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I asked Oilers fans on Twitter if the Oilers should draft Darnell Nurse, Rasmus Ristolainen, Elias Lindholm or if they should deal the pick for an immediate player. The answer? Immediate help.

I didn't even suggest whom the Oilers should deal the pick for. Almost everyone said deal the pick.

Let's face it: Oilers fans are tired of losing.

When Oilers GM Craig MacTavish hired new Head Coach Dallas Eakins, he was more or less looking in the mirror. Eakins is going to handle this team in a very-MacT way. What does that mean exactly?

1. He's going to establish a clear group of "go-to" guys. Expect it to be the people you'd think he would: Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Oscar Klefbom, Sam Gagner, Justin Schultz, Nail Yakupov and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins weren't all 1st overall picks for no reason. These are guys who hate losing. They hated old, crusty vets on the Oilers who seemed too comfortable with losing, because losing is unacceptable to them. Eakins has an off-the-charts level of compete as a coach, so he's going to favor players who have the same level of focus.

2. Eakins is also going to have goats. Remember MacT with Dustin Penner? Penner was the worst 30 goal scorer in the league, according to MacTavish. I suspect guys like Magnus Paajarvi might be in real trouble with Eakins, because Paajarvi comes off as being mellow and relaxed. Maybe I'm wrong about him. Eakins could potentially not be a fan of Devan Dubnyk too. You can only say "oh" like a baby deer so many times before someone wants to club you with one of those little bats. If Tim Thomas wasn't completely insane, that's the type of goalie Eakins would want.

3. Eakins is going to like a few blue-collar guys, just because. I suspect Nick Schultz is going to be adored, because he's the poster-child for blue collar. The Oilers are basically going to be replacing their entire Bottom 6 this summer...I suspect it will be a bunch of guys Eakins and MacT have loved from afar over the years. A who's who of welders, plumbers, and maybe even a pipefitter. Guys that are, in actual terms, not going to help the Oilers at all, but we'll still add them just because they're enduring. Hey, if Ryan Jones can be the most loved Oiler because of his hair...


Getting back to the draft pick and what happens...I am sure some "talented" writer like Gregor or Willis has a blog recently showing the historic success rate of draft picks in the 6-10 range. I'll save you some time and explain a 7th overall pick isn't a #5 or better pick. Not even close. The only thing changing the situation this time around is the draft is deeper, so the #7 might be more of a #4 or #5 comparatively-speaking.

But if you're MacT and DeK...Can I call him "DeK"?...there's some validity in dealing the pick for a player or players that will fit the personality type you want for the team. I'll give you an example, but in saying this, I'm not suggesting this deal is possible...It's just an example.

Nazem Kadri. Eakins worked with this guy a bunch in the AHL, and you saw the results of his work this past season, Kadri, who was drafted with huge promise but was thought by many to be a disappointment, all of a sudden turned into a Top 6 forward. Every time I saw Kadri play last season I thought he was tremendous. His work ethic and his desire to win was obvious. The Oilers don't really need to add a Kadri, but you get my point. If you're the Oilers and if you can pick between an immediate Top 6 forward or Top 4 defenseman vs. a #7 pick that may or may not work out...This time around, maybe you go with an immediate player.

I know you folks want to know some names. I'll start with the Leafs. Bob Stauffer on his show suggested it would take more than Jake Gardiner to get the Oilers pick. Would the Leafs do Gardiner + Kulemin (considering his contract situation)? Or would Joe Colborne + Gardiner work? Eakins knows this team, so he'll know who to package with Gardiner to make this a great deal.

I mentioned one of Brayden Schenn or Sean Courturier before. I don't see how just the Oilers pick gets you either, but there you go. It's just a suggestion. Couturier makes the Oilers sexy at center for the next 5-8 seasons.

Does the Oilers pick get you John Carlson out of Washington? Maybe. Maybe not. I like Carlson a whole bunch, although he's right handed D and the Oilers have infinity+1 of those.

What about Columbus and center Ryan Johansen? It doesn't seem like he's developing the way they want him to. Columbus is drafting half the players in the 1st round, anyway. They might as well add another pick.

Kris Letang is a UFA at the end of next season, and I'm not sure the Penguins have the cash to re-sign him under the cap. The only way you make this deal if you're the Oilers is if Letang immediately signs an extension. The only way you make this deal if you're the Penguins is if you have much more than just the Oilers pick coming in a deal. Letang is golden.

I have all kinds of time for Brent Burns from San Jose, especially if he's playing defense for the Oilers. He's mean. The Oilers have a tough guy in Smid, but no one who is mean.

Speaking of defensemen, the Kings are going to have a huge cap mess on their hands this summer, and Slava Voynov needs a new contract. He outplayed Drew Doughty in the playoffs, so he's a good $5mil+ per season re-sign over a long-term deal. Maybe the Kings, who have a decent D prospect or two sitting around, can deal with the Oilers again now that the Tambellini smell is gone.

If Dustin Brown would sign a long-term deal, I could see him in a trade to Edmonton. I love that guy. He'll do anything to win.

Michael Del Zotto from the Rangers? I'm just throwing names out there, friends.

Or, or, or...What if the Sabres decided Tyler Myers was expendable. The Oilers would need to give up more than just the pick to get him, but think about it. Maybe Smid + the pick? It's worth a phone call.

Hey, I could have said the pick for Mikhail Grigorenko, just to see how Garth would react. I didn't. I'm not sure Grigorenko would be Eakins kinda guy, so I'm not sure I'd make that deal, even if I could.

Chris Stewart from St. Louis. Hey, a plausible deal, finally. Stewart would bring the beast to the Oilers, but I smell a DP. Dustin Penner, of course. What did you think I meant? Penner to MacT would likely be Stewart to Eakins. Lots of arguing about fitness levels.

And finally, we have the New York Islanders. Here's a zany thought: The Islanders drafted, like, 19 defensemen last year. The guy they took 1st was Griffin Reinhart, and he had a bit of a disappointing season. He's an Oil King, right? So deal him to Edmonton for the 7th overall pick. The Oilers get the kid close to home, and a beast of a future defenseman, and the Islanders get a do-over. Everybody's happy.

Or, the Islanders could just trade us center Brock Nelson and forward Nino Niederreiter. What would we need to throw in to make that happen? Nelson projects to become the perfect 3rd line center, and Niederreiter would slide in nicely on the 2nd line left wing. Hmmm...I like where this is going.

One final note before I depart...

Shawn Horcoff is known as being one of the best conditioned hockey players in the NHL. Could his love of fitness open the door to him hanging around the Oilers for one more season? Eakins might just like Horcoff in that way. I don't mean "that" way...I mean THAT way. If you know what I mean.

Mrs. Eakins is hot.

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