Not only this, but Chia loves to have a team that has big bodies, therefore drafting Laine and trading Eberle for Hamonic is definitely a serious option that can actually happen.

It, imo, meets 2 of the needs for the team. It gives us size to compete in the west, along with bolstering our defense.

Hall-LD-Laine
Pouliot-McDavid-Yak
Kassian-RNH-Maroon

This would give us three attacking lines, which is what I can see Mclellan doing next season, with the 4 line consisting of a defensive-mindset of players.

However, this could change if RNH is traded as well. It all depends on market value at the offseason imo.

We could see a defense like this by next season if RNH is traded as well:
Sekera-(RNH trade player)
Klefbom-Hamonic
Davidson-Fayne/Gryba
Nurse, Reinhart, Oesterle, and all in development for one more year, unless one of them play amazingly at camp.
- EdmHockeyMan

0% chance yakupov is playing for the Oilers next year,

Quite frankly Draisaitl is poop. Plain and simple. You want him for what he can become.
- Barkovolchuck

Your mother definitely drank during her pregnancy with you.

Nonetheless, this is the definition of a pure troll.

0% chance yakupov is playing for the Oilers next year,
- DDM-Coga

I would have said the same, but his market value atm is low, as in you might be able to get a 2nd draft pick out of him type of low.

McDavid and Yak showed great chemistry this season.

Anywho, it will be interesting to see what might happen to Yak. He did "request" a trade, but his value makes it hard for Chia to trade him especially if Chia wants a good return.

Ugh, they'll still be playing top four minutes. That's not developing.
- Barkovolchuck

If we acquire two top-4 RHD like you're saying, that'll give us:

Sekera- Hamonic
Klefbom- (Other)
Nurse- Davidson
Gryba(?)

Klefbom would be playing top-4 minutes because he's already proven full capable of such. I'd go as far as to say he's looked like the best Dman we've had since Pronger left. And since when is top-4 minutes not developing? Hamonic, Keith, Seabrook, Subban, and many others were all given top-4 minutes from the outset. The difference being, they weren't forced to take on top opposition and were sheltered by a veteran pairing that took the heat.

Basically with scenario you've purposed exposes another young draft pick to an already poopty team. At least with Laine you're getting bigger, but the team is still small as hell. Edmonton has been without leadership for god knows how long. And what happens when payday comes? They won't be able to keep at least three of the drafted players. Hamonic won't change much and you'll be burning another year of ELC's.
- Barkovolchuck

Young draft pick hypothesis: Busted; Gretzky, Crosby, Toews, Ekblad, Getzlaf, Perry, and many more players are examples of draftees who palyed in their first year. In other words, anyone drafted in the Top 3-5 (Depending on the year) will have a good chance of playing their first season in the NHL.

Oilers are still small: Busted; This team is not the same in comparison to the beginning of the season, even to the beginning of the previous offseason. Maroon, Kassian, Gryba, pouliot, possibly Laine, and Nurse have made this team bigger, stronger, gritty, and way more aggressive.

Leadership problems: Busted; Hall, McDavid, Talbot, Maroon, Hendricks, and Nurse have shown that they can be leaders on and off the ice one way or another.

Payday problems: Busted; The Oilers will have 18mill off the books in 3 years ONLY due to veteran players, therefore having about 28mill+ in cap space to sign Nurse (5mil per), LD (5-6mill per), McDavid (10mill per), and possibly Laine (5-6mill per).

Remember the first 17 games when he got 35 points?

the next 54 games he only had 15 points. Next year will be his last year on his ELC.
- Barkovolchuck

Absolute failure to research any of your points.

He had 37 points in his first 37 games and then had 14 in his last 32. Just because he dropped off doesn't mean he didn't still score at the pace he did for 37 games. Even after his drop-off he still scored at around a .45p/g which is still impressive for a 20 year old C playing top-6 competition. He was by no means sheltered, either.

Remember the first 17 games when he got 35 points?

the next 54 games he only had 15 points. Next year will be his last year on his ELC.
- Barkovolchuck

Don't forget that he got 35 points back when the defense for the Oilers had Klefbom in the roster. Once Klefbom got injured, the defense got even worse, which for Edmonton, seemed like an impossible feat.

Without a good defense, how can you expect good transition within the neutral zone.
Your numbers should read the first 17 games with Klefbom and a crappy defense where he got 35 points and the next 54 games without Klefbom and a terrible defense where he only got 15 points.

Hall's production, as well as Eberle's and Pouliot's production feel as well. McDavid is the exception in this because he is McDavid.

There is always more than meets the eye.

Absolute failure to research any of your points.

He had 37 points in his first 37 games and then had 14 in his last 32. Just because he dropped off doesn't mean he didn't still score at the pace he did for 37 games. Even after his drop-off he still scored at around a .45p/g which is still impressive for a 20 year old C playing top-6 competition. He was by no means sheltered, either.
- MaximumBone

Another great point to add.

Oh my God you're so biased

What about Hamonic? What about that other RHD?
- Barkovolchuck

Are you two seriously arguing cap space? There are SO many things that can change between now and when it might become a problem that it's near pointless to discuss.

If we acquire two top-4 RHD like you're saying, that'll give us:

Sekera- Hamonic
Klefbom- (Other)
Nurse- Davidson
Gryba(?)

Klefbom would be playing top-4 minutes because he's already proven full capable of such. I'd go as far as to say he's looked like the best Dman we've had since Pronger left. And since when is top-4 minutes not developing? Hamonic, Keith, Seabrook, Subban, and many others were all given top-4 minutes from the outset. The difference being, they weren't forced to take on top opposition and were sheltered by a veteran pairing that took the heat.
- MaximumBone

That D on paper is miles ahead of what we had going into last year and we have guys playing in the right spots (especially Nurse and Davidson who get sheltered minutes but can still develop) although there is still a chance that we might have to part with a Nurse to get a Hamonic which I know would be very unpopular

Quite frankly Draisaitl is poop. Plain and simple. You want him for what he can become.
- Barkovolchuck

You're not serious?

You're not serious?
- smellmyfinger

He's most definitely serious... His favorite player is T.J. Brennan

He's most definitely serious... His favorite player is T.J. Brennan
- ReveenV2

Troubling, to say the least.

You're not serious?
- smellmyfinger

I think he is. He's quick to forget how Barkov produced in his first two years.

He's most definitely serious... His favorite player is T.J. Brennan
- ReveenV2

... (frank)ing sh!tlord.

I think he is. He's quick to forget how Barkov produced in his first two years.
- MaximumBone

So a teenager comes into the league and throws up 60 points in his first 100 games while playing for a last place team and he's garbage? More likely it's a weak troll attempt.

Why would I like TJ Brennan? He's a chode.
- Barkovolchuck

30 points in 22 games (which is when Klefbom got injured). 21 points in his next 41 points.
- Barkovolchuck

Still wrong.

Double

Oh my God you're so biased

What about Hamonic? What about that other RHD?
- Barkovolchuck

Only way we would or could acquire them is by trading value for value.
That means we would have to trade Eberle and/or RNH to get what we need.

Trading those two alone opens up 12mill in cap space.
Hamonic's cap hit is about 4.8mill and if we do trade RNH for another defender, I can imagine Chia going for a player that can fit the bill for less than 6mill per.

So there goes your assumption about cap space troubles.

2 points montreal
3 points calgary
2 points philly
0 points Pittsburgh
0 points chicago
3 points anaheim
1 point arizona
2 points la
1 point chicago
3 pints new jersey
0 points washingot
0 points carolina
0 points detroit
1 point pittsburgh
0 points toronto
0 points boston
1 point dallas
1 point buffalo
2 points san jose
4 points new york


First twenty games. He had no more 3 point games and his point production was sporadic. Started off strong, finished poorly.
- Barkovolchuck

That's what she said

2 points montreal
3 points calgary
2 points philly
0 points Pittsburgh
0 points chicago
3 points anaheim
1 point arizona
2 points la
1 point chicago
3 pints new jersey
0 points washingot
0 points carolina
0 points detroit
1 point pittsburgh
0 points toronto
0 points boston
1 point dallas
1 point buffalo
2 points san jose
4 points new york


First twenty games. He had no more 3 point games and his point production was sporadic. Started off strong, finished poorly.
- Barkovolchuck

That's 26 points in 20 games. Count again.

30 points in 22 games (which is when Klefbom got injured). 21 points in his next 41 points.
- Barkovolchuck

Thanks for proving my point...

Draisaitl actually got 26 points in the first 20 games he played with Klefbom playing.
Klefbom got injured on December 14th.
Afterwards, Draisaitl then got about 25 points in his last 52 games this season.

Look at his stats in the game log on the Oilers website.

But, other than that, you just made yourself look really bad right there.

That's 26 points in 20 games. Count again.
- MaximumBone

Haha, I was gonna say the same thing as well.