Draisaitl. Trade him or Keep him?

[Oilers4life1987]

Can LD play wing?

Pouliot Nuge Ebs
Hall McDavid LD
Slepy Lander Yak
Hendo Gordon Klink/pitlick

 

[Sanderson]

probably the best course of action, but at what point do we actually balance the lineup? We've gone, what, 4 years now with an imbalance roster, just waiting for it right itself, because 8 or 9 players were 'too good to trade' because 'you just don't trade a player like that'.

this refusal to move anything has been part of the problem. I've said it before, when you have 5 all star shortstops and no catcher, what do you do? Not saying we trade Draisaitl, but it if not him then who? Someone everyone is in love with is going out the door.

There will be point when a socalled untouchable will be traded.

There is no need to trade any of them. None of the teams that were at the bottom for a prolonged amount of time needed to trade one of the big pieces to move to the top.

If you can get a player who really shouldn't be available, sure, go for the trade, but if that's not the case there is no reason to move any of the elite talents. Edmonton won't be a Cup-contender next year, so there is no need to go all out. Sign UFAs and use the additional draftpicks you have to improve the roster, there are plenty of good players available who won't cost an arm and a leg.

In the meantime, you can let your talented players develop, and if you have improved but see there is still one big hole to fill in two or three years, you can trade one of your elite assets. In the case of Draisaitl, his value would be much higher once he has shown that his play works at NHL-level anyway.

It's not like your example truly works anyway. The Oilers aren't just stacking talent at one position. Who to trade for anyway?
- A goalie would be a waste of assets. You won't get the truly great ones, and the rest isn't better than what you can get as UFA or for a 2nd round pick.
- A high-end defenseman would be nice, but no one trades these. This leaves you with the level below, and those are not worth trading elite talent for, you can get them for much less
- There is obviously no need to get a high-end forward

Get someone like Niemi, find two good defenseman who can play lots of minutes and help Klefblom and Nurse grow, that's pretty much all the Oilers need to achieve this summer.

 

[s7ark]

probably the best course of action, but at what point do we actually balance the lineup? We've gone, what, 4 years now with an imbalance roster, just waiting for it right itself, because 8 or 9 players were 'too good to trade' because 'you just don't trade a player like that'.

this refusal to move anything has been part of the problem. I've said it before, when you have 5 all star shortstops and no catcher, what do you do? Not saying we trade Draisaitl, but it if not him then who? Someone everyone is in love with is going out the door.

There will be point when a socalled untouchable will be traded.

You can't play 5 shortstops at a time. There is no such limitation with the Oilers forwards. If LD is on the wing then we have 2LW, 2RW and 2C. If LD plays C then we have 1LW, 2RW, 3C. Both scenarios are viable for an NHL lineup.

There is no need to trade any of the forwards unless it's for a big upgrade on D.

 

[shoop]

If you can get a player who really shouldn't be available, sure, go for the trade, but if that's not the case there is no reason to move any of the elite talents. Edmonton won't be a Cup-contender next year, so there is no need to go all out. Sign UFAs and use the additional draftpicks you have to improve the roster, there are plenty of good players available who won't cost an arm and a leg.

That's the crux of the matter.

A lot of teams are going to be in cap trouble this off-season. MTL, NYR, PHI, CHI, LA, STL at a minimum.

There will be some surprisingly big names moved this off-season. My guess is a number of them will fit your "really shouldn't be available" criteria.

 

[Mr Positive]

with Seabrook, waiting might be key. Chicago will try to move out salary in other ways, and if they fail they may turn to trading Seabrook. Just like the Isles nabbing Boychuck, I doubt the Hawks will be eager to move him until their options have exhausted