Oil change inevitable in Edmonton
Another thing MacTavish will do – if he hasn’t already – is call Nashville Predators capo David Poile and say, “If you decide to trade No. 6, I’m in. I’ve got what you want. There’s no better fit in the league.” The Predators had no choice but to match the Philadelphia Flyers’ offer sheet for Shea Weber. They needed control of the asset and credibility among the fan base after losing Ryan Suter. But things are changing in Tennessee.
The market is restless. The Predators were ecstatic to draft Seth Jones. But it meant not getting a highly skilled forward, which was the original plan. If a Weber package includes one of Edmonton’s recent first-round picks (not Yakupov after the Alexander Radulov experiment) and this year’s first-rounder, you can sell that. Of course, Edmonton will have 28 competitors if this scenario becomes reality.
Overall summation of the pre-Christmas trade market: “Brutal.” One NHL GM: “There was absolutely nothing out there.”
Edmonton’s compensation for Linus Omark: If he plays 15 NHL games this season, with the Buffalo Sabres or anyone else, it’s a sixth-round draft pick in June. If he falls short of that yet re-signs with Buffalo before the draft, it’s still a sixth rounder in June. If he re-signs after the draft, it’s a sixth rounder in 2015. Memorize this, there will be a test.
Poile would like to do something. “We would make a move if appropriate,” he said last Friday. “We’re very, very disappointed … Our forwards are not performing to the level of expectations. We need a shakeup. Everyone wants to give you a player, not take back.” People will ask, so let’s make this clear: Poile did not discuss trading Weber.
http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hockey/opinion/2013/12/oil-change-inevitable-in-edmonton.html