What happens with #16?

8 years ago

There will be no debates, at least sane ones anyways, over who the Oilers select first overall at the upcoming NHL draft. They are taking Connor McDavid, but what will happen with the #16 pick?

The Oilers would love to use that pick along with a package of other players and/or draft picks to acquire a veteran NHL D-man.

How realistic is that idea?

It is hard to say because of a small sample size. I believe we can only look at deals made under the salary cap which arrived in 2005/2006.

Here are trades that involved first round picks and NHL players at the draft or days before the draft.

2014:

The Canucks traded Ryan Kesler and a 3rd in 2015 to the Ducks for Nick Bonino, Luka Sbisa and the #24th pick (Jared McCann) and #85th selection. The Canucks then traded the 85th pick (Keegan Iverson) to the Rangers for Derek Dorsett. Kesler had a NMC and said Anaheim was the only team he’d go to according to the Canucks.

2013:

Vancouver trades Cory Schneider to New Jersey for the 9th overall pick (Bo Horvat). At the time the Canucks also had Roberto Luongo in goal and felt it best to only have one proven starter.

2012:

Pittsburgh traded Jordan Staal to Carolina for Brandon Sutter, Brian Dumoulin and the #8 pick (Derrick Pouliot).

2011:

Philadelphia traded Jeff Carter to Columbus for Jakub Voracek, the #8 pick (Sean Couturier) and the 68th pick (Nick Cousins). The Blue Jackets gave up a lot to get Carter and it didn’t work out. They traded Carter to LA for Jack Johnson and a pick (Marko Dano) eight months later.
Chicago traded Troy Brouwer to Washington for the 26th pick (Philip Danault).

2010:

Florida traded Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell to Boston for Dennis Wideman, a 3rd rounder in 2011 and the15th pick on June 22nd. Three days later on draft day the Panthers traded down to #19 and took Nick Bjugstad while the Kings took Derek Forbort at #15.
St.Louis traded David Rundblad to Ottawa for the 16th pick and took Vladimir Tarasenko. Rundblad wasn’t officially an NHL player, he was 17th pick in 2009, so this trade doesn’t fall into my category, but I had to mention it because the Senators must have nightmares over this deal.
Chicago traded Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel and Akim Aliu to Atlanta for Marty Reasoner, Joey Crabb, Jeremy Morin, the 24th pick (Kevin Hayes) and 54th pick (Justin Holl). Hawks needed to clear cap space, but Hayes never signed with them and Holl spent his first pro year in ECHL this year after four years of college.
Florida traded Keith Ballard and Oreshkovich to Vancouver for Steve Bernier, Michael Grabner and the 25th pick (Quentin Howden).

2008:

Los Angeles, Anaheim and Calgary were involved in a three-way trade.

LA received the 12th pick (ANA) and CGY’s 2nd round pick.
ANA received the 17th pick (CGY) and 28th pick (LA).
Calgary got Mike Cammalleri.
Calgary traded Alex Tanguay and a 5th round pick to Montreal for the 25th pick (Greg Nemisz) and a 2nd rounder in 2009.
Washington traded Steve Eminger and the 84th pick to Philadelphia for the 27th pick (John Carlson). Ouch, that one has to sting Flyers fans a bit.

2007:

San Jose traded Vesa Toskala and Mark Bell to Toronto for the the 13th pick, the 44th pick and a 4th in 2009. The Sharks then traded the #13 pick, the #44 pick, a 3rd in 2008 to St.Louis for the #9 pick, and used it to select Logan Couture. Nice day of trading by Doug Wilson.

2006:

Los Angeles traded Pavol Demitra to Minnesota for Patrick O’Sullivan and the 17th pick (Trevor Lewis).
Washington traded Brendon Witt to Nashville for Kris Beech and 23rd pick (Semyon Varlamov).

THOUGHTS…

Winning the lottery, hiring Peter Chiarelli and a new head coach will make the Oilers a more attractive destination than ever before. Players who didn’t have the Oilers on their list of places to go, might reconsider now. Not all of them, of course, but a few would, just like Mike Babcock will look at the Oilers differently because of Connor McDavid.

I’ve read a few articles and heard people suggest the Oilers should go after Brent Seabrook. It makes sense to go after him, because he is a proven top-pairing D-man, but if I’m Chicago I’d trade Patrick Sharp before Seabrook. Some feel a package of the #16, Martin Marincin and another prospect or pick could land Seabrook.

When you look at the packages it cost to land Kesler or Carter I’d be surprised if the Hawks accepted that offer. I’d look at moving other players before Seabrook.

Chiarelli will have many teams asking about his pick, and in a deep draft it could have more value than other years. Every year the value of a pick can change depending on how badly a team wants a specific player.

I’m certain Chiarelli will talk to the Blackhawks, Rangers, Kings and other teams who are up against the cap. He will look to mirror what Garth Snow did in October when he acquired Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk. Snow was able to re-sign both of them to long-term deals which made those trades look even better.

However, Chiarelli also hinted he won’t rush to rebuild his team. He can be patient and draft a very good player and keep building his team. I’m sure that isn’t his first choice, but it is a pretty good fall back plan. I suspect they will use the pick, or possibly trade it up or down for other picks, but I’d be surprised if they get a top NHL D-man with the #16 as part of a trade.

Which players would you go after if you were Chiarelli, and what package would you offer to entice the opposing GM?

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What happens with #16?

THOUGHTS…

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