Never said they would. For the most part I really see no issue with drafting 7th and said kid not playing on the roster until 15-16.
- Lahey

Which would be preferable.

Halls only problem is no one else can keep up to him. If they could he'd have some support.

While I do agree that Canucks will be in full-rebuild mode, and as a Vancouver-based hockey fan in fact wish them to be proactive about it NOW. And I do want to see Gillis fired. And I would like to see Lindy Ruff named coach, albeit I'm in a distinct minority in Vancouver on that one...

Despite all these points which would seemingly align myself with Cloutier - I gotta' say: the guy comes across as an idiot, and should not be a featured blogger anywhere.

Not that he's available, and for good reason but I think the ideal target for the oilers should be Jamie Benn. Does Sam gagner plus our next two first rounders at least get Nill thinking?

I really have no problem with it but what can you really expect.

Your first line is all kids, 2nd line is 2/3 kids if not 3/3 with PRV.

Should we really expect bottom 6 veterans to make that much of an impact?
- Lahey

not much when your go to, front line players are teenagers and sophmores.

although a better, tougher to play against bottom 6 woulda gone a long way. as wouldve a much better defence. i still dont think we'd be a playoff team though.

i dont think anyone could really disagree that out first liners and the guys who are meant to carry the team just werent ready. but this shouldnt suggest alot more couldve been done to take some pressure off

Not that he's available, and for good reason but I think the ideal target for the oilers should be Jamie Benn. Does Sam gagner plus our next two first rounders at least get Nill thinking?
- ystoil

benn is dallas' hall. except maybe even more valuable to them.
no chance

if there's only a very few players in the league we'd consider moving one of our core kids for; benn'd have to be near the top

I really have no problem with it but what can you really expect.

Your first line is all kids, 2nd line is 2/3 kids if not 3/3 with PRV.

Should we really expect bottom 6 veterans to make that much of an impact?
- Lahey

Yeah I've always felt that maturity was a bigger issue with our top six rather than other problems like size, grit etc. Maturity in the mental and physical sense that is.

Sam Gagner is the next Doug Gilmour, he is the oilers BEST center, he is not being traded to move up in a draft. If you trade Gagner to get an inexperienced center we are back to being a develpment team for the major leagues.
- all mighty oil

Unreal, new location. Thanks bud

Unreal, new location. Thanks bud
- SameOld

no problem, anytime

Which would be preferable.

Halls only problem is no one else can keep up to him. If they could he'd have some support.
- Iggysbff

He needs to have more options than going down the wing and shooting on net. Dump the (frank)ing puck, no one can touch you until you get it again. When he did this it seemed to be a not bad plan b.

Yeah I've always felt that maturity was a bigger issue with our top six rather than other problems like size, grit etc. Maturity in the mental and physical sense that is.
- Jack-artist

This x3

While I do agree that Canucks will be in full-rebuild mode, and as a Vancouver-based hockey fan in fact wish them to be proactive about it NOW. And I do want to see Gillis fired. And I would like to see Lindy Ruff named coach, albeit I'm in a distinct minority in Vancouver on that one...

Despite all these points which would seemingly align myself with Cloutier - I gotta' say: the guy comes across as an idiot, and should not be a featured blogger anywhere.
- freeman_c2k12

i dont think your window is fully closed yet.
the sedins arent done yet. kesler looked healthy and dominant for the first time in ages against SJ, no more golatending circus, and depth on defence.
along with few of the right depth moves could put u back in an elite category imo.

i think a few more mistakes it could shut fast, but im not ready to count out the nucks yet. a veteran team with many solid pieces that KNOWS how to win. still a playoff team without question

This x3
- Lahey

but it doesnt change the fact that its clearly not our ONLY problem. just one of them.

benn is dallas' hall. except maybe even more valuable to them.
no chance

if there's only a very few players in the league we'd consider moving one of our core kids for; benn'd have to be near the top
- hugefemale dog77

Wouldn't make sense. Lateral move. Fill one hole, open another. Only way we move a Hall, RNH, Yak, Eberle is if its a #1 Dman coming back. One for one. otherwise they stay.

Unreal, new location. Thanks bud
- SameOld

Gilmour was a (frank)wad.
Gags has more character in his pinky.

Gilmour was a (frank)wad.
Gags has more character in his pinky.
- Iggysbff

not what the babysitter said

If Carolina is that sold on taking a d man i don't think it would cost that much to move down. the 7th pick is obviously going to be part of any package, but Gagner would not need to be a part of it imo.

you could probably get away with a 1st this year 2nd this year a conditional 3rd (if Edmonton has a better record than CAR) and a b level prospect would probably get it done

trading Gagner makes no sense for the Oilers at this point. he is basically our only Oiler who can be a leader on and off the ice to the second generation of Oiler young guns. maybe Sam won't be a 2nd line center forever but he brings a lot to the table to the Oilers right now. he competes hard and should be rewarded to see the rebuild through. I'm not saying we sign him to a Horcoff like deal, but he deserves to stay in Edmonton

Gagner is the type pf guy we need right now. he may be the only forward willing to move that has value, but i don't think it is smart to trade your best assets just before their prime years

in my opinion Nichuskin would be a solid draft choice for the Oilers, assuming we will not get a chance at Barkov the Oilers would most benefit from Nichuskin Barkov and Monahan.

if the oilers don't move up for Barkov/Nichuskin and Monahan is already selected I would rather move down to 11 and draft Nikita Zadorov

Wouldn't make sense. Lateral move. Fill one hole, open another. Only way we move a Hall, RNH, Yak, Eberle is if its a #1 Dman coming back. One for one. otherwise they stay.
- Iggysbff

it was hypothetical and i was just trying to make a point.

but since you brought it up, lateral move or not, id deal either of yaks or ebs for him straight up without hesitation. and then find a trade for gags after the fact.

although the original poster may have vastly underestimated how valuable and dominant benn is, he certainly wasnt wrong that hes the type of player that could change the dynamic of our top 6 in a huge way.

not what the babysitter said
- all mighty oil

If Carolina is that sold on taking a d man i don't think it would cost that much to move down. the 7th pick is obviously going to be part of any package, but Gagner would not need to be a part of it imo.

you could probably get away with a 1st this year 2nd this year a conditional 3rd (if Edmonton has a better record than CAR) and a b level prospect would probably get it done

trading Gagner makes no sense for the Oilers at this point. he is basically our only Oiler who can be a leader on and off the ice to the second generation of Oiler young guns. maybe Sam won't be a 2nd line center forever but he brings a lot to the table to the Oilers right now. he competes hard and should be rewarded to see the rebuild through. I'm not saying we sign him to a Horcoff like deal, but he deserves to stay in Edmonton

Gagner is the type pf guy we need right now. he may be the only forward willing to move that has value, but i don't think it is smart to trade your best assets just before their prime years

in my opinion Nichuskin would be a solid draft choice for the Oilers, assuming we will not get a chance at Barkov the Oilers would most benefit from Nichuskin Barkov and Monahan.

if the oilers don't move up for Barkov/Nichuskin and Monahan is already selected I would rather move down to 11 and draft Nikita Zadorov
- CrustyRooster

Carolina, Tampa Bay and Philly are all in the same position as the Oilers. They NEED Defense. But drafting one isn't going to help for 2-5 years from now. All of those teams will be looking to move their picks for a legit top 2 Dman.

it was hypothetical and i was just trying to make a point.

but since you brought it up, lateral move or not, id deal either of yaks or ebs for him straight up without hesitation. and then find a trade for gags after the fact.

although the original poster may have vastly underestimated how valuable and dominant benn is, he certainly wasnt wrong that hes the type of player that could change the dynamic of our top 6 in a huge way.
- hugefemale dog77

Yah I'm not saying I wouldn't want Benn. Just that all that would be is a lateral move that would domino other moves. We have holes to fill and just moving a bunch of guys around isn't going to fix that.

no problem, anytime
- all mighty oil

I'd take Anton Lander's potential over both of them.

I'd take Anton Lander's potential over both of them.
- Nucker101

major league heart and desire
minor league skill set

Yah I'm not saying I wouldn't want Benn. Just that all that would be is a lateral move that would domino other moves. We have holes to fill and just moving a bunch of guys around isn't going to fix that.
- Iggysbff

for sure
moving ebs would create a hole on the right side and wed have 3 top 6 centers.
but in that case we'd be forced to do some shuffling and makes some moves. totally worth it.

moving for benn would only be a lateral move in the truest sense of the definition. but we'd still be a way better team with him on it.

u dont say no to trades that make u a better team just cause it doesnt fill your top priorities.

just sayin

Carolina, Tampa Bay and Philly are all in the same position as the Oilers. They NEED Defense. But drafting one isn't going to help for 2-5 years from now. All of those teams will be looking to move their picks for a legit top 2 Dman.
- Iggysbff

Problem with that, and it was discussed last year with trading the Oilers pick is how many teams are willing to move a D like that. McDonagh, Shattenkirk etc. are the guys that might be available. I could see CAR trying for Marc Staal, but in TB's case they might be better drafting a franchise type forward (MacK, Drouin, Barkov) to compliment Stamkos.

Carolina, Tampa Bay and Philly are all in the same position as the Oilers. They NEED Defense. But drafting one isn't going to help for 2-5 years from now. All of those teams will be looking to move their picks for a legit top 2 Dman.
- Iggysbff

i realize that all those teams need help. i do not see Tampa moving their pick and taking probably drouin. the way Conacher played with Stamkos this year makes me think that Drouin would be a perfect fit.

Philly could trade down because they have their eye on Darnell Nurse. he fits a flyer style of hockey very well and the fact that the philly media would be all over the nephew of their former golden boy Donovan Mcnabb it would be good for Philly publicity as well. likely gone by 11 Philly could easily move down

Carolina has a solid top 6, they have size and the have skill. other than Ryan Murphy i don't know much of their prospects, but the experts say that the need defense, i know a lot of people say do not draft for need, that is easily done via trade and free agent. that may not be easily done for a lot of markets. places do have to worry about filling needs through the draft, not every team is going to be able to get the players they want in trade and free agents and maybe Carolina is one of the teams who sees their chance to get better by getting more.

Carolina is not a bad team, with a healthy Cam Ward they probably do better and don't even get a top ten pick imo. for that reason i could see them trading 1 pick for 3 or 2 and a prospect to fill needs that way. most will probably disagree with me, but I'm just trying to give my reasoning