When the Edmonton Oilers put Kyle Turris on waivers today, speculation immediately sparked up that the team was preparing to go after one of the bigger names available at the trade deadline. The Oilers can bury part of Turris’ cap hit by moving him to the taxi squad and with Oscar Klefbom on long-term injured reserve, they have a bit of flexibility. Immediately, the thought of Taylor Hall returning to Edmonton popped into many minds, but if the Buffalo Sabres are holding out for a first-round pick, the struggling forward won’t be coming to the Oilers.
Edmonton GM Ken Holland spoke with reporters today and was clear about his limits:
I’m not going to trade a first for a rental. Maybe if the player had some term, I’d be open to it.
By a first, Holland is referring to a first-round draft pick, something he isn’t willing to move for a player on an expiring contract. That would include Hall, who signed a one-year $8MM deal with the Sabres in a unique offseason. According to previous reports, Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams has been looking for a first in any discussions on the enigmatic winger, but that is certainly not guaranteed at this point.
The New Jersey Devils did recently secure a first-round pick in trade, but that was for both Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac. They had to retain salary on both players as well, making them cost a combined $5.2MM against the cap for the New York Islanders. Even if the Sabres were to retain half of Hall’s deal, he’d still come in at $4MM for the Oilers or whoever acquires him before Monday’s deadline.
There are other rentals potentially out there as well, but it’s not clear exactly how many of them would fetch a first in a normal year, let alone this one that seems to have a heavy buyers’ market. Mike Hoffman, Nick Foligno and Scott Laughton are all good players, but it would be hard to justify handing over a first-round pick—especially when they would have to quarantine for at least a week before joining the Oilers north of the border.
The interesting thought is whether Holland—who also said the art of the deadline is just like poker—is speaking truthfully or attempting to bluff his way into a lower asking price in some negotiation. Giving that information publicly wasn’t needed and should draw even more eyeballs to the Oilers as a team to watch over the next 72 hours.
Oilers suck. Why keep the pick when you will screw it up lol
Yeah the only time they have made a good pick when a decision is required was Draisaitl.
I mean, McDavid, Nurse, Klefbom, Yamamoto, Jones, Bear, Nugent-Hopkins and Puljujarvi were decent picks, no? What do you mean by “only made a good pick when a decision was required”? Are decisions required to draft anyone?
Aren’t*
Don’t take it so literally. A choice is when there are multiple routes you can go with a pick. McDavid was not a choice, he was a slam dunk. And Puljujarvi a decent pick? Huh. You maybe had an argument with some other players but that Jesse was a massive bust.
Clearly haven’t watched an Oilers game this season if you think Jesse is a massive bust. He has returned from Finland a new player. Complete at both ends of the ice still finding his scoring touch. Few players drafted after him I would take over him now.
This is comedy gold right here. 15 points in 40 games is the big breakout? I’ll take Tkachuk or Keller over him.
So 2 out of 200? Did I call it a breakout or came back new? I would also take Sergachev, Nylander, DeBrincat and McAvoy over JP at this point possibly Kyrou as well. Is JP a stud, no. But he is definately not a “massive bust” and is still maturing into what he will become. His first season or so may have been busts, but his career is still young. Jesse is also a plus player while Dubois and Laine are minus players with only 2 more points than him. Are they “massive busts” too?
I was only referring to players drafted directly after him. It’s been 5 years and he hasn’t shown much even this year. Even if you think he can turn into something great, for now he is a bust.
And I am hesitant on Tkachuk with his antics and rumored locker room issues. Love his skill, but the extra baggage might be too much.
Perhaps you haven’t seen their picks recently. Broberg, Nurse, Yamamoto, Bouchard, Puljujarvi, Bear, Jones ect. All recent picks who have succeeded in the NHL or are expected to real soon.
Holloway, Klefbom , Eberle etc
Some people just love to hate
When picking consistently near the top you should be getting good players
Jones was a 4th round pick, Bear a 5th round pick. Both playing regularly in the NHL now.
Yamamoto was 22nd, playing regular 2nd line minutes. These are not all “near the top” picks.
Agreed. Oilers later round picks are starting to look good. They used to suck I mean SUCK at drafting but the last 5 years things have come around. Carter Savoie in the 4th round? Check his first year college numbers, pretty good. Tyler tulio in the 5th. Some guys who at the moment are unproven but looking good in the AHL and abroad. Even in G Skinner, Rodrigues and Konovalev. It’s about time that turned around.
The Sabres might end up keeping Hall for the rest of the season if they keep holding out for a 1st round pick. Hall isn’t worth anything of value. Two goals, a history of not being a team player and a big contract don’t warrant a first round pick
To be fair, there was Yakupov. But that was Katz interceding and overruling the teams scouts.
Prior to Chiarelli it was all old-Oilers-boys-club who should never have been GMs.
Chiarelli was a bad GM but not entirely terrible at drafting with the like of Bear and Jones making it to the NHL (there are some later pick forwards ready as well).
Holland is looking like a balance of good GM who will also stock the farm. It provides some hope, much needed hope.
So glad that 1st isn’t going to Buffalo for Hall.
To be fair, the Yakupov draft is one of the draft years in a long time. The best players out of that draft are Forsberg Wilson and Hertl and none of them are superstars. Excellent players and stars yes, superstars not so much. The only superstar to go in that draft was the 5th round pick of Hellybuck.
Worst draft years*
Agreed, not a stellar crop. Lookup Brian Burke’s opinion on Yakupov, it’s kinda amusing. The scouts wanted a Defenseman, like Ryan Murray. So I hold Katz accountable for that bust. The decade of darkness starts at the very top… and as an Oilers fan it makes me sad :(
Cmon dude. He was a consensus 1st overall pick. Fans are already agitated. They had to take Yak. Fans would’ve been livid if they traded down. Sure looks bad now but his even in his rookie season he looked legit. 36pts in 48 games if I’m not mistaken?
Does Kenny Holland even know what day it is? This old fossil will never lead Edmonton to the promised land. His last four years in Detroit all he did was make disastrous contract decisions and terrible draft choices. Edmonton fans should be worried.