I don't why Florida would pull such an act, but so many rumors Ekblad is on the block this summer.
This kid is a friggin stud and future top 3 d-man league round. One bad year and they're willing to pull the trigger.
Same with Arizona, Maloney specifically said he won't deal OEL for matthews, but Matthews was there watching a game in his hometown Arizona last week, and said he loves the franchise. That shot with him and Maloney looks pretty convincing they want this kid, and bad. Matthews/Strome down the middle, yep, they're certainly drooling on that idea and hoping Oilers win the lottery
IMO, if Oil win the lottery, they'll get to choose which one
If YOU had the choice, in dealing the 2016 #1 pick (assuming we win the lottery) and a choice of these two d-men, who would you pick strictly based on skill and current need? Or would you not even trade the pick at all?
-Aaron Ekblad
-Oliver Ekman-Larsson
-Auston Matthews
My choice: Ekblad
The 2014 draft I wanted Ekblad so bad, more than any other year, even the Hall/Seguin year. Even the McDavid year. I honestly had zero expectation of winning McDavid. My heart broke when we didn't win Ekblad, and if this can actually come to fruition, I'll buy season tickets for the first time since 2007
OEL is a stud, and has made a nice living schooling the Oilers ever since he stepped on NHL ice. But where have the Coyotes gone with him? Sure they made the playoffs in his 2nd season, but that was because they had a pretty decent team and Mike Smith was in the best form is his career. The other 4 years? Roommates with the Oilers. He's not that d-man that will guide us to the promised land, like Pronger was.I love OEL, he would definitely improve this team and be our #1 d-man all day, but if it's a choice between him and Aaron, it's Aaron 10 times out of 10.
Remember Florida's 13 game winning streak? Their last winning game on that streak was against the Oilers. Hendo injured Ekblad that game. Florida loses the next 6 of 7 games. This kid is a game changer and a future NHL superstar. Ekblad and McDavid on the ice together wearing the same jersey, to me would be like Gretzky and Coffey in their prime
Ekblad/Nurse/McDavid/Hall/Nuge/Drai/Talbot
That right there, is the best upcoming core of the league, by a mile.