Im not trying to make fun of the oilers, And Toronto looks rough right now but we have a great prospect cupboard and some of them should be in the nhl next year. Im glad their getting playoff experience in the ahl this year and im also glad they wont have wilson next year so they actually get a chance.
- LEAFSfan28191

Hmmmm....I would think you are talking about the Oilers...right down to the No Wilson comment...

Yes, if I am Tambellini, I would want a PROVEN NHL Dman. I am not sure who though? I don't think you get Weber.

I have a hard time finding a deal for that pick that I think works for Edmonton and the other team.

On the other hand, if they can trade down a couple spots, AND get a decent dman, then draft one of the premier D in this draft, it might be worth it.
- GoneFullRetard

I guess, despite all the verbal cockblockery, what I'm trying to say, and what I've been patiently trying to explain to people, is that of course it will be an overpayment to get him. That's why a 1st overall is almost never traded. The asking price will always be huge. A 'hockey trade' will not get it done. That's why I'm certain the Oilers will still be pickig 1st overall come July 1st

Hmmmm....I would think you are talking about the Oilers...right down to the No Wilson comment...
- OilHorse

He lost me when he described Toronto's prospect pool as "great".

Given that there is not one bona fide star in the Leafs farm system... I would say "barely adequate" is a better description.

The Oilers are WAY WAY WAY ahead of the Leafs in terms of future potential.

Finally some trades that make sense. I think people under estimate the prestige a GM gets from picking first overall. If it pays off it secures a career that might save someone their job rather than make them the scape goat in the next few years if the team does bad. Any team, especially Burke would trade a lot just to make the fans happy to have the first pick. Same with Montreal. To justify Subban to move up for a talent like Yakupov is not a stretch. Nor is Toronto mortgaging their future picks when they see a player they want (ie Kessel deal).

I don't think Myers is good enough and I would only trade for weber if Nashville let me speak to him about a contract extension first. He is one of the best dmen in the league but they would need him for more than 1 year for it to make sense.

As for trading the pick at all. Tambellini likes to dangle the pick. He has to make it sound like it is possible as their is a price for even Yakupov. However we all know that the price is too high because Yakupov will be an elite player locked in as an RFA with a fair salary for a few years. Hard to trade that. I think it is more likely to get the GMs on the phone to talk about players they like because Edmonton has to sell some contracts. I think we all know they will keep Yakupov even though there is little russian connection on Edmonton. Hemsky finds it home though so I don't think that will be a huge problem for him.

The thing is, all these trades can be done for Eberle or Hall as well. Both might even have more value since they have played. I think if you are Edmonton you deal Hall before Yakupov. There is more value even with the injuries but Yakupov might fit better with RNH.

Also I don't think Columbus is taking a dman at number 2. They need a forward more and I am not sold on the scouting reports.

So Yakupov will be a bust and Galchenyuk, who will somehow fall to you at 5th, will be the best.
Not a worry though. No chance they trade down and take Gardiner or Schenn.
- GuyLaDouche

yeah, I know... it is just a feeling really.

I said the same thing before the lottery when I was also predicting that the Leafs would not have a shot at Galchenyuk. So, it really isn't Leafs homerism.

If they don't get Gardiner or Schenn in a trade down, we will both be happy

... as a Leafs fan, I am terrified of Burke right now though. He is about to mortgage the future, yet again, for another futile attempt and climbing UP to mediocrity.

Kadri, Colborne, Frattin,D'amigo and Ashton are all good prospect forwards. Kadri should be in the nhl next year and i think Frattin will too. I hope they give Colborne a chance. All of those kids are better than Conolly, Lombardi, and Crabb i have no clue why those guys are on our team.
- LEAFSfan28191

The oil have been said to have the best prospect pool in the NHL.

Just FYI.

He lost me when he described Toronto's prospect pool as "great".

Given that there is not one bona fide star in the Leafs farm system... I would say "barely adequate" is a better description.

The Oilers are WAY WAY WAY ahead of the Leafs in terms of future potential.
- GoneFullRetard

Despite the future (current?) stars we have, our fanbase is just as guilty of overrating middling prospects. Read one of Cloutiers pre-season blogs in a few months. It's mind blowing.

yeah, I know... it is just a feeling really.

I said the same thing before the lottery when I was also predicting that the Leafs would not have a shot at Galchenyuk. So, it really isn't Leafs homerism.

If they don't get Gardiner or Schenn in a trade down, we will both be happy

... as a Leafs fan, I am terrified of Burke right now though. He is about to mortgage the future, yet again, for another futile attempt and climbing UP to mediocrity.
- GoneFullRetard

A guy like him, with his ego wounded and his job possibly on the line...I don't blame you

Kadri, Colborne, Frattin,D'amigo and Ashton are all good prospect forwards. Kadri should be in the nhl next year and i think Frattin will too. I hope they give Colborne a chance. All of those kids are better than Conolly, Lombardi, and Crabb i have no clue why those guys are on our team.
- LEAFSfan28191

Ashton; see also, Caputi.

Kadri tops out as a 2nd liner and that is ONLY if his game gets much better suddenly.

Frattin has hands of stone, may be a good 3rd liner one day if he keeps applying the physical part of his game.

D'amigo's stock has fallen. If he ever has an NHL career it won't be with the Leafs.

Colborne?? ROFL! absolutely useless.

I may be overly pessimistic, but it is entirely possible that my assessment is correct. The Leafs prospect cupboard lacks even one solid, no-question, front line future NHLer.

A guy like him, with his ego wounded and his job possibly on the line...I don't blame you
- GuyLaDouche

That is precisely what terrifies me.

Rather than learning, sucking it up, and building the right way... Burke will see this as an opportunity to suddenly turn it all around and become a contender and make himself look like some hockey genius in the process.

Of course, this is doomed to failure, but I am afraid he can't see reality any more.

1, 3, 5 are absolutely ridiculous.

Weber, a young, established star defenseman for an unproven russian? Right.

Are you saying Weber and Myers have the same trade value?

Are you saying Myers is valued at a budding top 3 defenseman, a 5th overall pick, and an additional first round pick (deal 5)

Are you saying it costs a first round pick, and the NHL's leading point getter among rookie defensemen to move up 4 spots.

PK Subban as the price to move up, doesn't make sense for Montreal if you've seen what this kid does for that team.

No thanks, you guys can draft Yakupov.
- Nastradamus

This.

This.
- MightyPee

We will. I'm not sure why people are in here all butthurt. We will draft him, sit back and watch him score many goals alongside Hall, Eberle and Nuge. We're good with that.

Finally some trades that make sense. I think people under estimate the prestige a GM gets from picking first overall. If it pays off it secures a career that might save someone their job rather than make them the scape goat in the next few years if the team does bad. Any team, especially Burke would trade a lot just to make the fans happy to have the first pick. Same with Montreal. To justify Subban to move up for a talent like Yakupov is not a stretch. Nor is Toronto mortgaging their future picks when they see a player they want (ie Kessel deal).

I don't think Myers is good enough and I would only trade for weber if Nashville let me speak to him about a contract extension first. He is one of the best dmen in the league but they would need him for more than 1 year for it to make sense.

As for trading the pick at all. Tambellini likes to dangle the pick. He has to make it sound like it is possible as their is a price for even Yakupov. However we all know that the price is too high because Yakupov will be an elite player locked in as an RFA with a fair salary for a few years. Hard to trade that. I think it is more likely to get the GMs on the phone to talk about players they like because Edmonton has to sell some contracts. I think we all know they will keep Yakupov even though there is little russian connection on Edmonton. Hemsky finds it home though so I don't think that will be a huge problem for him.

The thing is, all these trades can be done for Eberle or Hall as well. Both might even have more value since they have played. I think if you are Edmonton you deal Hall before Yakupov. There is more value even with the injuries but Yakupov might fit better with RNH.

Also I don't think Columbus is taking a dman at number 2. They need a forward more and I am not sold on the scouting reports.
- bsteinley

Hall is our future captain and a winner. He stays.

Funny how people can frame things to suit their interests...

Yakupov can either be known as 'consensus #1 pick, the next coming over Bure'

or...

'Unproven, injury prone, small Russian'
- robin_steele264

He can be both...

Why is this guy allowed to have a blog on this site. This is terrible.

Hall is our future captain and a winner. He stays.
- ystoil

He might be but is he better than RNH or Eberle? Eberle plays well under pressure and that is something you can't teach. He may be a couple years older but his development this year was significant. RNH is an actual winner. At 18 he changed the tempo of the games. When he was there Edmonton played better. They did. The period he was injured was embarrassing to watch. I don't think that is a coincidence. Hall has been injured in both years.

I like Hall. I do. But I don't know if he is better. He hasn't had the chance to prove it yet. I do know that I would trade him for a top 10 goalie. Vancouver offered Schneider, hamhuis and a pick for him and hemsky... I say done deal.

But the real point to my posting is that they don't need to trade any of their top 4. Tambellini needs to sell a couple dmen, some prospects and some depth players. They need to make room for prospects to make the team and possible UFA's or trades. I would like to see them shave 10 players that played this season from their roster. Omark, Hemsky, Pajarvii, Eager, Hordichuk, Smid, Horcoff, Khabby, dubnyk, Belanger, Sutton, Shultz, barker... Not all of these but trade as many as they can. Things need to change and d and goal need to be addressed. I like dubnyk near the end but he can't win without 4 good dmen. So either get 3 more or trade for a goalie and 1 more. Most of the rest can be dumped for picks and filled by prospects like Hartkienen and Yakupov. Some can be dropped and some might need to be bought out. But this is the real change that needs to happen.

We will. I'm not sure why people are in here all butthurt. We will draft him, sit back and watch him score many goals alongside Hall, Eberle and Nuge. We're good with that.
- GuyLaDouche

I'm bot butthurt at all, but the trade scenarios offered aren't accurate at all according to me. Yakupov could always make an Alexandre Daigle of himself. Great talent, and so on, but not a "lock". Yes, tremendous potential, but potential equal gamble. Subban/Weber/Suter/ aren't gambles, we know what they're able of in this league as of right now.

Also, I agreed because of the comparison Myers vs Weber. Doesn't stand at all.

More, Subban is the only "real" top 2 pairing D (we've got Markov, but well... Admit that we can't count on him :lol. Our D is killing us. So, Subban plus Grigorenko (big center with skills, what we've been dreaming for since quite years) doesn't stand at all.

Also, Yakupov isn't a big size offense : what we're looking for. As Edmonton should be looking for also. That's why I thought Edmonton should go after Rick Nash. A big size winger that can score goals, and also is a "veteran" that could teach/help young talent you've got...

Anyway, no butthurt, simply realistic I guess.

He might be but is he better than RNH or Eberle? Eberle plays well under pressure and that is something you can't teach. He may be a couple years older but his development this year was significant. RNH is an actual winner. At 18 he changed the tempo of the games. When he was there Edmonton played better. They did. The period he was injured was embarrassing to watch. I don't think that is a coincidence. Hall has been injured in both years.

I like Hall. I do. But I don't know if he is better. He hasn't had the chance to prove it yet. I do know that I would trade him for a top 10 goalie. Vancouver offered Schneider, hamhuis and a pick for him and hemsky... I say done deal.

But the real point to my posting is that they don't need to trade any of their top 4. Tambellini needs to sell a couple dmen, some prospects and some depth players. They need to make room for prospects to make the team and possible UFA's or trades. I would like to see them shave 10 players that played this season from their roster. Omark, Hemsky, Pajarvii, Eager, Hordichuk, Smid, Horcoff, Khabby, dubnyk, Belanger, Sutton, Shultz, barker... Not all of these but trade as many as they can. Things need to change and d and goal need to be addressed. I like dubnyk near the end but he can't win without 4 good dmen. So either get 3 more or trade for a goalie and 1 more. Most of the rest can be dumped for picks and filled by prospects like Hartkienen and Yakupov. Some can be dropped and some might need to be bought out. But this is the real change that needs to happen.
- bsteinley

What you propose is an almost surefire way to be in the lottery again.

To Boston- Nail Yakupov, Linus Omark, David Musil
To Edmonton- Dougie Hamilton, Milan Lucic

I'm bot butthurt at all, but the trade scenarios offered aren't accurate at all according to me. Yakupov could always make an Alexandre Daigle of himself. Great talent, and so on, but not a "lock". Yes, tremendous potential, but potential equal gamble. Subban/Weber/Suter/ aren't gambles, we know what they're able of in this league as of right now.

Also, I agreed because of the comparison Myers vs Weber. Doesn't stand at all.

More, Subban is the only "real" top 2 pairing D (we've got Markov, but well... Admit that we can't count on him :lol. Our D is killing us. So, Subban plus Grigorenko (big center with skills, what we've been dreaming for since quite years) doesn't stand at all.

Also, Yakupov isn't a big size offense : what we're looking for. As Edmonton should be looking for also. That's why I thought Edmonton should go after Rick Nash. A big size winger that can score goals, and also is a "veteran" that could teach/help young talent you've got...

Anyway, no butthurt, simply realistic I guess.
- MightyPee

I said somewhere back there that the Subban and Weber trade proposals were stupid. It's pretty obvious MTL and Nashville won't be trading those guys.

Rick Nash? You mean signed for a million years at a gazillion dollars Rick Nash? Topped 70 pts once in his career and -71 career Rick Nash? That Rick Nash? No (frank)ing thank you. He would kill our salary cap and pretty much guarantee two other younger and likely better players would be gone. I wouldn't trade Horcoff for Nash.

Ya mtl's gonna trade their franchise dman to move up 2 spots..

Clouts you gotta give up on the dream of edmonton getting Subban, you hint like mtl would trade him in so many of your blogs, if you're going to write a blog do it about something that is plausible and makes more sense.

If I wanna hear these pipe dreams i'll go have a few beers with my buddies and listen to them talk about how the leafs are gonna sign the biggest upcoming UFA every summer

Uhm.. There is absolutly no way Subban gets traded? I am not even willing to read the rest of this because that is ridiculous. As you said so yourself, the 2nd forward taken might as well have as much potential as Yakupov if it is Galchenyuk, Grigorenko or Forsberg.

IF habs and oilers make a deal for a defenceman, it may as well be Tinordi or Beaulieu. Tinordi the captain of the best team in the OHL, a defencive defencman and Beaulieu a proven offencive catalyst from the backend.

IF montreal was smart they would not trade any key pieces because number 3 is going to be an allstar forward anyways.

To Montreal: Oilers 1st overall, Darcy Hordichuk, Oilers 3rd round

To Edmonton: Montreal 3rd overall, Montreal 33rd overall (possibly m.subban/tokarski), Beaulieu OR Tinordi, Plekanec.

Ya mtl's gonna trade their franchise dman to move up 2 spots..

Clouts you gotta give up on the dream of edmonton getting Subban, you hint like mtl would trade him in so many of your blogs, if you're going to write a blog do it about something that is plausible and makes more sense.

If I wanna hear these pipe dreams i'll go have a few beers with my buddies and listen to them talk about how the leafs are gonna sign the biggest upcoming UFA every summer
- perezje

Yakupov, Eberle, Hall and Nuge for Subban.

I said somewhere back there that the Subban and Weber trade proposals were stupid. It's pretty obvious MTL and Nashville won't be trading those guys.

Rick Nash? You mean signed for a million years at a gazillion dollars Rick Nash? Topped 70 pts once in his career and -71 career Rick Nash? That Rick Nash? No (frank)ing thank you. He would kill our salary cap and pretty much guarantee two other younger and likely better players would be gone. I wouldn't trade Horcoff for Nash.
- GuyLaDouche

Cap wise aside I was talking about. I maybe should have said "a guy like" Nash. Horcoff vs Nash ? Come on. 5M off the books, and add a guy like Nash that scored 40+ couple of times, for 2M more, without great playmakers on his line ? Think about him aside Eberle and Hall... Ouch ! Scary as hell. I understand the cap thing, and it would cost a long time reflection about the cap management, but hockey wise admit it would be nice to see.

Let's talk about a guy you know : Eric Cole. One of the best (if not THE best) on Montreal line-up this year. He's not near at all to Nash's abilities. Would I trade Cole for Nash straight up (forgetting the cap management) ? Anytime !!!

Anyway, I think Edmonton need a scoring big size vet on the first 2 lines. That's it. Yakupov isn't.

Man some of guy are retarded these trade scenarios were intended to be lop sided deals. The Oilers have no intentions of dealing Yakupov unless it is for some obscene package like the ones mentioned in Dicks blog minus the Myers deal. He is not being dealt end of story.