B's, Oilers consider flip-flop at top
While there remains some debate about just how the first two picks in June’s NHL draft will work out, the Edmonton Oilers, who own the first overall pick, and Boston Bruins, who acquired the second overall pick in a deal with Toronto, have discussed a possible deal to ensure both get who they want.
The consensus top prizes are and , but there is no consensus on who should go No. 1.
“We came out with one guy ahead, but it flip-flopped,” Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said Wednesday after the GMs’ meetings in Philadelphia. “If it was a sizeable enough gap, we would look at a deal. Whatever premium we put on it, their gap might be bigger.”
Chiarelli said calls from other teams about the Bruins’ pick have started to trickle in.
“They’re slowly coming forward the last couple of days,” he said.
The calls might not only be about the No. 2 pick as Chiarelli has a number of attractive picks at his disposal, including the 15th, 32nd and 45th overall this year as well as four picks in the first two rounds next year.
Edmonton GM Steve Tambellini was headed to a scouting meeting at the conclusion of the GM meetings and the two top prospects will be the center of discussion.
“I’ve purposely not tried to express my views to our scouts as much as possible,” he said.
Would he trade the No. 1 pick?