- Jim Matheson on the Edmonton Journal: The odds of the Oilers trading the first overall pick are “less than zero” according to GM Craig MacTavish. Will they now look to move one of their other centers or move one of Taylor Hall or Jordan Eberle? Some are suggesting to trade Leon Draisaitl. They are likely to use the first round pick they acquired from the Penguins for David Perron and one of their second round picks. They could also package a young defenseman like Martin Marincin and a pick. In attempt to get a goalie, they will look at teams without a first round pick – Rangers, Islanders and Blackhawks – or teams with cap issues like the Bruins. The Stars could be shopping Kari Lehtonen this summer – three-years left at $5.9 million. TSNs Craig Button:
“They have to look at the landscape and see where a team might want to bust out a goalie … (Cam) Talbot in New York, Martin Jones in Los Angeles. Or even Ottawa with, say, (veteran) Craig Anderson as a two-year trade guy. Maybe Cam Ward who has one year left, an ideal situation,” said Button.
“By getting McDavid, it changes the landscape on how you approach the draft,” said Button. “There are lots of different ways the Oilers can go.”
Button wonders about a Draisaitl for Morgan Rielly trade. MacTavish loves Hall and Eberle. If Nail Yakupov puts up a 50-60 point season next year, maybe he could be moved.
- Craig Custance of ESPN: Shortly after winning the lottery, GM Craig MacTavish:
“It sure turns the focus to the Oilers,” MacTavish said on a conference call shortly after the lottery. “It sure turns the focus squarely on the Oilers as a team to be reckoned with in the future. I think offense wins hockey games, and we’re going to be loaded with it. This is another piece along to that end.”
Custance points out that though offense wins hockey games, defense and goaltending win championships. The Oilers could move the Penguins first round pick or Yakupov to a team looking to shed some salary on the blueline. The Oilers should also target Cam Talbot and Martin Jones.
- Pierre LeBrun of ESPN: Wonders if the Oilers will now look to trade someone like Jordan Eberle to improve their blueline.