Trouba is one of the few possibilities where I would consider moving the #8OA...but that extension would make me pass if that is where he would end up. This is a guy that has never topped 40 points and played anything resembling a full season once out of his 5 in the league (he averaged 62 games a year the other 4). 6 or 7 years at 5-5.5, I would give it some serious thought. Before I would do that with Trouba that expensive to extend, I would offer the same deal to the Oilers for their choice of Klefbom or Nurse (assuming Nurse will be around Klefbom to sign). Both those guys have had some injury issue to, but cheaper with Klembom comparable to Trouba offensively and Nurse pretty good offensively for having gotten no PP time to speak of.

That's interesting, although I think Trouba is still in another league above Klefbom and Nurse, so I'm not sure I'd give up #8 without getting back something else for the price.

Both Klefbom and Nurse play the left side. Do you see Keith dropping down to a second pairing in that case? Who would play on the top? Murphy? Do you think Jokiharu is ready?

Right side are Rutta, Seabrook, and Murphy with Jokiharu not needed unless he can push one of those out of the lineup. Keith and whichever of the Oilers guys you could get would all get plenty of ice time regardless of who is "top" line and who is second. I would rather see Keith at 22 minutes a game instead of 24 as I think he would become more effective with less time.

I wouldn't trade the #8OA and Duclair for Troubja, especially at the price he will command...likely $7m for 7. He's overvalued for said reasons above. Carlsson at $7.5M for 7 is way better value, not that the Hawks can grab him but point and case. Which is why Faulk for the #27 and Duclair and maybe Jurco or a 4th rounder is a good deal for the Hawks. He's not as good as Carlsson or Troubja but he's not that far behind them either.

The #8th needs to be our future core member with Debrincat, Schmaltz and Jokiharju. These 3 guys are the future core and adding a piece like Wahlstrom or a Tkachuk or Kotkeniemi would complete a 4 person core that the Hawks can transition from the former core (Keith, Kane, Toews, Seabs) to the new core. The value at #8 is just too much to give up for a player like Troubja. Now for someone like Tavares that's a different story...Troubja, as good as he or a Carlsson are, they aren't going add 10 to 15 more wins to the team the way a Tavares could for the Hawks.

Then Bowman is immediately fired after he trades #8 for Trouba.....

At #8 the Hawks could draft a defenseman that's superior to Trouba - if they go the D route at the draft...... If Tkachuk or Wahlstrom are available at #8 you take one of them unless Dobson is still on the board...

Bowman should be looking into acquiring MORE picks, not trading them ..... This draft is excellent...... Use, Anisimov, Duclair, Forsling and futures or prospects to acquire a few more picks.... The Islanders have (2) back-to-back first round picks 11 & 12..... They may trade one.... Heck, Bowman has good trading relationships with Montreal & Carolina maybe the Hawks could move up from 8 or 27 with the right package.... Heck, I would give up Anisimov, #27 and 2019 first & second round picks to move into the top 7 - maybe Vancouver's pick..

This draft is just too deep not to take advantage of it.......

The top 5 picks in this draft would all be first overall picks in an "average" draft, the top 20 would be top 10 as well...... Bowman needs to take advantage of that, because this draft could set the Hawks up for a very long time..... I'd be open to trading anyone in the right deal except DeBrincat, Schmaltz, Toews & Kane..