Friedman: Oilers, Hurricanes, Coyotes unlikely to accept Lindros-like package trade for No. 1 pick

Elliotte Friedman was on Buffalo’s WGR 550 on Wednesday morning.

On if it would be dumb to think the Oilers could get an Eric Lindros-like package of four or five pieces from a team like Philadelphia for the No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick at the draft this year (Couturier, Read, the Schenns, Simmonds, Morin are mentioned as possible pieces):

“I would never say never. I don’t think it’s ever dumb to suggest that.

“But Let me give you an example. Two years ago, Calgary had three picks in the first round: 6, 22, and 28. The Colorado Avalanche had the No. 1 overall pick and they took Nathan MacKinnon. Calgary offered all three of those picks to Colorado for No. 1, and the Avalanche didn’t even consider it. They said, ‘No way.’

“So that shows you the kind of value that a No. 1 pick has. Especially for a guy like McDavid. He’s such a generational player, a once-in-a-lifetime player, I think, that I don’t believe anybody would make that kind of deal. So my answer to that would be no, but I don’t think it’s a bad idea to try.

“Also, when you’re a team like Edmonton, and you’re in a place where it’s sometimes hard to get guys to play for you, you draft Connor McDavid you know you’ve got him for seven years. If you trade for other guys, pending what their contracts are, you don’t know how long you’ve got them.

“And that’s why I think if it was Edmonton or Carolina, which has a history for having trouble getting guys - or Arizona, same deal, needs a young player to re-energize their franchise - I think the answer would be no.”

Source: WGR 550/ Transcript: Nichols on Hockey

Nichols on Hockey

Nichols on Hockey

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Nichols on Hockey

Nichols on Hockey