Hopefully you mean 1st as in the Tampa 1st Philly owns and even without the 1st...I speak for everyone pass.
- Glak18

no worries. You guys have a lot of good young d-prospects in the system that should turn into good players. Best part, in 5 years when they are starting to come into their own, Giroux and voracek will be on the downsides of their careers.

something to look forward to.

That would never work.

More like booth, robidas, reimer, horton for #1 + a 3rd
- Tumbleweed

No deal unless you include Gardiner

with salary coming back, phanuef should get something similar to what Coburn brought back - 1st, 3rd and a 6/7 dman.

To Philly: Phaneuf
To Tor: 1st, 3rd, any philly dman, salary filler.
- Tumbleweed

along those lines

To Toronto: Simon Morin, Luke Schenn and Brayden Schenn

Wishful thinking, but I want to dream here. Edmonton is so weak on D, but has the start of an amazing offence. So, if there was any chance.......

I would offer up our 4th, Reilly, Phaneuf (some salary retained) and another D prospect for Edmonton's 1st overall. From the sounds of it, Yotes are going for Strome, leaving Hanifin for Edmonton with the 4th pick. That right there shores up Edmonton's D fairly well, all in one deal. Besides, if the Oilers want to become a cup contender, they better strike now before there is not a chance in Haitis that they can afford RNH, Yakupov, Hall, etc. on the payroll

Leafs are in major rebuild, we need a franchise player to build around. If there was a chance at ANY deal for McDavid, I would be throwing everything in, including the kitchen sink to make it happen.

Yes, again I know I am dreaming, but sometimes its nice to do........




- Cochise

As soon as I read you wanted to trade Reily I stopped reading for good reason.....

The worst thing the Edmonton organization could do is replicate the mistakes other teams have made in the past (Pittsburgh, Tampa). Yes, they both won a cup...A cup. Every team wants that, but teams would rather have multiple cups.

What mistake am I referring to? Stacking so much money up in one strength and hoping the rest will be filled in. The thought of having 3-4 elite/super star centers is enticing, but having that means many, MANY holes elsewhere. When players are younger it's not that big of a deal, but when they start getting bigger contracts thats when the problems start, which is normally when those players become more mature and produce. I would rather have a great team than a team full of potential superstars.

Majority of Stanley Cup champions don't always have the best player(s) in the league, they have great players that look even better because they win...Boston, LA, Chicago.

Currently Edmonton has large money tied up into Hall, RNH and Eberle. 2-3 years down the road that adds Yakupov, Draisaiti and now McDavid (no question max contract in 3 years). That doesn't even include possible resigning of defensive prospects.

Edmonton has 3 choices:
1) Keep everyone and see what happens.

5 years from now they may have made the playoffs once or twice, but they will be forced to purge big money for lesser value and start rebuilding again.

2) Trade a big contract star to fill weakness

They will get the most value out of Hall (injury concerns) and RNH. Eberle is more of a complimentary star and doesn't hold as much value. In this scenario they need to be traded to a team that can fit the large cap hit while getting good value now and not for tomorrow. Teams like Toronto, Florida, NJ, Winnipeg would fit that bill, but do they have what Edmonton needs or willing to give that up. Bubble teams will need to dump salary while giving up assets, which makes no sense for either team.

3) Trade entry level star to fill weakness

Edmonton won't get as much guaranteed value in return as older stars, but will be able to fill in gaps, add prospects and will be taking back higher salary then they will give. This will further complicate things for the future if done poorly. This makes more sense if Edmonton was further in the rebuild process, unfortunately they are still on the ground floor.

Edmonton's situation is so enticing, but to say they are in the drivers seat is a bit delusional because they have a lot of tough decisions to make and 29 other teams know that. No team in this age is going to deplete their roster for a piece to a giant puzzle, especially in a salary cap age.
- Glak18

They need to load up with as many veterans in the next two years as possible by trading as many 2016 /2017 draft picks and signing whoever they can in UFA. Try to taste real success before McDavids ELC is over. When it is, that will likely cause massive player movement and require a few years to reset again.

Sure each team individually knows they oilers may be hard up against the cap, but if the players they need to move out are incredibly good, it wont matter. GM's will compete with each other and value will stay high.

Why on earth would you ever trade hall? Would you trade Getzlaf, Zetterberg, Benn, backstrom, Perry, Towes? All have about the same PPG over the last three years as hall. Sure hes' injured, but eventually he will put together a string of healthy years.

Nuge is also not an elite center. He's a great 2C. LD may also be a great 2C. All that does is give a good 1/2W, which we also need.

Eberle? Also a good 1/2 W.

Odd man out? Yakapov. Either he outplays eberle or hes likely gone for D.

The worst thing the Edmonton organization could do is replicate the mistakes other teams have made in the past (Pittsburgh, Tampa). Yes, they both won a cup...A cup. Every team wants that, but teams would rather have multiple cups.

What mistake am I referring to? Stacking so much money up in one strength and hoping the rest will be filled in. The thought of having 3-4 elite/super star centers is enticing, but having that means many, MANY holes elsewhere. When players are younger it's not that big of a deal, but when they start getting bigger contracts thats when the problems start, which is normally when those players become more mature and produce. I would rather have a great team than a team full of potential superstars.

Majority of Stanley Cup champions don't always have the best player(s) in the league, they have great players that look even better because they win...Boston, LA, Chicago.

Currently Edmonton has large money tied up into Hall, RNH and Eberle. 2-3 years down the road that adds Yakupov, Draisaiti and now McDavid (no question max contract in 3 years). That doesn't even include possible resigning of defensive prospects.

Edmonton has 3 choices:
1) Keep everyone and see what happens.

5 years from now they may have made the playoffs once or twice, but they will be forced to purge big money for lesser value and start rebuilding again.

2) Trade a big contract star to fill weakness

They will get the most value out of Hall (injury concerns) and RNH. Eberle is more of a complimentary star and doesn't hold as much value. In this scenario they need to be traded to a team that can fit the large cap hit while getting good value now and not for tomorrow. Teams like Toronto, Florida, NJ, Winnipeg would fit that bill, but do they have what Edmonton needs or willing to give that up. Bubble teams will need to dump salary while giving up assets, which makes no sense for either team.

3) Trade entry level star to fill weakness

Edmonton won't get as much guaranteed value in return as older stars, but will be able to fill in gaps, add prospects and will be taking back higher salary then they will give. This will further complicate things for the future if done poorly. This makes more sense if Edmonton was further in the rebuild process, unfortunately they are still on the ground floor.

Edmonton's situation is so enticing, but to say they are in the drivers seat is a bit delusional because they have a lot of tough decisions to make and 29 other teams know that. No team in this age is going to deplete their roster for a piece to a giant puzzle, especially in a salary cap age.
- Glak18

They need to load up with as many veterans in the next two years as possible by trading as many 2016 /2017 draft picks and signing whoever they can in UFA. Try to taste real success before McDavids ELC is over. When it is, that will likely cause massive player movement and require a few years to reset again.

Sure each team individually knows they oilers may be hard up against the cap, but if the players they need to move out are incredibly good, it wont matter. GM's will compete with each other and value will stay high.

Why on earth would you ever trade hall? Would you trade Getzlaf, Zetterberg, Benn, backstrom, Perry, Towes? All have about the same PPG over the last three years as hall. Sure hes' injured, but eventually he will put together a string of healthy years.

Nuge is also not an elite center. He's a great 2C. LD may also be a great 2C. All that does is give a good 1/2W, which we also need.

Eberle? Also a good 1/2 W.

Odd man out? Yakapov. Either he outplays eberle or hes likely gone for D.

I was thinking the same this - well close anyway....

I do not think Colorado would send back a 2nd and TO would eat 1/2 of Phaneuf's salary ...... so

Phaneuf (at 1/2 his salary), Bozak and Nashville's 1st for ROR
- SensnRBs

Colin, I hate to be an a** but, I'm sorry, you are one of the least enjoyable sports bloggers on this site. Your blog themes rarely change, and you overuse certain grammatical phrases and words like "I digress", "However", "What say you", etc. etc.

You also respond to nearly every person who comments on your thread, which shows that you care too much about what others think. Write from the heart, man, and stop with the reiteration of ideas that have already been beaten to death by both you and other bloggers. Give the reader a fresh perspective and something to think about.

Mike Augello is a phenomenal sports writer who does all of the above. Just some pointers, man.

They need to load up with as many veterans in the next two years as possible by trading as many 2016 /2017 draft picks and signing whoever they can in UFA. Try to taste real success before McDavids ELC is over. When it is, that will likely cause massive player movement and require a few years to reset again.

Sure each team individually knows they oilers may be hard up against the cap, but if the players they need to move out are incredibly good, it wont matter. GM's will compete with each other and value will stay high.

Why on earth would you ever trade hall? Would you trade Getzlaf, Zetterberg, Benn, backstrom, Perry, Towes? All have about the same PPG over the last three years as hall. Sure hes' injured, but eventually he will put together a string of healthy years.


Nuge is also not an elite center. He's a great 2C. LD may also be a great 2C. All that does is give a good 1/2W, which we also need.

Eberle? Also a good 1/2 W.

Odd man out? Yakapov. Either he outplays eberle or hes likely gone for D.
- gravis1982

I was with you at the begining and agree with your point about Yakpoo.

The bolded though? Only in Edmonton is Hall close to equal in value to any one of those guys. (age not considered obviously)

Colin, I hate to be an a** but, I'm sorry, you are one of the least enjoyable sports bloggers on this site. Your blog themes rarely change, and you overuse certain grammatical phrases and words like "I digress", "However", "What say you", etc. etc.

You also respond to nearly every person who comments on your thread, which shows that you care too much about what others think. Write from the heart, man, and stop with the reiteration of ideas that have already been beaten to death by both you and other bloggers. Give the reader a fresh perspective and something to think about.

Mike Augello is a phenomenal sports writer who does all of the above. Just some pointers, man.
- g55ddl000

Mike? Is that you? ... you cheeky monkey

Tor-JVR

Car-5th overall

As soon as I read you wanted to trade Reily I stopped reading for good reason.....
- Cush29

You should have continued reading. He was talking about as part of a package to land McDavid (he was not saying it was possible). Yeah, I am pretty sure every Leafs fan would do that, including you.

Tor-Polak,Komorov,Nashville 1st

Edm- Leon

Edmonton would be smart to do this one.. They get a good leader on defense and on forward. Two guys who I love on Toronto.. But, would give up for a good future center.

Tor-JVR

Car-5th overall
- Canadianleaf

No way Carolina does that deal.

No deal unless you include Gardiner
- saskoil21

How about we don't include Gardiner, but in return we let you lottery-protect the 3rd

No way Carolina does that deal.
- Aetherial

Carolina isn't as deep into a rebuild as we are.. They have many defensive prospects and a #1 winger is something they really need.

How about if Carolina throws in Semin?

Tor-Polak,Komorov,Nashville 1st

Edm- Leon

Edmonton would be smart to do this one.. They get a good leader on defense and on forward. Two guys who I love on Toronto.. But, would give up for a good future center.
- Canadianleaf

would you trade reilly for polak, komarov and the 24th overall?

would you trade reilly for polak, komarov and the 24th overall?
- Tumbleweed

No that's the dumbest trade I've ever heard.. I wouldn't trade Reilly straight up for Leon.. I bet Edmonton would love that

I'd like to see the Leafs hook up with Arizona. Kessel + Nashville's first is a great scenario. The only problem with that is that the Leafs would not be getting fair value for Kessel. Someone else has to be included. Look for Toronto to ask for Domi, but I doubt that would happen. Another could be Kessel for New Jersey's 6th overall pick and a prospect.

Phaneuf is a whole other topic. His contract is so huge and hasn't really shown he's earned it. He's not a top pairing Dman but on a team like Detroit, Colorado, Dallas or San Jose, he would fit in nicely on the second pairing. Who Toronto would look to get back would be prospects or picks from what I can tell from this rebuild plan. With that, a bad contract would have to come back to Toronto from any of these teams.

No that's the dumbest trade I've ever heard.. I wouldn't trade Reilly straight up for Leon.. I bet Edmonton would love that
- Canadianleaf

leon's value is a lot closer to reilly than it is to a late 1st, bottom pairing dman and 4th liner.

Tor-Polak,Komorov,Nashville 1st

Edm- Leon

Edmonton would be smart to do this one.. They get a good leader on defense and on forward. Two guys who I love on Toronto.. But, would give up for a good future center.
- Canadianleaf

wow bad deal. Polak and Komorov are a dime a dozen

leon's value is a lot closer to reilly than it is to a late 1st, bottom pairing dman and 4th liner.
- Tumbleweed

The 1st is a big part of that deal.. And they also bring leadership


It doesn't matter where you are drafted.. It matters what you have proven.. Reilly has shown that he is going to be a legit top pairing defender.. Leon has shown that he couldn't make the NHL as a 18 year old German.. And also threatened to go to the KHL if the Oilers sent him back down

As soon as I read you wanted to trade Reily I stopped reading for good reason.....
- Cush29

So you are saying if there was an actual shot at landing the 1st round pick with a package deal involving Rielly, you would not do it?? That's just mind boggling.

Rielly is destined to be a fantastic D man, but if there was the slightest chance he could be used in a package deal and I was Shanahan, I'd be packing his bag before "yes" even finished coming out of my mouth.

At least one stud D-men comes into the league every other year (if not every year), a player like McDavid, maybe once every 10 years.

Again, I know this is a dream trade that will never happen, but saying you would not part with Rielly is just mind boggling. That's pretty much equivalent to saying you would pick Hanifin over McDavid if you had the choice.

The 1st is a big part of that deal.. And they also bring leadership


It doesn't matter where you are drafted.. It matters what you have proven.. Reilly has shown that he is going to be a legit top pairing defender.. Leon has shown that he couldn't make the NHL as a 18 year old German.. And also threatened to go to the KHL if the Oilers sent him back down
- Canadianleaf

the 1st will be 24/25/30. The idea of trading last year's 3rd overall pick for a next year's 24th is mindboggling.

Reilly played in the whl the year after he was drafted; saying leon has proven nothing is outlandish at the same point in his career.

I like reilly a lot and think he has a great ceiling, but he has far from proven that he will be a legit top pairing dman. He's simply tracking well against his top peers(Jones, Larsson, trouba, lindholm,hamilton).

with the state of the Russian economy, the khl is not much of a threat anymore.