I think that the Oilers would be smart to trade for an experienced D-man and/or goalie. They cannot constantly be thinking long-term, they need to start being successful now. Yeah they have some decent defensive prospects, but they need leadership on the blue line and someone who can win games between the pipes.

Trading Yakupov shouldn't be considered impossible, but for Subban no. I think Subban is pretty good, as expected Habs fans blow him up, but he's still young and not a leader. Plus Subban is more caught up in his 'celebrity' status than dominating the sport of Hockey IMO.

I think its ludicrous to think that Dubynk will pan out to be anything special. They should definitely trade for a goalie, but the pickings are slim at the moment. Luongo might be a good fit, but I don't see that happening.

Edmonton fans will scoff at this, but take a look at Jordan Leopold. Is he a shutdown, top D-man? No. He is however very experienced, shows leadership, and isn't past his prime. He would challenge for top pairing on the Oilers, but more importantly be a mentor and leader for the younger players.

Not saying what they would be willing to trade for him, but im sure Oilers fans will make some humorous suggestions. Seriously though Leo is just an example of who the Oilers should be looking for.
- rsj2588

Can't say I disagree, I'd love to add a legit top 4 veteran who can help bridge the gap.

Cloutier ? Why does a team that hasn't made the playoffs in years have so many untouchables? People say Toronto and Vancouver over value their players, you can add Edmonton to that list.
- VANTEL

These are the players the team is building around.

Edm would never want a Hall for Seguin trade...and would hang up on Boston...

- OilHorse

Then they're idiots.

Ebs for Landi? Yeah I like Landi but not at the cost of Ebs.

- OilHorse

Just as good, but the extra grit would help the Oilers a LOT. It would be a tough choice, but I'd take Landeskog. That's a close one though, and comes to personal preference.

Nuge for Tavares? I wouldn't if I were either team. Nuge is that good and byall accounts will be just as good as Tavares.

- OilHorse

I've never been a Tavares fan. I know he’s a great player, I’m not saying he’s bad, he just has never struck me as the complete franchise player he was touted as. I’d prefer Nugent-Hopkins.

Kelfbaum and Hamilton: I agree just because Hamilton will also be a stud Dman that is already used to the NA style of hockey.

- OilHorse

I’d take Hamilton in a second over Klefbom. I don’t think you’d find too many people outside Edmonton that wouldn’t. The kids a stud.

JSchultz for Letang: You use a guy who has never played in the NHL in comparison to a guy with 5 seasons experience. I feel pretty good that if Schultz gets a season in this year he will do as well as Letang did in his first full year.
- OilHorse

Letang is borderline Norris caliber. If you get anything close to the kind of dman Letang is, out of Schultz, consider yourself very lucky. But the odds of that are slim.

In most, if not all, of those trades there is no real change in talent level. To think otherwise is just ignorance or trolling. Pick your poison.
- OilHorse

In a couple of those, there is an enormous jump in talent level. Schultz to Letang? Give me a break.

Okay, we will give the rights to Omark. Sound good?
- gzatron

I would offer that and maybe a 2nd or 3rd. Not much more for a guy getting over the hill and on the last year of his contract.

Then they're idiots.


Just as good, but the extra grit would help the Oilers a LOT. It would be a tough choice, but I'd take Landeskog. That's a close one though, and comes to personal preference.


I've never been a Tavares fan. I know he’s a great player, I’m not saying he’s bad, he just has never struck me as the complete franchise player he was touted as. I’d prefer Nugent-Hopkins.


I’d take Hamilton in a second over Klefbom. I don’t think you’d find too many people outside Edmonton that wouldn’t. The kids a stud.


Letang is borderline Norris caliber. If you get anything close to the kind of dman Letang is, out of Schultz, consider yourself very lucky. But the odds of that are slim.
- prock

Hall is better than Seguin and is likely the captain of the future.


If the Oilers wanted Seguin they'd have Seguin.

Hall is better than Seguin and is likely the captain of the future.


If the Oilers wanted Seguin they'd have Seguin.
- robin_steele264

Wanted being the key. Not anymore they couldn’t.

I agree for the most part about what you have said...
That said, I disagree with the bolded part...not for a second do I think that Yaks will be anything remotely close to Daigle, BUT...Oilers fans have put this 19yr old kid on a pedestal and have claimed him as a franchise player, 60goal scorer, etc before even playing a game in the NHL...saying that a fair trade for Yaks would be Price AND Subban just shows how ridiculous Oil fans are being...
Let the kid get some productive seasons under his belt before you crown him.
- BoBBeR56

Just like the Leaf fans that claim every new aquisition is going to be the new savior?

Leaf fans crown Burke the king, and every trade he has made or signing he has made since his arrival he has "won" according to Leaf fans. Yet they still stink and not one of you "saviors" has panned out. I rememeber the chantingwhen he traded for Brunnstrom...he's going to turn it around and light it up with the Leafs! you all said..

A rebuilding team considering its very best young players being untouchable seems totally insane to you?
- robin_steele264

I think the point these people are trying to make is that if all our elite young talent is considered "Untouchable" we can only get better thru the draft. That is a long, tiresome path which after 3 years the fans are becoming impatient with.

If the team moved Yakupov (a player who has never actually laced up skates for the Oilers) and bring a return which would legitimatly address another dire need in the teams system it would be foolish to ignore possibity.

Suddenly there would be no log jam in the top 6 and the back end sdtability would pay dividend immeadiatly.

Im not saying trade for Sybban but I think similar situations need to be considered.
We will never trade Hemsky for a top 4 D-Man and you only get freebies like Schultz once in a lifetime. To add a legit D-Man we will have to give up something good, MPS aint gonna cut it.

Wanted being the key. Not anymore they couldn’t.
- prock

Yeah seeing as both teams signed them long term I'm guessing each is happy. Both terrific players.

I think the point these people are trying to make is that if all our elite young talent is considered "Untouchable" we can only get better thru the draft. That is a long, tiresome path which after 3 years the fans are becoming impatient with.

If the team moved Yakupov (a player who has never actually laced up skates for the Oilers) and bring a return which would legitimatly address another dire need in the teams system it would be foolish to ignore possibity.

Suddenly there would be no log jam in the top 6 and the back end sdtability would pay dividend immeadiatly.

Im not saying trade for Sybban but I think similar situations need to be considered.
We will never trade Hemsky for a top 4 D-Man and you only get freebies like Schultz once in a lifetime. To add a legit D-Man we will have to give up something good, MPS aint gonna cut it.
- gzatron

Who would you want in return for Yakupov right now?

By all accounts we know we have an electricfying top 6 on forward and schultz looks to be turning into a scott niedermayer(maybe too soon yet) type d-man the way he takes over games at such a young age,

Klefbom,marincin,musil,gernat also are looking very solid as they continue to develop...dubnyk looked solid considering the poor defence we had and bunz is also developing nicely...

What wins championships is depth after your top 2 d-men and top 6 forwards...the oilers have that depth coming from great drafting in rounds 2-5, but it will take time for these kids to emerge...going into year 3 of a full rebuild and i say we are ahead of the pace by at least 1 year or more...

Yeah seeing as both teams signed them long term I'm guessing each is happy. Both terrific players.
- robin_steele264

And if the draft were redone, Seguin goes number 1, without the least bit of a doubt.

Then they're idiots.
- prock

Not even close. Hall has out scored Seguin on a team he is expected to lead, where Seguin is allowed to get sheltered on a deeper, better team.

Just as good, but the extra grit would help the Oilers a LOT. It would be a tough choice, but I'd take Landeskog. That's a close one though, and comes to personal preference.
- prock

Grit? Sure it helps. Clutch is what Ebs is. Pure skill. Ebs has it also. Grit we can get from other players. I take Ebs easy, and I like Landi a lot.

I've never been a Tavares fan. I know he’s a great player, I’m not saying he’s bad, he just has never struck me as the complete franchise player he was touted as. I’d prefer Nugent-Hopkins.

I’d take Hamilton in a second over Klefbom. I don’t think you’d find too many people outside Edmonton that wouldn’t. The kids a stud.
- prock

I can agree with both of these for the most part...I do think that if Klefbaum can translate his game to NA then he will be a Top 2 Dman easy.

is borderline Norris caliber. If you get anything close to the kind of dman Letang is, out of Schultz, consider yourself very lucky. But the odds of that are slim.
- prock

This one was the most ridiculous becasue you are comparing a 5 year vet to a 10 game AHLer. All the other scenarios were young guy to young guy...this one is not like that.

And if the draft were redone, Seguin goes number 1, without the least bit of a doubt.
- prock

I don't think so...I think it is as close as it was then.

I think the point these people are trying to make is that if all our elite young talent is considered "Untouchable" we can only get better thru the draft. That is a long, tiresome path which after 3 years the fans are becoming impatient with.

If the team moved Yakupov (a player who has never actually laced up skates for the Oilers) and bring a return which would legitimatly address another dire need in the teams system it would be foolish to ignore possibity.

Suddenly there would be no log jam in the top 6 and the back end sdtability would pay dividend immeadiatly.

Im not saying trade for Sybban but I think similar situations need to be considered.
We will never trade Hemsky for a top 4 D-Man and you only get freebies like Schultz once in a lifetime. To add a legit D-Man we will have to give up something good, MPS aint gonna cut it.
- gzatron

This, in my humble opinion, is a fantastic comment. I'm not claiming the Leafs are good, or better than the Oilers. But the only way you will get your top 4 D's, Goalies and 3rd line centre? is through the draft, if you have so many untouchables. That will be another two years of tanking approx.

Who would you want in return for Yakipov right now?
- robin_steele264

In Theory only I would say another young D-Man like Subban is ideal. Young enough to still be a part of the young core but mature enough physically that he isnt still in a developmental stage on the ice. This make Subban a good exmple but I agree, I think his personal drama is better left in another teams dressing room. Maybe a deal with the Yotes for OEL and a pick or something.

That being said, somekind of vetern presence from a cup winner would be enormous too. If this club had an Andrechyuk or Brind'amour instead of just Smitty it would go a long way in creating the right locker room culture

Wanted being the key. Not anymore they couldn’t.
- prock

And they still don't..they have, and aare happy with Hall...

And if the draft were redone, Seguin goes number 1, without the least bit of a doubt.
- prock

I bet if you ask 30 GM's in the league today...at least 25 would dissagree with you.

Seguin is on a stacked team and plays a secondary roll against secondary Defense pairings most nights. Hall takes over games.

Keep trolling.

This, in my humble opinion, is a fantastic comment. I'm not claiming the Leafs are good, or better than the Oilers. But the only way you will get your top 4 D's, Goalies and 3rd line centre? is through the draft, if you have so many untouchables. That will be another two years of tanking approx.
- walshyleafsfan1

They are developing most of them as we speak...the draft portion to gain the core is done...and it sure don't take all that much to get. 3rd line Center...they have basically all the components in the system for Top 4 D and Goalies...

This one was the most ridiculous becasue you are comparing a 5 year vet to a 10 game AHLer. All the other scenarios were young guy to young guy...this one is not like that.
- OilHorse

I’m not comparing them. The original statement was in response to him being untouchable. If you can get a guy that is in Norris conversations for a guy like Schultz, you don’t even remotely hesitate. You laugh as he boards his flight. Letang is one of the top D in the league these days, and he’s still only 25. If you’re telling me you don’t make that trade one for one, I’m telling you, you should probably just find another sport to follow, because this one isn’t for you.

I bet if you ask 30 GM's in the league today...at least 25 wold dissagree with you.

Seguin is on a stacked team and plays a secondary roll against secondary Defense pairings most nights. Hall takes over games.

Keep trolling.
- Iggysbff

I think you're wrong. I’m not the only one in this thread that has said so too. Is there anyone outside Oiler fans that has disagreed? Nope. Why do you think it’s trolling?

I'll offer some advice for future rumors: The following players are untouchables in Edmonton - Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Justin Schultz, Nail Yakupov and Oscar Klefbom.

for a team that has been as historically bad as Edmonton these past 5-6 years to have such a deep list of "untouchables" is beyond arrogant. it's not like you're sitting with Malkin and Crosby. i'm not suggesting the Oilers swap Yakupov for something like Subban-Pacioretty, obviously. but to suggest that the club would never even consider trading one of these players is foolish. if a deal comes along that improves your team, you do it. you don't just stockpile for the sake of stockpiling. it's like saying "there's no one out there better than these guys or who will be better than these guys so we'll never trade them."

also, depending on what the new CBA looks like, the Oilers could be staring down the barrel of a gun in 2-3 years and might have to get proactive.

I think that the Oilers would be smart to trade for an experienced D-man and/or goalie. They cannot constantly be thinking long-term, they need to start being successful now. Yeah they have some decent defensive prospects, but they need leadership on the blue line and someone who can win games between the pipes.

Trading Yakupov shouldn't be considered impossible, but for Subban no. I think Subban is pretty good, as expected Habs fans blow him up, but he's still young and not a leader. Plus Subban is more caught up in his 'celebrity' status than dominating the sport of Hockey IMO.

I think its ludicrous to think that Dubynk will pan out to be anything special. They should definitely trade for a goalie, but the pickings are slim at the moment. Luongo might be a good fit, but I don't see that happening.

Edmonton fans will scoff at this, but take a look at Jordan Leopold. Is he a shutdown, top D-man? No. He is however very experienced, shows leadership, and isn't past his prime. He would challenge for top pairing on the Oilers, but more importantly be a mentor and leader for the younger players.

Not saying what they would be willing to trade for him, but im sure Oilers fans will make some humorous suggestions. Seriously though Leo is just an example of who the Oilers should be looking for.
- rsj2588

based on what exactly?
decent numbers behind one of the worst defences in the league? havin been brought along slowly?

god i hate this sentiment.

i have no problem with feeling like dubnyk wont turn out long term when he finally gets a chance to be the number 1.
but
this is based on nothing from 99% of these stupid posts. just guess work that somehow has turned into conventional wisdom

Clouts , you're right ! that is purely a ficticious rumour , no way the Habs would trade a stud like PK ... well Ok then maybe for Eberle and Hall ... Yakupov has yet to prove himself .. PK is a truly dynamic defenseman and personality, who's ceiling has no limits , maybe Yaks too but he has yet to play an NHL game ... PK Stays with the Habs ..