The problem with this trade :
While the trade is fair or pretty close to equal value wise

Only Carolina Is in win now mode, and EDM would be the only other team who may possibly benefit more from Edler
- Danformo

Tampa is absolutely in win now mode, they just aren't very good at it. Edler would be the perfect fit for them. So would Luongo. Yzerman has done a terrible job so far. The addition of those two would make the Lightning a contender in the East again.

this has the feels of a sabres blog. player X is awesome, great contract, worth a ton...but let's offer him up then in a bunch of trade proposals.
- flyershockey

Gotta trade value to get value.

- Scooby_Doo

WTF, how am I not in last?

WTF, how am I not in last?
- Nucker101

because Bieksa's biches took a bunch of players that were playing each other in the first round.

The Canucks are not "so eager to get rid of him." The media and fans are discussing it because he represents the potential for the biggest return and his no trade doesn't kick in until July 1. It's also dealing from a position of strength as the addition of Garrison means they can afford to trade Edler if they get the right offer.
- KB3Point0

No the addition of Garrison means that you have 5 defensemen making 4.2 million or higher on your team and you need to move some serious salary. Not that you can afford to. Edler should fetch a good return. Just not a top 5 pick in this years draft.

Tampa is absolutely in win now mode, they just aren't very good at it. Edler would be the perfect fit for them. So would Luongo. Yzerman has done a terrible job so far. The addition of those two would make the Lightning a contender in the East again.
- KB3Point0

Those two would help them for sure other than Luongo's contract combined with Vinnys on the books, even if they buy VC out it would be a challenge to swing that deal.

I highly doubt the Preds, Lighting or X team in that spot would trade their pick for Edler. You have to be dreaming if Edler is worth that right now. If he was a little more consistent, then maybe you could justify a mid-round 1st in this deep of a draft.

Tampa is absolutely in win now mode, they just aren't very good at it. Edler would be the perfect fit for them. So would Luongo. Yzerman has done a terrible job so far. The addition of those two would make the Lightning a contender in the East again.
- KB3Point0

After trading for two young goalies in the last year, along with having one of the most highly regarded goaltending prospects in the system, there is absolutely no way Tampa remotely considers taking on Luongo. No way no how, never.

I highly doubt the Preds, Lighting or X team in that spot would trade their pick for Edler. You have to be dreaming if Edler is worth that right now. If he was a little more consistent, then maybe you could justify a mid-round 1st in this deep of a draft.
- predram

You're either overvaluing this draft(I highly doubt this one will be as good as 2003), or you're undervaluing the trade market for a d-man of Edler's ability and age.


Agreed with point one though, to get a top 3 you need to add a significant asset on top of Edler to get those teams to listen.

It's all based on your own opinion, but there are a lot of guys on this list that I'd take Edler over


03
Marc-Andre Fleury
Eric Staal
Nathan Horton
Nikolai Zherdev
Thomas Vanek

04
Alexander Ovechkin
Evgeni Malkin
Cam Barker
Andrew Ladd
Blake Wheeler

05
Sidney Crosby
Bobby Ryan
Jack Johnson
Benoit Pouliot
Carey Price

06
Erik Johnson
Jordan Staal
Jonathan Toews
Nicklas Backstrom
Phil Kessel

07
Patrick Kane
James van Riemsdyk
Kyle Turris
Thomas Hickey
Karl Alzner

08
Steven Stamkos
Drew Doughty
Zach Bogosian
Alex Pietrangelo
Luke Schenn

09
John Tavares
Victor Hedman
Matt Duchene
Evander Kane
Brayden Schenn
- IanEsplen

I don't know why people think Edler for a top 5 pick is so unlikely. While I cannot see it happening as teams will want more than Edler and Vancouver will want more than just the pick, looking at the list above Edler will be better than 2 of the top 5 picks on average.

Plus when you consider how desperate a team like Tampa or Carolina would be for a top2 defender this deal is very plausible.

That being said I don't see these cap floor teams taking on Edler's cap straight up. Maybe a deal like:

Edler
VAN 2013 1st

For:

Top 5 pick
(player with cap hit in the 2-4M range)

The player will likely be someone of value worth a low 1st to a high 2nd in a deal alone.

And if Vancouver makes this deal then trades Luongo for a mid to low 1st+ then they would have done well IMO

Ian Esplen: What's the deal for Nichushkin?
What's the deal?
- IanEsplen

Come on Ian.

When Ek suggested Edmonton was looking to move up three spots to #4 everyone including van fans were saying it would take the 7th + gagner + a prospect to move up 3 spots. Now you want the 3rd overall + for Elder?

After trading for two young goalies in the last year, along with having one of the most highly regarded goaltending prospects in the system, there is absolutely no way Tampa remotely considers taking on Luongo. No way no how, never.
- Dirte

Agreed. I think the Luongo to TB rumours are done now.

because Bieksa's biches took a bunch of players that were playing each other in the first round.
- Scooby_Doo

Sound strategy.

My knowledge of prospects is better than your knowledge of the NHL.
- Scooby_Doo

Drop it Scoob. You won't get through to him. Everyone knows the Oilers have about 35 HOFers in their system right now and they are going to win 10 of the next 12 Cups.

Or at least that's what people on here keep telling me.

Maybe tomorrows blog will be WTF is wrong with fans when they'd rather hope on a player being good than know a player is good.

Luongo, Ballard + Raymond.
- Scooby_Doo

Nice win, right off the hop!

You're either overvaluing this draft(I highly doubt this one will be as good as 2003), or you're undervaluing the trade market for a d-man of Edler's ability and age.
- Nucker101

Its the closest to 2003 since 2003. I am hearing that the quality of players even in the 2nd round are going to be good too. Its a great draft. A top 5 pick for Edler...no way. He has talent and size but he has been way too inconsistent for a team to sacrifice a top 5 or top 10 pick for. He has good moments and then noticeable blunders like against the Sharks for example.

I don't know why people think Edler for a top 5 pick is so unlikely. While I cannot see it happening as teams will want more than Edler and Vancouver will want more than just the pick, looking at the list above Edler will be better than 2 of the top 5 picks on average.

Plus when you consider how desperate a team like Tampa or Carolina would be for a top2 defender this deal is very plausible.

That being said I don't see these cap floor teams taking on Edler's cap straight up. Maybe a deal like:

Edler
VAN 2013 1st

For:

Top 5 pick
(player with cap hit in the 2-4M range)

The player will likely be someone of value worth a low 1st to a high 2nd in a deal alone.

And if Vancouver makes this deal then trades Luongo for a mid to low 1st+ then they would have done well IMO
- Steven_Dean

That's my thinking too.

if Jordan Staal, with one year on his deal until he is a UFA (I believe) can get the 8 pick, a very good prospect and a pretty good player in Sutter...

A signed Alex Edler is at the very least on par with that.

Edler doesn't just have to be a better player than Nichushkin, he has to be a better player than Nichuhskin + 4 million a year in cap space for Valeri's rookie contract.
- notwalnc

Max ELC with bonus is more than 3m per year, try again.

Drop it Scoob. You won't get through to him. Everyone knows the Oilers have about 35 HOFers in their system right now and they are going to win 10 of the next 12 Cups.

Or at least that's what people on here keep telling me.

Maybe tomorrows blog will be WTF is wrong with fans when they'd rather hope on a player being good than know a player is good.
- IanEsplen

That's just human nature IMO. With a prospect, fans always have a little hope(even if you know it's unlikely) that they'll exceed expectations or reach their full potential at the NHL level and it gets people excited. Meanwhile, with players that have already been around awhile, you know what you're gonna get and therefore the excitement and unknown factor isn't there. Similar theory applies to fans always demanding coaching/management changes and proposing trades with the view that the grass is always greener on the other side.

Come on Ian.

When Ek suggested Edmonton was looking to move up three spots to #4 everyone including van fans were saying it would take the 7th + gagner + a prospect to move up 3 spots. Now you want the 3rd overall + for Elder?


- Iggysbff

Fans with suggestions of trading up are pretty dumb period.

If you look at history, trading up generally doesn't land you a player that is any better than where you are picking.

Off the top of my head, Couture is the only one that comes to mind as being a real good move.

Except that, with the bonus cushion, the cap hit you actually realize on these guys is effectively right back down to $1M to $1.5M.
- Dirte

This.

Most people now realize that bonuses on elc contracts don't count towards the cap.

If you really believe other teams are going to be so generous and help Vancouver out of their cap hell think again.

Its the closest to 2003 since 2003. I am hearing that the quality of players even in the 2nd round are going to be good too. Its a great draft. A top 5 pick for Edler...no way. He has talent and size but he has been way too inconsistent for a team to sacrifice a top 5 or top 10 pick for. He has good moments and then noticeable blunders like against the Sharks for example.
- predram

You can't state that like it's a fact until we really see how these players end of developing. And you hear things like this every draft IMO, and I've actually heard the opposite that suggested that the to end of this draft is amazing, but then after the first 7-10 picks it's not an amazing draft. If I'm a team like Carolina that could really use a d-man like Edler, has made a big splash with Staal and Semin and probably needs to make a playoff run to justify that spending to ownership, you can bet that I'd be listening to any package that includes Edler for my first.

Nobody is trading a top 5 pick in any draft for Alex Edler, a legit defenceman though he may be.

Potential Star > Above average top pairing defender.

Max ELC with bonus is more than 3m per year, try again.
- 1970vintage

Better check again. Bonuses on elc contracts don't count to the cap.

yzerman, needs a Reliable D men...& Goalie, hes been to cheap to aquire those for TB...with St louis aging, Vinny, Stamkos needs help......marty can still play..but for how much longer?