NHL DRAFT: Oilers Trades Outside Top 3
By Dave Mallett
Jan 27, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward
(22) and forward
(45) and forward
(14) dig for a loose puck in front of the net of Edmonton Oilers goaltender
(80) during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Edmonton Oilers won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
6. Vancouver Canucks
It gives me much delight to see the Canucks drafting higher than the Oilers did last year. The BC based team is in a state of flux, with an aging roster, turnover in management and coaching and trade rumours galore surrounding guys like Ryan Kesler and Alex Edler. While a trade within the division is not a good possibility, the Oilers have cap space, and could eat salary on Gagner’s contract. (And yes, I realize that I include Gagner in every proposal, but just who else are they going to trade?)
TRADE SCENARIO
VANCOUVER—Ryan Kesler, Chris Tanev, 2015 3rd Round Pick
EDMONTON—3rd Overall, Sam Gagner, 2015 2nd Round Pick
WILL IT HAPPEN? No. Vancouver needs to hold on to their core until they can acquire some young, sizeable forwards. While the 3rd overall pick and Gagner would help, the mix in Vancouver would be wrong for Gagner. Edmonton would lose on almost every facet of this trade, despite getting Kesler and Tanev. Tanev is a question mark, and Kesler may have qualms about coming to a place like Edmonton.