When people talk about the Colorado glory days they forget that they made three monsterous trades in building their team. They traded away both Lindros and Sundin. They also acquired Patrick Roy through another trade.

I think you always take the best player in the draft. At some point the Oilers will need to balance out their roster to add in size and some defensive jam. But, the acquisition of the new pieces is not too difficult if you already have most of the key pieces in place and a surplus of talent that allows you to make strategic deals.
- spatso

Too much logic for one blog GtFO...

Solid post. However I do want size in our top 6. I hope we acquire another first for Tom Wilson
- ystoil

You do like those Avs teams did and make sure you have size with your complimentary players.

Colorado (glory days)
Joe Sakic (5'11" / 195lbs)
Peter Forsberg (6' / 205lbs)
Milan Hejduk (6' / 190lbs)
Chris Drury (5'11" / 190lbs)
Alex Tanguay (6' / 194lbs)

vs

Edmonton (now)
Taylor Hall (6'1" / 194lbs)
RNH (6'1" / 175lbs)
Joran Eberle (5'11"/ 184lbs
Sam Gagner (5'11" / 195lbs)
Ales Hemsky (6' / 185lbs)

Apparently you can win stanley cups with undersized skilled forwards.
- Starbuck

Awww shit....lawyered with his own team...

Nice shooting starbuck

If they were offered a signed and sealed Suter, I think I would stomp on Tambi's nuts if he turned it down. Too bad Nashville won't be doing that.
- GuyLaDouche

You should stomp Tambi's nuts on general principle.

Staal is a very good player, and is only getting better. Easily could have had 35+ goals this season if he was healthy. Yakupov on the other hand is going to be a star sniper for a while. I don't think you can trade a player like Yakupov (potential franchise RW) for a player like Staal (2nd line two way scoring C). I do think Staal does have significant value since he will be an RFA after next season I believe and not a UFA. Just not enough to be worth the #1 pick.
- zach parise9

Good post.

If any of the other 29 teams had the 1st overall pick they'd be "overvaluing" rather than preaching he hasn't played a game yet.

I'd rather see a deal get done using a package with some combination of hemsky, gagner, paajarvi and a pick or prospect. I think Pitts would love Paajarvi and hemmer..... If hemsky stays healthy of course. Maybe they can put a clause which states the oilers give a pick if hemsky plays under x amount of games.

You should stomp Tambi's nuts on general principle.
- Starbuck

Perhaps, but I know what getting my nuts stomped on feels like and it doesn't feel all that good. It should be a serious crime to get your nuts stomped on. Turning down a deal for a bonafide #1 blueline anchor would qualify. Good as Nail may be, there are certain things you dont say no to. Suter will go to FA anyways, so it doesnt really matter.

Staal is a very good player, and is only getting better. Easily could have had 35+ goals this season if he was healthy. Yakupov on the other hand is going to be a star sniper for a while. I don't think you can trade a player like Yakupov (potential franchise RW) for a player like Staal (2nd line two way scoring C). I do think Staal does have significant value since he will be an RFA after next season I believe and not a UFA. Just not enough to be worth the #1 pick.
- zach parise9

The only problem I have with this is the "projection" of stats. It is like saying that if Hemsky was healthy for those two years he would have been a ppg player, of if Parise didn't miss that year he would have been a 30+ goal scorer. Fact is they did miss that time and were not those things.

Good post. If any of the other 29 teams had the 1st overall pick they'd be "overvaluing" rather than preaching he hasn't played a game yet.
I'd rather see a deal get done using a package with some combination of hemsky, gagner, paajarvi and a pick or prospect. I think Pitts would love Paajarvi and hemmer..... If hemsky stays healthy of course. Maybe they can put a clause which states the oilers give a pick if hemsky plays under x amount of games.
- ystoil

Unless we're gettin an absolute stud back, prv doesnt move!
His value is probably is less than his potential too.
Doesnt make sense.

Just because he hasnt progressed at the same rate as ebs or hall, hes thrown around in trade discussion.
He has all the tools.. Including size. Which is paramount for our top 6 right now.

Hemmer or gags should go. Giving up on prv at this stage isnt wise.
Imo, we might already have 5/ 6 top six forwards filled for years to come.
Deal with that 2nd line center with size and we're good in that department

Perhaps, but I know what getting my nuts stomped on feels like and it doesn't feel all that good. It should be a serious crime to get your nuts stomped on. Turning down a deal for a bonafide #1 blueline anchor would qualify. Good as Nail may be, there are certain things you dont say no to. Suter will go to FA anyways, so it doesnt really matter.
- GuyLaDouche

Suter will be a Red Wing.

Suter will be a Red Wing.
- Starbuck

pretty big possibility. Unfortunately for them, he won't replace Lidstrom. Of course, no one really would.

People also forget there is a prestige factor with picking first. Trading for the number one pick brings positive attention to the team and its management. It shows commitment to the future which helps with fans and players. Which translates to tickets and possible signings. If someone like NYI was to acquire it and go strong at the draft for players they would have a good chance for UFA's and also help with fan base in terms of their relocation plans. For example.

However the same goes for Edmonton. Needing 100 million for their arena they are CURRENTLY trying to get the public to strong arm the government to spending a first overall pick would be huge. Having another poster boy to go with the RNH and Hall is big. Eberle may be the best of the 3 right now but he is just starting to sell jerseys. Next year he will be bigger to the common joe. However everyone will know the 3 first overall picks and what that means to a hockey club.

Not just the fans. But the UFA's as well. If I am a player Edmonton becomes not so unattractive. They are a huge hockey city and they have a bright future guaranteed by the RFA terms of the CBA. There are a few UFA dmen that could sign with the team and become the number one man. That could make someone's career just by being on the power play with these guys.

The number one pick has too much value to teams that have an agenda beyond just building a team. This year is crucial for Edmonton. Too crucial to trade it for anything less than a superstar that would provide equal clout with the fans and players. Unless you guys think Tyler Myers or some other non NHL ready prospect is going to excite the fan base.

Perhaps, but I know what getting my nuts stomped on feels like and it doesn't feel all that good. It should be a serious crime to get your nuts stomped on. Turning down a deal for a bonafide #1 blueline anchor would qualify. Good as Nail may be, there are certain things you dont say no to. Suter will go to FA anyways, so it doesnt really matter.
- GuyLaDouche

Let me ask you this. If the Leafs call up and said we will send you Luke Schenn, Nazem Kadri and 5th overall in exchange for 1st overall. Do you do it ?

Suter will be a Red Wing.
- Starbuck

Good bet. They got 20 mil to spend too

pretty big possibility. Unfortunately for them, he won't replace Lidstrom. Of course, no one really would.
- GuyLaDouche

I was more thinking Rafalski replacement. The Wings never really replaced him.

People also forget there is a prestige factor with picking first. Trading for the number one pick brings positive attention to the team and its management. It shows commitment to the future which helps with fans and players. Which translates to tickets and possible signings. If someone like NYI was to acquire it and go strong at the draft for players they would have a good chance for UFA's and also help with fan base in terms of their relocation plans. For example.

However the same goes for Edmonton. Needing 100 million for their arena they are CURRENTLY trying to get the public to strong arm the government to spending a first overall pick would be huge. Having another poster boy to go with the RNH and Hall is big. Eberle may be the best of the 3 right now but he is just starting to sell jerseys. Next year he will be bigger to the common joe. However everyone will know the 3 first overall picks and what that means to a hockey club.

Not just the fans. But the UFA's as well. If I am a player Edmonton becomes not so unattractive. They are a huge hockey city and they have a bright future guaranteed by the RFA terms of the CBA. There are a few UFA dmen that could sign with the team and become the number one man. That could make someone's career just by being on the power play with these guys.

The number one pick has too much value to teams that have an agenda beyond just building a team. This year is crucial for Edmonton. Too crucial to trade it for anything less than a superstar that would provide equal clout with the fans and players. Unless you guys think Tyler Myers or some other non NHL ready prospect is going to excite the fan base.
- bsteinley

When you pick 1st overall three years in a row the prestige factor is kind of a dubious benefit. It's becoming kind of a joke at this point. I see what you're saying and agree, but this really had better be the last year they pick in the lottery.

and I know you probably just worded it wrong, but since when is Tyler Myers a non NHL ready prospect?

Let me ask you this. If the Leafs call up and said we will send you Luke Schenn, Nazem Kadri and 5th overall in exchange for 1st overall. Do you do it ?
- Starbuck

Not a chance.

I was more thinking Rafalski replacement. The Wings never really replaced him.
- Starbuck

I think if Lidstrom retires they're going to be in very unfamiliar territory, even if they get Suter.

Let me ask you this. If the Leafs call up and said we will send you Luke Schenn, Nazem Kadri and 5th overall in exchange for 1st overall. Do you do it ?
- Starbuck

not if Kadri is in the mix too many small forwards here already but if you add say a larger forward then I would have to think about it.

not if Kadri is in the mix too many small forwards here already but if you add say a larger forward then I would have to think about it.
- longbottom

I thought he was bigger for some stupid reason.

Unless we're gettin an absolute stud back, prv doesnt move!
His value is probably is less than his potential too.
Doesnt make sense.

Just because he hasnt progressed at the same rate as ebs or hall, hes thrown around in trade discussion.
He has all the tools.. Including size. Which is paramount for our top 6 right now.

Hemmer or gags should go. Giving up on prv at this stage isnt wise.
Imo, we might already have 5/ 6 top six forwards filled for years to come.
Deal with that 2nd line center with size and we're good in that department
- hugefemale dog77

That's what my post was getting at. We go after staal to fill the 2nd line center void. I'm using Paajarvi because he has the most value outside of the 1st pick and our 3 main pieces. If he haas the most value we need to include him to get a valuable asset in return. I'd prefer to trade gags and hemmer over prv as well but Pitts has cap issues ...or will soon. Paajarvi is cheap, can skate and has size as you mentioned so Pitts would take him over gags IMO. It'd likely have to be hemmer and Paajarvi to get staal and maybe we'd have to take a bit of salary back.

I think if Lidstrom retires they're going to be in very unfamiliar territory, even if they get Suter.
- GuyLaDouche

I agree and we will see just how good of a GM Ken Holland really is.

Let me ask you this. If the Leafs call up and said we will send you Luke Schenn, Nazem Kadri and 5th overall in exchange for 1st overall. Do you do it ?
- Starbuck

Gardner Biggs and the 5th is what'd I request. Chance of happening is 0. Schenns a pylon and we don't need Kadri. I like my deal better

I thought he was bigger for some stupid reason.
- Starbuck

Nah he's smaller. Plays a more physical type game and his style hasn't really translated well yet. Nothing saying he couldn't still potentially be a 2nd liner. We have enough project players already though.

My issue with the trade is that Schenn doesn't do enough for us defensively and the 5th overall will likely be nowhere near what Yakupov is. Its well known this draft is dman heavy and forward depth is lacking. Another thing, despite the hubub around our offence, the Oil were still in the bottom half of the league in GF last year. Having a bevy of highly talented forwards around is not a problem in my eyes.

As I've said a number of times, the pick won't be moved out unless it's a stupid overpayment.

Gardner Biggs and the 5th is what'd I request. Chance of happening is 0. Schenns a pylon and we don't need Kadri. I like my deal better
- ystoil

I see Schenn turning into Jason Smith V2.0

I see Schenn turning into Jason Smith V2.0
- Starbuck

I still miss Gator sometimes.