Future promise

Darling is a UFA at seasons end. The Hawks will most likely lose TVR or Pokka

Highly doubt any team is going to retain 2.5 for a term with 4 years left on it.

Do you think it would have to be less? I personally think that RNH would fit in well with the Hawks' style of play, but I don't know if they would give him up.

Tell me more about how RNH at $3.5mill is only worth a 4th line centre and some scraps. I'd love to hear it.

Ok so here's my reasoning: The Oilers are a good and upcoming team, but their defensive play still is struggling. They have a lot of playmakers and snipers, but they need more defense. When going back to the Hall trade, if Hall had played for a team that had good defense, then the Oilers could have easily gotten someone better for Taylor Hall. However, they settled for Larsson because they will never be able to do anything without a good defense, and Larsson is a good start. With Nurse and Kelfbom, they have some good upcoming defensemen, and they are obviously looking to build on that and eventually make a cup run. With Pokka, they are given another defensemen (who is right handed, I may add) that Edmonton needs, and also one that plays a mostly defensive game, but can shoot the puck when his confidence grows. With Kruger, the Oilers are given a center who plays a defensively styled game, which is (once again) something Edmonton lacks. Everyone knows that offensive wins games, but defense wins championships. With this trade, the Oilers lose a stud, yes. But, they add some talent to a team that lacks the defensive talent required to win the Stanley Cup.