Far from the stupidest post I've seen. Good work.

I'm just wondering what would EDM accomplish by moving Draisaitl. The guy is literally 4th in goals this season.

Yeah like Mark Stone is going to be traded, To a Non-Playoff team.

Not many teams in the NHL, if any, can boast a depth at centre that equals McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nugent-Hopkins, and yet Edmonton ranks 27 in goals scored and is currently in a draft lottery position. The team is supposed to be built around those three guys, but the roster is simply not good enough. Once you look past those centres, Chiasson and Kassian have contributed the most goals... Let that sink in for a moment.

It would take a loaded return to convince the Oilers to trade Draisaitl, and that return would have to address more than one of Edmonton's needs. If they could get a top defender and a proven scoring forward on an ELC or RFA contract, anything else included is bonus.

1. Obtaining a true top defender, who is right-handed, would allow the coach to drop Larsson to second pair duties, where he is likely to be a dominant defender. Klefbom and Nurse will be the top left-handed defenders. The rest of the defenders would slot-in on the bottom pair, and that really protects Sekera and Russell, is more suitable for Benning, and allows development time for the younger guys. Edmonton could also choose to trade away Klefbom for more young offensive help. Either way, the team's defensive depth improves beyond just the addition of a top d-man. That guy's presence moves everyone else into roles that are far more suitable to their talent and capabilities, which should result in improved play from all of them.

2. Adding a young scoring forward will not replace Leon, but if the new guy can work some chemistry with either McDavid or Nugent-Hopkins, the loss is not so bad. If there is more in the package, then it just makes the trade all the better for Edmonton.

If Edmonton did trade away Draisaitl and Klefbom for a top defender, and two, or more proven, young, scoring forwards, I think they would be far more competitive that they currently are . That's not a knock on Draisaitl of Klefbom, its not their fault most of the rest of the current roster can't get the job done.

Alternatively, management can:

1. continue to build up the prospect pool;
2. work hard to salvage Puljujarvi's career;
3. hope that next October, at least a couple of the current prospects are ready for the show (cap crunch makes it difficult to improve upon Rattie, Rieder, and Chiasson, plus re-sign Puljujarvi and Khaira) ;
4. wait until Russell and Sekera come off the books after the 21/22 season, or trade both before then; and,
4. hope for a compliance buyout during the next round of collective bargaining, and then buyout Lucic.

I think adding Ristolainin, Stone and Middlestat makes them a better deeper team that will push for the playoffs, also to have Stone enjoy playing with McDavid and resign!