NEVER SAY NEV…WHAT?
By Lowetide
8 years agoThere’s a new sheriff in town and his name is Peter Chiarelli. The Oilers new GM was asked about trading the No. 1 overall pick, and replied ‘never say never!’ WHAT?
THE STORY
Mark Scheig of the Hockey Writers had a chance to catch up to Chiarelli tonight before the SSM-Erie game.
- THW: “Is there a scenario out there anywhere, in which you would consider trading the number 1 pick?”
- Schiarelli: “I would never say never. If we decide to take
this player, Connor McDavid, who is a hell of a player, we would be
passing up a hell of a player if we did trade the pick. But in this
business, you never say never.”
The idea that Edmonton could somehow get fooled and deal the No. 1 pick is noxious I know, but it’s Peter Chiarelli’s job to procure talent and mold that talent for the Edmonton Oilers. It is not his job to entertain us with quotes, give us the road map for the future, or to shut down potential offers from the other 29 NHL GM’s.
Is he going to deal the No. 1 overall selection? Hell no. However, there’s a reason NHL teams send area scouts and scouting directors out to see players, and that has to do with process and making sure you come to conclusions in due time, without overreacting or rushing to something that will bite you in the ass down the line. Chiarelli has a new amateur scouting staff, it might be an idea to listen to what they have to say, as opposed to cutting off a conversation two months before the draft. As a former scout himself, I suspect Chiarelli wants to start as he means to go with that area of the organization.
Due diligence. Process. THEN pick McDavid.
Also, allowing an open dialogue could get a conversation started and shake loose some ideas. It doesn’t mean they’re trading McDavid, but it does mean the Oilers are open for business.
CALM DOWN!
I’m not saying ‘calm yourself, silly!” because as an Oilers fan you’ve been through a lot and earned the right to be suspicious. Peter Chiarelli once traded Tyler Seguin, although there were specific pressures on and off the ice that led to that transaction, he said exactly that on Friday. Performance issues, cap issues, other issues.
There are no such issues with the Edmonton Oilers and Connor McDavid, who lit it up again tonight for the Erie Otters. Peter Chiarelli is a veteran GM who will take the time to look at all options available, inform himself as much as possible, and then make the best possible decision for the Edmonton Oilers.
Never say never? We’ll simply have to get used to it.
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