Richard Cloutier: Nail Biter

Fist off, great job clouts, enjoy all you offer. Also we'd be pretty dumb to trade this pick as I think we can fill our needs trading others. Also in a year or two we're going to have free agents asking us to join our team.

Of course that would be a bad trade. Staal is good at Defense and 2 way play, and no one in EDM believes in that lmao! All that matters is small offensive skilled forwards, the rest of the positions dont matter. Also there should be an illegal defense rule added to the NHL so the Oilers can get higher than 29th

Of course that would be a bad trade. Staal is good at Defense and 2 way play, and no one in EDM believes in that lmao! All that matters is small offensive skilled forwards, the rest of the positions dont matter. Also there should be an illegal defense rule added to the NHL so the Oilers can get higher than 29th
- Meeqsb

Staal isnt worth a number 1 overall pick is all he said... And hes right.
Not that staal wouldnt help us.
Hes not worth hall or nuge straight up, so why would he be worth a guy whos even more highly touted than those 2 were?

U should attempt to comprehend what you read before u comment and embarass yourself.

Stall AND Despres on the other hand? Id consider it

no way the sens would trade Zibanejad (future 1 A/B center on this team) and Lehner (goalie prospect the organization has pegged as their future #1). In fact I don't think Ottawa would include either one of these guys in a package for the Oils #1 pick.

Why not make a deal with THE team that wants the #1 pick the most.....Columbus.
The Oil trade the #1 pick to CBJ for the #2 overall and a prospect like Boone Jenner.

While I don't think edmonton will trade the #1 pick.... I wouldn't say it's completely out of the question.

Of course that would be a bad trade. Staal is good at Defense and 2 way play, and no one in EDM believes in that lmao! All that matters is small offensive skilled forwards, the rest of the positions dont matter. Also there should be an illegal defense rule added to the NHL so the Oilers can get higher than 29th
- Meeqsb

Haha yeah that rule would be awesome!

Who are the Avs gonna take with their 1st round pick?

I'm wondering at what point do the oilers start packaging some of their "other" prospects in deals to upgrade the current roster? How many of gernat, musil, marancin, blain, davidson, fedun, and klefbom are going to make the oilers roster? what about pitlick, hamilton, reider, omark, and whoever is drafted this year?

My proposal is upgrade the defense and bottom six by using some of these prospects as trade chips. I mean it's obvious that musil, gernat, marancin and klefbom are regarded highly and fedun almost made the roster last year. but we've got a glut of 4/5/6 d-men that could be moved with other assets to upgrade the roster.

Some of the writers trade suggestions seem just downright awful, this is one of the worst ones ive read...even if u package it, it still doesnt make sense, why would you trade two, even three B level players for a top A level prospect..if the oilers really wanted staal they could get him another way..but Im starting to think that staal is becoming one of the most overrated players in the entire league..even with crosby and malkin missing a ton of games these past two seasons..staal still has been stuck under 50 points..yes hes a great two way second-third line center, but Yakupov projects much much higher..

Some of the writers trade suggestions seem just downright awful, this is one of the worst ones ive read...even if u package it, it still doesnt make sense, why would you trade two, even three B level players for a top A level prospect..if the oilers really wanted staal they could get him another way..but Im starting to think that staal is becoming one of the most overrated players in the entire league..even with crosby and malkin missing a ton of games these past two seasons..staal still has been stuck under 50 points..yes hes a great two way second-third line center, but Yakupov projects much much higher..
- oilers2k12

Because you would think the Oilers need to address other issues sometime don't you? The Oilers have plenty of offensive talent already. The Oil need to focus on a #1 Dman and a true #1 goalie more than they need Yakupov.

We can offer a signed and sealed Ryan Suter for Yakupov. A proven All Star dman stuck in Weber's shadow who is proven.

Ya want to know whats wrong with drafting the best player available year after year dumbass? You never get around to building a team! And why should any GM trade for the over-hyped rookies that still need time to develop. After all they have finished 30th, 30th and 29th. Its not like any of them will make a team a Cup contender next year. If all goes well for the Oilers, they may actually climb to the 20th-25th spot.

Your right in one aspect. All the high scoring forwards on the Oilers are great prospects. But they need more time to develop. The rest of the league will wait till they become UFA and pick them up when they can actually make a difference and contribute to a playoff caliber team.

And thats what the Oilers are without a rebuilding plan. A development team for the rest of the league. But thats what happens when your team picks 1st overall every year and doesnt actually have a rebuilding plan.

OH BTW: Trolls are misunderstood, your just a moron. But hey, dont feel bad. The world needs TMZ reporters too.


- Deisty

And where is your team at the moment?

And where is your team at the moment?
- pj50

ahhaha well they traded the rebuilding plan for a moving plan

"He's considered as a prospect at least on the same level as Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins were, if not higher."

I don't know where you're getting that from; most scouting reports don't think that. This is a weak draft, the majority of scouts would take Hall or RNH over Yakupov, so I'm not sure who's considering this.

And where is your team at the moment?
- pj50

ahhaha well they traded the rebuilding plan for a moving plan
- caredge

These are morons, I'm a troll. See the difference Maxie?

Staal isnt worth a number 1 overall pick is what he said...and hes right.
Hes not worth hall or nuge straight up, so why would he be worth a guy whos even more highly touted than those 2 were?

U should attempt to comprehend what you read before u comment and embarass yourself.

Stall AND Despres on the other hand? Id consider it
- hugefemale dog77

He's not.

Some of the writers trade suggestions seem just downright awful, this is one of the worst ones ive read...even if u package it, it still doesnt make sense, why would you trade two, even three B level players for a top A level prospect..if the oilers really wanted staal they could get him another way..but Im starting to think that staal is becoming one of the most overrated players in the entire league..even with crosby and malkin missing a ton of games these past two seasons..staal still has been stuck under 50 points..yes hes a great two way second-third line center, but Yakupov projects much much higher..
- oilers2k12

Hmmm, sounds more like a Staal for Gagner trade would make more sense?

Ya want to know whats wrong with drafting the best player available year after year dumbass? You never get around to building a team! And why should any GM trade for the over-hyped rookies that still need time to develop. After all they have finished 30th, 30th and 29th. Its not like any of them will make a team a Cup contender next year. If all goes well for the Oilers, they may actually climb to the 20th-25th spot.

Your right in one aspect. All the high scoring forwards on the Oilers are great prospects. But they need more time to develop. The rest of the league will wait till they become UFA and pick them up when they can actually make a difference and contribute to a playoff caliber team.

And thats what the Oilers are without a rebuilding plan. A development team for the rest of the league. But thats what happens when your team picks 1st overall every year and doesnt actually have a rebuilding plan.

OH BTW: Trolls are misunderstood, your just a moron. But hey, dont feel bad. The world needs TMZ reporters too.


- Deisty

Using a need-based approach with a high first round pick means passing up a potential superstar, that's why you go best player available. Imagine if Yakupov becomes Pavel Bure- the Oilers would look terrible because they passed on the new Bure because they didn't need another winger. Who doesn't need a 40+ goal scoring winger?

Just to be clear. Staal is 23, and he's an RFA after next season. I'm not saying that that makes him worth Yakupov, but he's not a UFA risk yet.

no way the sens would trade Zibanejad (future 1 A/B center on this team) and Lehner (goalie prospect the organization has pegged as their future #1). In fact I don't think Ottawa would include either one of these guys in a package for the Oils #1 pick.

Why not make a deal with THE team that wants the #1 pick the most.....Columbus.
The Oil trade the #1 pick to CBJ for the #2 overall and a prospect like Boone Jenner.

While I don't think edmonton will trade the #1 pick.... I wouldn't say it's completely out of the question.
- Sens2k5

Because the CBJ can pickup Grigo (Yakupov/Grigo = Ovechkin/Malkin) and keep Jenner for nothing. And sorry poop-4-Brains your not getting Johansen either.

Using a need-based approach with a high first round pick means passing up a potential superstar, that's why you go best player available. Imagine if Yakupov becomes Pavel Bure- the Oilers would look terrible because they passed on the new Bure because they didn't need another winger. Who doesn't need a 40+ goal scoring winger?
- isles10289

Oh by all means, and when your team wins the lottery next year too, grab MacKinnon aswell! You can never have enough 40,50,60 goal scorers as you bottom feed with no D or Goalie!

Ya want to know whats wrong with drafting the best player available year after year dumbass? You never get around to building a team! And why should any GM trade for the over-hyped rookies that still need time to develop. After all they have finished 30th, 30th and 29th. Its not like any of them will make a team a Cup contender next year. If all goes well for the Oilers, they may actually climb to the 20th-25th spot.

Your right in one aspect. All the high scoring forwards on the Oilers are great prospects. But they need more time to develop. The rest of the league will wait till they become UFA and pick them up when they can actually make a difference and contribute to a playoff caliber team.

And thats what the Oilers are without a rebuilding plan. A development team for the rest of the league. But thats what happens when your team picks 1st overall every year and doesnt actually have a rebuilding plan.

OH BTW: Trolls are misunderstood, your just a moron. But hey, dont feel bad. The world needs TMZ reporters too.


- Deisty

You're the moron.

These are morons, I'm a troll. See the difference Maxie?
- Deisty

You must have been conceived through Anal sex, that would at least explain your level of intelligence and your poopty attitude.

He's not.
- isles10289

You're wrong.

Hall wasnt a clear cut 1, and nuge was a massive question mark cause of his size and frame.

Yakupov was being glorified last year after his disgusting rookie year.
In fact he probably woulda went 1-3 last year!!
Theres never been hesitation on the guy save for 2 reasons which he has no control over.
1. Hes russian
2. Hes been injured

Ive been hearing 'weak draft' alot. Weird, cause i heard it lots about last years too, and this one was meant to be the strong one. But now its not? Was does this mean really?

There were more question marks about tavares for fuk sake.

One can argue the oils needs all they want, but to say yaks isnt clear cut homerun number 1 is uneducated.

#1 picks can get disprortionately valued simply because they are the top pick. Having the top pick and being the top pick creates an opportunity value that is sometimes difficult to justify after the draft has been completed. Edmonton fans understand that distinction after being subjected to the Tyler vs Tyler debate for months leading up to draft day and then a year later seeing Skinner who was taken 7th win the Calder.

Skinner, you see, was one of the youngest players ever drafted. Had he been born a few days later he would have been part of the NuHop draft along with his Kitchener teammate Landeskog. Perhaps NuHop would have still gone first. And, had Skinner stayed draft eligible with Kitchener, he certainly would have pushed teammate Landeskog down in the draft.

Yakupov is one of the trickiest #1 picks for a long time. He is the opposite of Skinner. If he were just a few weeks older he would have been part of the NuHop draft. Think about that. By a few weeks each way, both Skinner and Yakupov could have been part of the NuHop draft. For me, that signals a huge caution around Yakupov. He is a very good player, not sure he is a superstar.

I have no doubt that Dougie Hamilton is the best Dman taken in last years draft. He will be as good as Tyler Myers. Anybody who watched Hamilton and Yakupov play this year in the OHL would see that Hamilton offered far more value to his team.

But if you suggested trading the #1 pick (Yakupov) straight up for Hamilton Edmonton fans would howl in protest not realizing there is only a couple of months difference in their age. The #1 pick can also be a straight jacket that prevents you from doing what is best for your team. Edmonton might want to deal the pick but the fans will not let them.

A straight jacket u say??
Like nuge?
Or tavares?
Or stamkos?
Or even kane?
1s arent the crapshoot they use to be.*
(* laughs)

But yes of course you're not sure hes a superstar.
Thats the point. Its a draft of kids. Nothings in stone.
Otherwise it would just be a dispersal from best to worst without any decisions.

People said the exact same thing last year about nuge. Or hall, or even tavares.
Thats how it works. Second guessing is the nature of the game.

Yaks is the clear 1. Period.
You mention age. What does this really change? Are u forgetting the numbers he put up last year in his ROOKIE year?
It sounded like alot of scouts woulda taken him 1 LAST year over the nuge. Again, second guessing.

Btw- skinner would not have gone 1 over either nuge or yaks.
And neither should he have gone ahead of hall regardless of the calder.

Consensus #1

Didnt this kid break the scoring record set by Steve Stamkos?


Yeah we don't want that.

Of course that would be a bad trade. Staal is good at Defense and 2 way play, and no one in EDM believes in that lmao! All that matters is small offensive skilled forwards, the rest of the positions dont matter. Also there should be an illegal defense rule added to the NHL so the Oilers can get higher than 29th
- Meeqsb

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.