seasons, size, even age).
The more I think about the Oilers situation the more I can see that besides the obvious players on there way out like Yakupove (who I will always be a fan of), I can see at least 2 of Hall, Eberle, and RNH being traded out, with Hall being the one that stays. With that being said I will not be surprised to see Hall traded away if he gets the Oilers that big number 1 d-man like Lyle said.
Going through the Oilers I can see 9 other players, not including Eberle, RHN, and Yakupov, who will not be on the roster next season. With 5 of them being d-men in Ference, Fayne, Clendening, Nikitin, and either Gryba or Pardy. Also Reinhart and Oesterle will be in the AHL to start the season and will be call ups for injuries. That would leave Sekera, Davidson, Nurse, Klefbom, and either Gryba and Pardy as the seventh d-man. Add on other be shut down d-man and one top 1 or 2 d-man who can anchor the PP and the defence is set.
With that and the shake up in the core forwards with addition of size and nastiness the Oilers SHOULD be fighting for the playoffs next season.
As frustrated as all you non Oiler fans have been with how the Oilers have been the last 10 years, just imagine how us Oiler fans have been, it has not been fun. It also does take a good GM at least one full year to start to turn a team around, just like it takes a bad GM one full year to turn a good team into a bad one. Just look at what Burke did in Anaheim. Won the cup in year one then they just dropped off, with the likes of Getzlaf and Perry on the team.
Kev, I sympathize with your sentiments. Honestly, I watched the latter part of the Oilers game last night after my Leafs were done losing, and I saw a play that was a tic-tac-toe from McDavid to Draisatl to Hall/Eberle and I just wondered ‘how in the world is this team not dominant?’ and yet the results are what they are. I don’t think playoffs are out of the question next year.
its funny hearing a leaf fan sympathize with an oiler fan! both garbage teams for the past decade lol
Bigbear, it’s funny that for a long time you claimed to be a Leaf fan on this forum. Presumably, you thought your trolling would be more effective if you did, but it just reveals what a sad person you are. I know, it’s hard these days with no education.
mst what dan wrote here would be classified as trolling! I made a comment that isn’t wrong yet dan comes back with personal attack on me! lol he thinks he is smarter than everyone on hockey comment board! lmfao
bigbear is putting on a grammar clinic here
Now THAT qualifies as “trolling” under any definition.
BOth would benefit tremendously from a good defensive system & coach and a solid goaltender.
and then build dman when the become available.
prob is oilers are offense team due to stars, history, division & to sell tickets. Typically offensive only team stay are medicore at best unless of course the refs call too many penalites. still they fade in playoffs
3 Way Trade
RNH to Montreal
Pleckanec + N Juulsen+1st round 2017+2nd 2016 to St-Louis
Shattenkirk to Edmonton
Lol so essentially Edmonton is trading RNH for Shattenkirk, And there’s no way that Shattenkirk signs an extension in Edmonton Oiler fans need to give up the notion that Armstrong is moving Shattenkirk within the Western Conference that’s not happening and Edmonton not moving any of their big pieces unless Shattenkirk agrees to an extension and that’s just not happening.
Another great effort, from Tony, but where is “Lars Eller” in this scenario?
So, as I understand it, Edmonton trades RNH for Skirk (who will not resign), two firsts, and a second rounder.
Because what the Oilers really need is more Draft picks.
Because the Habs, whose farm system is already thin, would also want to give up last year’s 1st rounder, next year’s first rounder, and this year’s second rounder.
He’s a troll, Gary.
I know this is gonna sound stupid, but could someone please tell me what being a troll means? When you called tony a troll was it because you didn’t like his trade proposal? When Dan39 said that bigbear was “trolling” what does that mean?
It’s a tag some like to apply to anyone who posts something that disagrees with their observation – or is critical of their favourite team/song/movie star/political party of choice.
its a term a non educated person uses against someone else when they don’t agree with what the said ” trolls” opinion is lol dan is a perfect example of a non educated person that comes on here and thinks his opinion is above everyone elses
A troll is also a poster who just comes on to bash other teams and posters with no facts. AKA little people with a keyboard and nothing else.
It all depends on how one interprets “bash other teams and posts without facts.” I, for example, am a Sens “fan” since I feel it’s important to support a local franchise (unlike many others), but I have been highly critical of the team and certain players when and where I think it’s warranted. I will also agree with other critical posts – or disagree – at times and state why in each case. But there are some in here who can only be described as “fanatical” in their support of their favorite team and God help anyone who says ANYTHING critical about that team. No need to mention names. They – and everyone else – know who they are.
your all wrong
a troll is what some dumbass madeup to call someone who tries to antagonize you into replying multiple times while he laughs and moves on with his life, without posting ever again.
A real troller always wins like TRUMP!
Not like a wanna be like bigbear!
But then, what you just wrote qualified as “trolling” by any definition. And the “he started it” excuse is hardly cause – just like Trump who played that card in explaining his juvenile back-and-forth accusations with Cruz.
The following Dman should all potentially be available this summer in trade due to teams internal cap issue’s, pushed up against the cap, future protection issues with expansion on the horizon or simply trying to re balance their respective rosters trading from strngth to address weaknesses else where.
Vatanen, Wideman, Savard or Johnson, Brodin, Dumba, Spurgeon or Scandella, Ekholm or Ellis, Hamonic, Staal, Girardi or Klein, Shattenkirk, & possibly others.
Much depends on which format teams are looking at come expansion time. Nashville may choose to protect 8 skaters so as to retain all 4 of their best Dman there by only protecting 8 skaters & a G as opposed to the 7F, 3D & 1G.
RNH would secure many of these Dman straight up but not all partly due to his cap hit. Edm could easily add Pittsburgh’s 1st making it easy to perceive they could acquire any of the options.
The definition of trolling for me is essentially someone just weighing in to stir the pot. They make totally outlandish remarks that are ridiculous. Or they come back with such far fetched rebuttals to others that they are deliberately trying to upset another person.
Thank you, Striker, and much more concisely expressed than I could ever have done.
I try to be open to everybody’s ideas.
Incidentally, and only because I know I would appreciate it were you to correct me, if you are speaking of the 2016 Draft
then I believe that Edm holds Pitt’s 3rd Round pick.
Not the Pitt 1sr, which I believe is the property of the Leafs
Totally out to lunch on the draft pick issue actually. I meant neither. Ha-ha! I meant 2017’s 1st. I post most of this stuff from my phone & you can’t see all your text & I should be more diligent editing before hitting send.
Oilers need to make a trade with the NYI for Hamonic and also target Win for Trouba or Myers. If they get two decent D-Man they will be well on there way to respectability. Not my team by any stretch but I love watching McDavid play. They should trade Yakapov to Boston for Hayes and a prospect they need the size and the Bruins need the speed.
Being a Bruins fan I’d prefer to keep Hayes & wait to see hoe he develops into that massive frame. Given a choice of Yakupov or Hayes I’ll take Hayes never mind the prospect.
You need to factor expansion into your thought frame. Why trade to get assets you can’t potentially protect come expansion time which may only be a little over 14 months away. Losing at least 1 but most likely 2 players; I still believe Quebec will get an expansion team as well as Las Vegas.
Edm as currently structured due to a serous error in judgement advancing Draisaitl & triggering his ELC last season & trading for Reinhart are now looking at serous protection issues baring trades this summer. The 2 options for keepers come expansion are 7F, 3D & 1G or 8 skaters & a G.
At D currently Edm I assume would have to protect Sekera, Klefbom & Reinhart. They just paid a 1st 16th overall last season; NYI drafted Barzal, & a very high 2nd, 33rd overall last season; NYI moved to TB, to acquire Reinhart.
It would be pretty wild if the Oilers secured the #1 pick, again. I’m thinking there is a really good chance they land Hamonic this offseason.
If the oilers get the first pick again… I’d be suspicious… and I’m an oil fan!!
But there needs to be some moves made. We have a losing culture here and for a while it was acceptable. It arguably still is with some of the players we have. The team has some great talent but they don’t know how to win. (Winning the lottery draft doesn’t count)
With the city getting a new arena next year, the product on the ice has to be competitive… If not… well we are already the laughing stock of the league.
As the old saying goes “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” The rickety structure put up by messrs. Lowe and MacTavish needs to be disassembled first and a better foundation laid. That means from the back end out because fancy digs at the top will remain wobbly until better support is introduced. That will take time and some ingenious moves by Chiarelli to dangle the right F to get the best possible returns.
Yes, they weren’t officially in a rebuild until those clowns were gone.
I also heard that management was all for picking up Murray I believe over yakapov. But it got vetoed by the boys club. I’m not sure if he would have worked out better than yak however…. We probably would have wrecked him as well.
George.
I always thought you were an Ottawa fan, not that it matters. That was just my impression although I’m a Bruin’s fan I also like a ton of other teams most with the exception of a few as really I’m a fantasy hockey pool fan.
I am. There are 2 in here now using George so, from this point on I’m gonna be George O.
with regards to which EDM players to move…dont forget they by the time they trade (if not at draft) it will be next season and they will probably have a high 2017 draft pick to throw in for a trade bait also.
Out of the 2016 1st/ 2017 1st /driestail /hall /eberle /hopkins /yakupov nurse…id say trade eberle / yak 2017 1st and keep the rest
Id dangle 2017 1st (lottery protect) yakapov +, as a starting offer for stay at home dman or a lights out goalie + and sweeting accoringly
With PK NTC kicking in this summer and the fact the Oil want to make a significant trade..throw in the riff in the locker room..this could be an option. PK for Hall? Throw in some other pieces on both sides. .but is it crazy or legit?