We know the Florida Panthers are ready and willing to trade the 1st Overall pick based on numerous reports but as Oiler fans we also know that being willing to trade a 1st Overall pick and actually getting an offer that makes sense is two different things. No doubt the Panthers are listening to all offers but the real question is who can offer them something valuable enough to walk away from their chance to pick 1st.
Word is that the Panthers are interested in William Nylander and are willing to move back 6-7 spots because he could still be there at that time. For the Oilers the most valuable piece that the Franchise might be willing to part with is Nail Yakupov, former 1st Overall pick and winner of the Rookie scoring race in his 1st NHL season. While I personally think trading him after a difficult sophomore season that affected him the same way it did Huberdeau and Galchenyuk is an avoidable mistake, there were many clues over the course of the past season that suggest the Oil arent as committed to Nail as one would expect.
The new coach started Yak on the 3rd line. His play away from the puck, with the puck, and the overall way he plays the game was questioned by Eakins and at one point Yak's agent told Edmonton to move his client if they didnt want him. Naturally as he struggled to find his way in his 1st 82 game season the media made sure to report constantly how the scouting staff didnt even want to take him but meddling ownership kyboshed their astute and expert opinion (which was to take the the defenseman Murray). So now the Panthers' pick is available and it seems like a perfect time for the Oilers to unload Yakupov.
If the suggestion is that the deal would be Yak + 3rd overall for the Panther's 1st I'm going to just go ahead and say that would be a disastrous scenario for Edmonton. Nail Yakupov is a quality player with an extremely bright future and Ekblad might be an excellent prospect that I wish the Oil could draft, but he isnt worth losing Yak and whomever the team can draft 3rd Overall for. The fact is that he is still a recent 1st Overall pick and is too valuable as the added player in a pick swap. Even if you start adding players on the Panther's side it doesnt make a lot of sense for the Oilers until it stops making sense for Florida.
If the Oilers and Panthers are going to swap picks then its a player like David Perron who should be the Oiler heading to Florida. He's an established player on a good contract who just had a career year. It's selling high for the Oil and the Panthers arent banking on a lot of "maybes" so the trade works for them. I like Perron a lot and his game is exactly what the team needs more of, but the Panthers wont take Lander, Pitlick and a 2nd to let the Oilers pick 1st again.
But even though swapping picks is a big play, the biggest splash the Oil could make would be to get the 1st overall pick outright. That's the Bold move MacT came into the job saying he wanted to make. Now, even with my previously self professed fear about trading Yakupov I think the only way the Oilers will get their hands on the Panther's pick and keep their own is dealing Yakupov. Certainly mentioning his name is more than kicking tires and should get Tallon's attention.
Would Yakupov and every pick they own outside of the 3rd Overall be enough to grab the 1st Overall? Is it too little? If you were Dale Tallon and the player you coveted most in the Draft was rated 6th would you turn down this offer? I think it's a very real starting point if that's the direction the Oilers wanted to take. Even if they need to add more pieces, they cant be that far away. And if it isnt even close then the Panther's pick isnt worth the long distance phone call it would take to keep negotiating.
Thoughts?
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