There are good players that teams may want all the way through the top 20. Who knows what scouts might suggest. There is always an odd ball pick that no one sees coming. We are certain of the top 3. That is a done deal.

On Bob Staufer today they had a writer from Florida and another one (didn't catch where, I was filling up with gas). They were suggesting that one of the two players Nashville has expressed interest in (other than Barkov) was Nich. Personally I thought they would pass on Barkov for having a Russian father but apparently they don't remember radulov. Barkov could very easily be available at number 5. It was the consensus of many, including one of the scouting services that Nich is better than Barkov and IMO its a coin toss.

It was also suggested that Horvat was extremely underrated and will go top 10. Lazar is projected to slip into the 20s. Horvat they are calling a more "pure center." Better in the dot and a two way guy. Personally I think we need to find a way to get Monahan or Nich. Lind is actually a really good player but I am not positive how good. I can see him slipping to the mid teams as some Europeans do.

Nurse is not a bad pick. Someone might bight on him. He is a safe pick. He will be at least a 3-4 dman, probably a 1-2. It might take him 4 years to get there but he is the only D that everyone agrees on other than Seth.




My vote:
Our 7th over all pick this year
Our 5th round pick this year
Acrobella

To Nashville
Their 4 th pick over all
and their 4th round this year

Acrobella is a great asset. A proven asset but he will mature when Rajala does and we can't play both. We have tried him in the NHL. It wasn't a good sign. He is worth bumping 3 spots though. Or to Carolina for 2 spots. Plus a late upgrade that really makes no difference. Then we take Nich or Monahan. No use trading down. We need 1 quality player. We can gamble with our second round picks.
- bsteinley

Or,they are simply not ignorant racists who paint every person with a remote similarity together with the same brush. I'm sure they are good people in Nashville, and will look at the prospects as individuals, with qualities unique to them and them only, not just as simple sterotypes based on family heritage.

Radulov.Russian=Bailed on Nashville for KHL
Barkov.Born and raised in Finland.Father Russian=Likely to Bail on Nashville for KHL?

Open your mind Steinley, you make a racial profile based on 1 mans actions.

eh?
- AdamFrench

And yet, he's their savior...

yandle's great offensively, but has so many holes in his D game. He was exposed last year
- TheNugeIsHuge

Could you explain this please?

He was a +4 logging 22mins/game against opposition's top lines. He chipped in with 30 pts, which is his 2nd highest pts/game average (0.63) since entering the league. He lead the Yotes in scoring, pp goals and tied for the team lead in gwg.

p.s. going to need more than Gagner and a 1st for this guy.

Could you explain this please?

He was a +4 logging 22mins/game against opposition's top lines. He chipped in with 30 pts, which is his 2nd highest pts/game average (0.63) since entering the league. He lead the Yotes in scoring, pp goals and tied for the team lead in gwg.

p.s. going to need more than Gagner and a 1st for this guy.
- dawgzhouse

Pretty sure that's not correct.

Could you explain this please?

He was a +4 logging 22mins/game against opposition's top lines. He chipped in with 30 pts, which is his 2nd highest pts/game average (0.63) since entering the league. He lead the Yotes in scoring, pp goals and tied for the team lead in gwg.

p.s. going to need more than Gagner and a 1st for this guy.
- dawgzhouse

there was plenty of chatter,I remember,in last years playoff's about how his minutes were reduced due to mediocre defensive play in favor of Eckman-Larsson. He is amazing offensively, but there are questions about his defensive reliability. Having said that, he would still be the best player on a Oilers defense, but I don't really want that type of guy. Justin Schultz is a similar, strong in one dimension type player.One is enough.Need a better 2-way guy in our top 4.

Weisse can be a third liner, gagner the second line, rnh the 1st
- Oilers4Life14

Then what? Sign Steve Sullivan to add a veteran to the top 6? I think we have enough hobbits on this team...don't need Weiss.

Arcobello has no trade value. An undersized player that is most likely a career AHLer isn't going to bring any great return. He might let us move up from round 5 to 4 like you have but no way he will move us up a round and 3 spots in the 1st. To move up that far is gonna cost us a 2nd rounder. This isn't NHL13 the GM on the other end of the phone is a person with common sense too (excluding Feaster)
- Ihatebrianburke

If the team is looking to trade down, which was the point as there are numerous talented players. I guy with Arcobello's points in the AHL would definitely be the type of person that they would look for. To move those spots. I am cool with a number 2, I just personally think that Arcobello has more trade value than someone that hasn't played in the AHL yet.

In this draft a prospect is what is going to change hands to move. Unless it is our third next year. I doubt many people are parting with a draft pick to move three spots unless it is to pick in the top 3. All Edmonton really needs to do is move 1 or more spot. Otherwise I say screw it and take Domi. If we are going to be small, might as well get the small tough guy that can score.

Hemsky, 7th Overall, Conditional pick, Gernat for Yandle and a 3rd

Sign Stephen Weiss and Ryan Clowe

Resign Jones, Fistric and Gagner

Hall-Weiss-Yakupov
Clowe-RNH-Eberle
Paajarvi-Horcoff-Jones
Smyth-Lander-Brown

Yandle-Smid
Schultz x2
Fistric-Petry

That's a ton of size, speed, and skill on each line/pairing

Lets have this be the first summer in awhile where were NOT discussing where who the 1st rounder should be playing with. If they end up with Monahan or Shinkaruk (whoever), fine. I personally don't think any of the D are ready besides Jones.
- mochoson

God no....That's not a good enough Defense.

And not to mention that team would be over the cap. By a ways...

If the team is looking to trade down, which was the point as there are numerous talented players. I guy with Arcobello's points in the AHL would definitely be the type of person that they would look for. To move those spots. I am cool with a number 2, I just personally think that Arcobello has more trade value than someone that hasn't played in the AHL yet.

In this draft a prospect is what is going to change hands to move. Unless it is our third next year. I doubt many people are parting with a draft pick to move three spots unless it is to pick in the top 3. All Edmonton really needs to do is move 1 or more spot. Otherwise I say screw it and take Domi. If we are going to be small, might as well get the small tough guy that can score.
- bsteinley

Doubtful. Maybe to trade up in the 7th round.

If the team is looking to trade down, which was the point as there are numerous talented players. I guy with Arcobello's points in the AHL would definitely be the type of person that they would look for. To move those spots. I am cool with a number 2, I just personally think that Arcobello has more trade value than someone that hasn't played in the AHL yet.

In this draft a prospect is what is going to change hands to move. Unless it is our third next year. I doubt many people are parting with a draft pick to move three spots unless it is to pick in the top 3. All Edmonton really needs to do is move 1 or more spot. Otherwise I say screw it and take Domi. If we are going to be small, might as well get the small tough guy that can score.
- bsteinley

The thing is,there is hope that your 2nd round pick can play in the NHL like former 2nd round picks Duncan Keith &Shea Weber .Yes,there is a very,very good chance that player will not even make it,let alone have a similar impact,but would you not rather take that chance then a player like Arcobello, who has almost zero chance of making an impact in the NHL?

2nd Round pick>Arcobello.

The thing is,there is hope that your 2nd round pick can play in the NHL like former 2nd round picks Duncan Keith &Shea Weber .Yes,there is a very,very good chance that player will not even make it,let alone have a similar impact,but would you not rather take that chance then a player like Arcobello, who has almost zero chance of making an impact in the NHL?

2nd Round pick>Arcobello.
- Jeropotato

Arco is the type of guy that ends up on waivers to start the season and no one takes him.

I can confirm this. Refs like myself, and CaptEO delete the posts that violate the CoC. We also hand out the bans.
- jtommyt

Flame fans are not intelligent enough to delete postings

Oilers need to make a serious play for Horton...end of story!

I wonder how much trade value rajala adds to one of our roster players or the 7th overall. Still young, scoring quite well in the ahl, just small.

Oilers need to make a serious play for Horton...end of story!
- MacT001

No doubt, but I imagine he is among the most sought ater UFA's...and he won't be cheap! Pascalr Dupuis is obviously another name that could help the Oilers, but with the run he's having he will likely fetch an overpayment to leave the Pens.
Viktor Stalberg would be a good fit, but again, another guy that will command a big raise.
I have no doubt Mac T will make his pitches, but if he fails he will probably have to offer a risky player a short term deal if he's serious about adding a veteran player with size to the top 6 and all the best names are signed elsewhere.
Dustin Penner,1 year,2M?
Guy Lattendresse,1 yrs 1.7M?
Not long term solutions, but if they could stay motivated and/or Healthy they could be nice additions, but only on bargain contracts.

I wonder how much trade value rajala adds to one of our roster players or the 7th overall. Still young, scoring quite well in the ahl, just small.
- ystoil

A bag of peas more than Arco,I suspect. I'm not sure we should just give away our AHL talent, but european players typically go back to europe when they see there is no hope for a NHL career, so I would not be oppossed to moving him.
Arco,on the other hand, is pretty important to the Barons, and it benefits the Oilers to maintain the winning culture there, so unless the team can better than a 5th to 7th round pick for him I see no need to move him just for the sake of making a trade.

I wonder how much trade value rajala adds to one of our roster players or the 7th overall. Still young, scoring quite well in the ahl, just small.
- ystoil

I don't think much. Just look at Omark or Schremp or Nilsson or Patrick O'Sullivan

No doubt, but I imagine he is among the most sought ater UFA's...and he won't be cheap! Pascalr Dupuis is obviously another name that could help the Oilers, but with the run he's having he will likely fetch an overpayment to leave the Pens.
Viktor Stalberg would be a good fit, but again, another guy that will command a big raise.
I have no doubt Mac T will make his pitches, but if he fails he will probably have to offer a risky player a short term deal if he's serious about adding a veteran player with size to the top 6 and all the best names are signed elsewhere.
Dustin Penner,1 year,2M?
Guy Lattendresse,1 yrs 1.7M?
Not long term solutions, but if they could stay motivated and/or Healthy they could be nice additions, but only on bargain contracts.
- Jeropotato

That's really what we should be looking at. Unless there is a younger guy that becomes available I don't see the need to overpay on a long-term deal for UFA's this summer.

A bag of peas more than Arco,I suspect. I'm not sure we should just give away our AHL talent, but european players typically go back to europe when they see there is no hope for a NHL career, so I would not be oppossed to moving him.
Arco,on the other hand, is pretty important to the Barons, and it benefits the Oilers to maintain the winning culture there, so unless the team can better than a 5th to 7th round pick for him I see no need to move him just for the sake of making a trade.
- Jeropotato

I don't think Arco or Rajala are overly hard to replace if dealt. Like yourself what is the point in making a marginal move though? Then do we have issues with college players going forward or Euros that might not want to come here?

If those guys are involved in a trade for a 25 year old bigger top 9 NHL forward fine, but we by no means need to be moving players for picks.

Brad Richards healthy scratch for Rags.

God no....That's not a good enough Defense.

And not to mention that team would be over the cap. By a ways...
- Iggysbff

I would hate to hell to see the Oilers run into cap problems by signing Weiss (really,how much better/different is he than Gagner,or Horcoff for that matter?) and a bum like Clowe.Clowe will be paid stupid money and his team will wonder why he hasn't returned to the form he had as recently as last year.Back injury or not, Ryan Clowe does not come with a free Logan Couture to carry him into scoring opportunities and who ever wastes 4 or 5 million a year on him will regret it by year 2 of his contract. Hope to hell Mac T doesn't blow his wad on that POS.

Brad Richards healthy scratch for Rags.
- Lahey

Buyout candidate?

Buyout candidate?
- Jeropotato

More than likely. He's not that bad of a player, still probably worth 4-5mil a year but his salary is 9, 8.5, 8.5 and 7 before it drops. Not good when his cap hit is 6.667. At a 6.667 cap hit I bet he'd be somewhat moveable if the actual cash wasn't so bad.

I don't think much. Just look at Omark or Schremp or Nilsson or Patrick O'Sullivan
- Lahey

What do you think the odds of Nash, Car or Cal trading their pick at all? The theory is, everyone has a price. There is an outrageous price if they have a player they like or there is a normal price for a team that is okay with moving down.

Do you think any of them are looking to trade down? If so then our third round would probably be enough to move a spot or two, maybe 3. Likely if Nashville is moving it is for a dman or they like someone that no one else has on their list (probably not going to happen but in the scenario that they are willing to trade down then a third round would do it).

Carolina could very easily want a dman. They are a team that could flop either way with the pick. Nurse might be the best player at that spot. People are hunting forwards this year but Nurse is consistent with almost every scout to be the second best dman. They could trade down knowing that Calgary is likely not going to take him. Getting a third round to pick 2 spots later is generous. I think the Oil would grab an early third to pick 9th or 10th.

Maybe Columbus wants Quality. Their top two first rounds for our first and third. Or Calgary. Their last two first rounds for our first and 3rd next year. Possibilities if we trade down.

I don't think we will get the value our pick is worth in a trade for a player. For example: Yak is worth more now than he was as a pick. Hamilton is worth 10x more now than he was as a pick. Unless we can trade with McGillis or Feaster we aren't ripping anyone off.

What do you think the asking price for Kris Letang would be ? He had an unreal game last night.