The immediate quality of the player(s) the Oilers could get for the 1st overall pick goes up as you move down the draft board. A team like San Jose who always seems to fall short of expectations could perhaps be willing to part with a star player...but in the long-term, is getting a player who can't get it done with a different team really in the Oilers best interests?

I see the solution, if the Oilers are willing to deal the 1st overall pick, is to get a younger yet immediate defenseman, and a high pick so they can take another quality prospect. Schenn might be one of the only players available who could fill that order. The Habs aren't going to deal Subban, and the Islanders don't have a good defenseman to give up (maybe Hamonic, although I think everyone completely overrates him). Maybe Fowler from Anaheim?
- Maxbone

I'd also pass on Hamonic.

I'd also pass on Hamonic.
- deks1

He's better than Schenn.

How about trading down even lower in the top 10 for a better defenseman? Like Bogosian and the 9th, and we add something mediocre. I mean, if it's absolutely necessary to have a higher pick. But (frank), Luke Schenn types are available for reasonable prices, and shouldn't be worth trading down from first just to get.
- Jack-artist

Bogosian sucks. I wouldn't deal for him. Tobias Enstrom is someone I'd deal for, but the risk with him is, he's a UFA in a year. If he re-signed long-term, Enstrom and the 9th overall pick for 1st overall isn't half bad.

He's better than Schenn.
- Jack-artist

Schenn has more potential. Keep in mind the D depth situation in TO. Schenn was treated about as fairly as Magnus Paajarvi was last season.

Okay, wait 3-5 years for those guys to possibly turn out and wallow in the bottom-third for the next little while? There's always the trade route too.
- Jack-artist

I don't think Hall or the others would wait. See what happens in NSH for Weber and Suter to wait for Poile to get his act together and bring in some high end offensive talent...they waited too long, they wanna leave. Trade route is the key, sad to say, but EDM will have to overpay for it and just let it go.

Bogosian sucks. I wouldn't deal for him. Tobias Enstrom is someone I'd deal for, but the risk with him is, he's a UFA in a year. If he re-signed long-term, Enstrom and the 9th overall pick for 1st overall isn't half bad.
- Maxbone

Bogosian doesn't suck. He made huge strides the past season. Enstrom is better right now, but him being a UFA is a concern.

He's better than Schenn.
- Jack-artist

Damn, put Lowe back in the GM seat for one day and offer seat Carlson.

Bogosian doesn't suck. He made huge strides the past season. Enstrom is better right now, but him being a UFA is a concern.
- Jack-artist

I'd go with Bogosian over Enstrom and at 9th pick there is still very good defensive and offensive prospects.

Schenn has more potential. Keep in mind the D depth situation in TO. Schenn was treated about as fairly as Magnus Paajarvi was last season.
- Maxbone

How was Schenn treated badly? He wasn't ready to handle the tough assignments so they gave him a lessor role, and he didn't do well with that either. He got passed on the depth chart by Gunnarsson and Gardiner, who outplayed him. Paajarvi got HS'ed more, and was sent to the minors. Difference being that Paajarvi was replaced by inferior players, while Schenn was given much more oppurtunity and couldn't do anything with it. Both however, were still in charge of their own destinies to a degree and didn't force themselves up the lineup.

I'd go with Bogosian over Enstrom and at 9th pick there is still very good defensive and offensive prospects.
- deks1

I think I would too. Bogo is contributing similarly at a younger age.

I think I would too. Bogo is contributing similarly at a younger age.
- Jack-artist

I like the idea of a younger player at the moment because they will also grow along with the rest of the other kids on the team.

How was Schenn treated badly? He wasn't ready to handle the tough assignments so they gave him a lessor role, and he didn't do well with that either. He got passed on the depth chart by Gunnarsson and Gardiner, who outplayed him. Paajarvi got HS'ed more, and was sent to the minors. Difference being that Paajarvi was replaced by inferior players, while Schenn was given much more oppurtunity and couldn't do anything with it. Both however, were still in charge of their own destinies to a degree and didn't force themselves up the lineup.
- Jack-artist

I didn't say Schenn was treated badly. I said fairly. And if I was Schenn, I would have been a little discouraged to go from a bigger role on a losing team one season, to a smaller (if playing at all) role on a team that still lost all the time. The strangest thing about the Leafs season in 2011/2012 was, even though they look stacked defensively, they weren't good at keeping the puck out of their net.

Lots of reasons why the Leafs took a step back last season instead of a step forward. Some comes down to goaltending. Some comes down to bad coaching. Some comes down to how players were used.

I think if Schenn was dealt to Edmonton, everyone including Schenn would quickly remember how good of a prospect this guy is.

I didn't say Schenn was treated badly. I said fairly. And if I was Schenn, I would have been a little discouraged to go from a bigger role on a losing team one season, to a smaller (if playing at all) role on a team that still lost all the time. The strangest thing about the Leafs season in 2011/2012 was, even though they look stacked defensively, they weren't good at keeping the puck out of their net.

Lots of reasons why the Leafs took a step back last season instead of a step forward. Some comes down to goaltending. Some comes down to bad coaching. Some comes down to how players were used.

I think if Schenn was dealt to Edmonton, everyone including Schenn would quickly remember how good of a prospect this guy is.
- Maxbone

I just have my doubts about his potential. I don't believe he'll be much more than a Rob Scuderi or Nick Schultz at best. He's just not worth trading down from 1st overall for.

You guys should pick up Terry Murray. He's great with younger teams. Defense first guy might not gel with your offensive team, but he could get the boys playing some D that's for sure.

It is, but what other options do the Oilers have? The only way the Oilers immediately get better is if they deal the 1st overall pick to a team that will give them an immediate defenseman, plus if the Oilers make perhaps a few other deals.

L1: Chris Stewart - Nuge - Eberle
L2: Hall - Gagner - Hemsky
L3: Hartikainen - Horcoff - Jones
L4: Eager - Belanger - ?

D1: Smid/Petry
D2: Whitney/N. Schultz
D3: J. Schultz/Schenn

G1: Dubnyk
G2: Harding

- Paajarvi and a pick to St. Louis for Chris Stewart
- 1st overall pick to TO for Luke Schenn, the 5th overall pick, and a 3rd asset
- Schultz and Harding signed as UFA's
- Maxbone

(frank) man, did you watch Schenn play even once this year?

I'd also pass on Hamonic.
- deks1

I wouldn't.

Yakupov is the easy pick for your number 1. But am I the only one who thinks A top teir defenceman should be your first priority?

Not to mention The Russian mentality going into a low teer team may be a little off-setting?

Personally I would take Yak Myself if I were the Oil. But I think this squad has other needs than offence at this point.

And I dont know Yaks personality But its not uncommon to see big shot Russians feel they're too good to play on a less than good squad.

Love the title.

(frank) man, did you watch Schenn play even once this year?
- robin_steele264

Why would anyone want to do that?

I dont know how long its going to take for everyone on here to realize that young, high end D men don't grow on Trees. They aren't easy to come by.

Therefore, why do you all think trading for one of said player would be so easy?

Of course, any player can be had for the right price. If your talking acquiring a player and an additional first round pick? If it's a higher first round pick, your not getting much.

For example, if you were going to attempt to get Zach Bogosian.

Bogosian
9th
Winnipegs 2nd

for

1st Overall
31st/32nd overall

Winnipeg gets Yakupov and moves up an additional draft spot, Oilers get Bogosian and still have a shot at someone like Trouba/Reinhart.

Please note that even a scenario like this is a long shot. Moving up even just a few spots in the draft doesn't require much, especially not a guy like Bogosian. I just think Winnipeg jumps at a player like Yakupov to base their franchise around.

Oh, and for the record, you all couldn't make it more obvious that you don't watch (frank)ing hockey. You all suck John Carlson on these boards all day long. Yes, he is a very, very good young dman. He's going to be one of top dmen in the league for awhile. But right now, he's still developing. He lead the NHL in give-aways this year.

Yes, if he were here in Edmonton, you'd appreciate his talent. But honestly, you (frank)ers would be eating him alive with some of his decision making.

Why would anyone want to do that?
- Maxbone

He was the worst dman on the 2nd worst defensive team in the league.


He sucks.

Todd Nelson or Bob McKenzie, please...

Todd Nelson or Bob McKenzie, please...
- laughs2907

Ron Wilson would be awesome.

Yakupov is the easy pick for your number 1. But am I the only one who thinks A top teir defenceman should be your first priority?

Not to mention The Russian mentality going into a low teer team may be a little off-setting?

Personally I would take Yak Myself if I were the Oil. But I think this squad has other needs than offence at this point.

And I dont know Yaks personality But its not uncommon to see big shot Russians feel they're too good to play on a less than good squad.
- TheCouv

Watch some interviews with the kid. Couldn't be any less like your proto-typical Russian. He's already stated he's excited to come to Edmonton.

A top tier dman is every team's priority except the teams that already have them, which are few and far between.

Ron Wilson would be awesome.
- robin_steele264

He looks like one of my profs. I'd rather him than Sutter.