Let me ask you, if you were Edmonton would you trade Yakupov for Staal, be honest.

maybe, maybe not, but I wouldn't trade staal for a first overall straight up either. Honestly, if it was a team desperate for a center, then yes I would trade yak for staal. edm really needs d or goalie more. I'd keep the pick. but pitt should absolutley not trade staal for a ? even a highly regarded ?

Hemsky isn't a center. The Oilers are set on the wings with Hemsky included, hence why I said they have to improve their centers. Neilson had 3 less points in 20 more games. If Staal plays the whole season Neilson isn't even close.

At some point the Oilers have to start addressing their needs. The easiest way to do that is to move what other teams might want. They aren't going to get better players by trading Horcoff, Jones, Belanger, Omark, or Peckham.
- Ben37

I do agree with you saying they'll have to move picks/prospects for established players, my team needs to start doing the same (should have started with the last draft as a matter of fact) but its giving up too much for too little a return. Again, Staal is a good player but he's not good enough for a first overall. Certainly not one with Yak's potential, I know its potential but I think just about every GM is going to take a chance on a potential bust.

I'm not an Oiler fan but my GM blows as well and should be fired. Staal doesnt exactly have the best injury history. Whether they need a great third line center or a second line center Tambelini would never make this trade and if he did it'd be his last.
- Cptmjl

His first 4 years in the league he played in 81, 82, 82, 82 games. At the end of year 4 Subban sliced him up and his infection cost him the beginning part of year 5. Then he blocked a shot and had a broken bone the week he came back. This year he took a knee to knee from Rupp and missed 3-4 weeks. Criticize if you must, but be accurate.

Let me ask you, if you were Edmonton would you trade Yakupov for Staal, be honest.

maybe, maybe not, but I wouldn't trade staal for a first overall straight up either. Honestly, if it was a team desperate for a center, then yes I would trade yak for staal. edm really needs d or goalie more. I'd keep the pick. but pitt should absolutley not trade staal for a ? even a highly regarded ?
- ChrisMS

Thats good that you feel that way because Tambelini isn't going to do it for a ? second line center.

His first 4 years in the league he played in 81, 82, 82, 82 games. At the end of year 4 Subban sliced him up and his infection cost him the beginning part of year 5. Then he blocked a shot and had a broken bone the week he came back. This year he took a knee to knee from Rupp and missed 3-4 weeks. Criticize if you must, but be accurate.
- Gunner Staal

I'm not criticizing, he has had significant injuries the last three years. Doesn't matter what they are from, they are injuries. Radek Martinek was a good defense man of ours. Guy couldn't stay healthy, same stuff incidental contact, blocked shot stuff. Doesn't matter he was injured alot and didnt play.

Last forward drafted first overall that didn't score 20 as a rookie was Stefan in 1999.

Nash and NuHop both score 20 if they play enough games.
- mochoson

i didnt mean that as a sarcastic statement. im with you. he is going to be a good one.

i didnt mean that as a sarcastic statement. im with you. he is going to be a good one.
- stayinthefnnet

He is, wish we won the lottery. (frank)ing Edmonton! They are going to have some team. Time to eat, later!

I do agree with you saying they'll have to move picks/prospects for established players, my team needs to start doing the same (should have started with the last draft as a matter of fact) but its giving up too much for too little a return. Again, Staal is a good player but he's not good enough for a first overall. Certainly not one with Yak's potential, I know its potential but I think just about every GM is going to take a chance on a potential bust.
- Cptmjl

Now would be the time for the Oilers to move that #1 for a center or a defensemen. They already have top line wingers who have shown that they can play in the NHL. Yakupov isn't going to usurp Hall or Eberle from the top line.

It's a common theory of that a team should trade from where they have an abundance of strength to fill a weakness. The Oilers have top 6 wingers, they aren't trading Hall or Eberle and the Pens don't want Hemsky. If they want to make a PRV for Staal deal, the Oilers will have to add a pick or a player especially after the season PRV had.. If they truely want Staal, their best bet is to trade this draft pick.

Let me ask you, if you were Edmonton would you trade Yakupov for Staal, be honest.

maybe, maybe not, but I wouldn't trade staal for a first overall straight up either. Honestly, if it was a team desperate for a center, then yes I would trade yak for staal. edm really needs d or goalie more. I'd keep the pick. but pitt should absolutley not trade staal for a ? even a highly regarded ?
- ChrisMS

Edmonton feels comfortable with Dubnyk going forward. I do agree they need to improve their blueline though.

Their biggest holes are down the middle and on the blueline.

His first 4 years in the league he played in 81, 82, 82, 82 games. At the end of year 4 Subban sliced him up and his infection cost him the beginning part of year 5. Then he blocked a shot and had a broken bone the week he came back. This year he took a knee to knee from Rupp and missed 3-4 weeks. Criticize if you must, but be accurate.
- Gunner Staal

yeah to lump staal in in with hemsky in terms of being injury prone is ridiculous. staal had a track record of being insanely durable his first 4 years. Those three injuries are largely just bad breaks, and not indicative of any sort of chronic issue, as is the case with hemsky.

I'm not criticizing, he has had significant injuries the last three years. Doesn't matter what they are from, they are injuries. Radek Martinek was a good defense man of ours. Guy couldn't stay healthy, same stuff incidental contact, blocked shot stuff. Doesn't matter he was injured alot and didnt play.
- Cptmjl

That is an incredibly naive statement.

I'm not criticizing, he has had significant injuries the last three years. Doesn't matter what they are from, they are injuries. Radek Martinek was a good defense man of ours. Guy couldn't stay healthy, same stuff incidental contact, blocked shot stuff. Doesn't matter he was injured alot and didnt play.
- Cptmjl

There is a big difference between Hemsky injuries and Staal injuries.

There is a big difference between Hemsky injuries and Staal injuries.
- Oneonta Penguin

the fact that this is a point of contention is mind numbing. im all for talking about trades that will never happen, but jesus this is just getting dumb

i didnt mean that as a sarcastic statement. im with you. he is going to be a good one.
- stayinthefnnet

Oh no, I understood friend.

Just an interesting statistic I thought I'd mention.

Oh no, I understood friend.

Just an interesting statistic I thought I'd mention.
- mochoson

nothing wrong with that. haha although to be fair, staal himself had 29

Let me ask you, if you were Edmonton would you trade Yakupov for Staal, be honest.
- Cptmjl

It depends on the draft. If there were a Crosby, a Malkin, a Ovechkin, a Stamkos, a Lemieux, then no. Yakupov ISN'T in that category. He isn't a bonafide stud. Everyone in Edmonton uses the word potential in front of that word stud. That is a big word.

Whether it be Staal or someone else, this would be the year I trade the pick. You have alot of holes in Edmonton and very few answers on the farm IMO. Even your answers are a few years away. The blueline sucks; I would look for a goalie and quite frankly a young veteran presence who has had success on the NHL level (focal part to a Cup winner or someone who can provide more than one thing on the ice). You are relying on kids in their first and second year or in the case of Horcoff, Hemsky and Smyth, guys on the decline. It's time for your organization to start putting wins on the board.

Heres a little something to brighten the mood around here. If you can get around the terrible soundtrack there are a ton of amazing highlights. Specifically at the 3:48 mark. That goal is why Mario's statue is what it is (not the exact play but the concept). Truly remarkable how many highlight goals he has with guys trying to tackle him. On an average goal in these 3 videos there are about 2 or 3 penalties that could be called on any given play. Its a 3 part series (about 21 minutes total), I'll post the links to the other two at the bottom. Enjoy, its still great to be a Penguins fan



Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/wa...dgtn4KRz9o&feature=relmfu

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/wa...dR26f1vXNc&feature=relmfu
- Gunner Staal

Awesome, he was amazing! Girlfriend just bought me 2 Lemieux jerseys. One to frame and one to wear.

Awesome, he was amazing! Girlfriend just bought me 2 Lemieux jerseys. One to frame and one to wear.
- Sell My Monkey

That's a girlfriend you keep!

It depends on the draft. If there were a Crosby, a Malkin, a Ovechkin, a Stamkos, a Lemieux, then no. Yakupov ISN'T in that category. He isn't a bonafide stud. Everyone in Edmonton uses the word potential in front of that word stud. That is a big word.

Whether it be Staal or someone else, this would be the year I trade the pick. You have alot of holes in Edmonton and very few answers on the farm IMO. Even your answers are a few years away. The blueline sucks; I would look for a goalie and quite frankly a young veteran presence who has had success on the NHL level (focal part to a Cup winner or someone who can provide more than one thing on the ice). You are relying on kids in their first and second year or in the case of Horcoff, Hemsky and Smyth, guys on the decline. It's time for your organization to start putting wins on the board.
- Oneonta Penguin

How little you know about Edmonton is almost laughable.

Heres a little something to brighten the mood around here. If you can get around the terrible soundtrack there are a ton of amazing highlights. Specifically at the 3:48 mark. That goal is why Mario's statue is what it is (not the exact play but the concept). Truly remarkable how many highlight goals he has with guys trying to tackle him. On an average goal in these 3 videos there are about 2 or 3 penalties that could be called on any given play. Its a 3 part series (about 21 minutes total), I'll post the links to the other two at the bottom. Enjoy, its still great to be a Penguins fan



Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/wa...dgtn4KRz9o&feature=relmfu

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/wa...dR26f1vXNc&feature=relmfu
- Gunner Staal

How little you know about Edmonton is almost laughable.
- GuyLaDouche

Where is he wrong?

Are the Oilers banking on guys like Pitlick, Gernat, Pelss, Reider and so on to suddenly have an impact on the NHL? Because they are at least a few seasons away.

Where is he wrong?

Are the Oilers banking on guys like Pitlick, Gernat, Pelss, Reider and so on to suddenly have an impact on the NHL? Because they are at least a few seasons away.
- Ben37

Banking on them to do what fill bottom 6 minutes? Those holes are easy to fill the only real issue is acquiring a top 2 and a top 4 D-men. Not that this is an easy task but there are definitely enough assets to make that happen not to mention that the top 4 can be signed on July 1st.

Banking on them to do what fill bottom 6 minutes? Those holes are easy to fill the only real issue is acquiring a top 2 and a top 4 D-men. Not that this is an easy task but there are definitely enough assets to make that happen not to mention that the top 4 can be signed on July 1st.
- Oil Tycoon

Acquiring a top 2 defenseman means trading a major asset. They don't grow on trees. Why not use the top pick on doing just that? You aren't trading Eberle, Hall or RHN. Who else do you have? Hemsky doesn't bring that; Smyth doesn't and neither does Horcoff. None of the guys on the farm bring that either.

Add in the fact its hard for Edmonton to go out and sign a significant free agent these days, you have to acquire these pieces via trades and that means trading value.

Acquiring a top 2 defenseman means trading a major asset. They don't grow on trees. Why not use the top pick on doing just that? You aren't trading Eberle, Hall or RHN. Who else do you have? Hemsky doesn't bring that; Smyth doesn't and neither does Horcoff. None of the guys on the farm bring that either.

Add in the fact its hard for Edmonton to go out and sign a significant free agent these days, you have to acquire these pieces via trades and that means trading value.
- Oneonta Penguin

Don't you know that teams value all of the Oilers players as much as their fans do and they can get anything they want for them...Oh and all their prospects are can't miss

Acquiring a top 2 defenseman means trading a major asset. They don't grow on trees. Why not use the top pick on doing just that? You aren't trading Eberle, Hall or RHN. Who else do you have? Hemsky doesn't bring that; Smyth doesn't and neither does Horcoff. None of the guys on the farm bring that either.

Add in the fact its hard for Edmonton to go out and sign a significant free agent these days, you have to acquire these pieces via trades and that means trading value.
- Oneonta Penguin

Well I am pretty sure almost any team would jump at the chance of acquiring the Oilers 2013 1st round pick which looks like a lock to be in the top 8. Package that with a mix of PRV,Klefbom,Gagner,Hemsky and some of the many other up and comers in the system and it looks like a pretty descent package to acquire a top two D-man.