As a Jets fan, I don't like it. Connor is a consistent 30 goal scorer locked up on a team friendly deal at 6 more years. I would rather keep him.

You can count on nudge for about 25 goals and about the same points.

If RNH could be signed then without question you make that trade but if not then ya you gotta pass.

You're a bad man for the title name for what it's worth.

This trade might end up being an RNH-Connor 1-for-1: if Klefbom can't manage his arthritic shoulder for the 2021 season, odds are he'll likely retire from playing hockey all together. The Jets aren't going to want to take that kind of risk.

The ideology doesn't really work either: if the Jets are mulling over a quick retool, they aren't going to trade one of their key, young wingers to find that player. If the Jets want to look at rewarding their young core by adding a premier center, it's more likely to be futures, prospects, and a quality old fart that they look at dealing first.

You really had me, I was like "oh boy let's see him trading McDavid for garbage"

Does this trade work with a left defense such as broberg attached?

I'll answer this under the assumption Klefbom does in fact retire:

No.

But it's a no from Edmonton in this case. If Seattle really is targeting Jones, Nurse, Borberg, and Samorukov (the first two specifically) should be considered untouchable until another quality LHD is signed or is drafted by the Oilers.

In any case, I don't think Edmonton needs to make a trade for Connor at the expense of RNH: as a winger, he's as productive, but only a four years older. It serves Edmonton better to keep their powder dry, retain assets, and continue building the team through the draft. If Hollloway, Lavoie, and Puljujarvi are either 1st or 3rd line wingers, Edmonton's on a fair path to find their own forward group. They're really just a goaltender and a couple development years away from being a really good team.

I think the unsettled Laine situation would give them pause for making such a move as well.

They are on the right track however there is a chance nudge doesn't get signed for that 6.5-7 Million AAV that they need him for. They can't take a chance on letting him walk for nothing and they can't just pay him what he wants otherwise they won't be able to make the team friendly deals they need to on their dmen in about 2 years. For those reasons I could see him getting traded for a grade A winger.

Edmonton will protect Nurse, Jones, Bear. Klefbom is likely eligible for a draft exemption.

It's possible, but not probable. There's every reason to believe that the Oilers and Nugent-Hopkins can come to a reasonable agreement in the next 8 months.

As I understand it, Klefbom would only be exempt if he misses 60+ straight games. If the season is less than that - which is becoming increasingly likely - then he wouldn't be exempt, correct?

I'd love for them to protect Jones, but including a dash of realism by planning for a worst-case-scenario has merit. I'm also operating on Edmonton trying to offload Neal on Seattle, which based on the Vegas expansion, might cost Jones/Puljujarvi and a 3rd. As of right now, I'm more inclined to keep Puljujarvi; Broberg expected to be a top-4 name in due time suggests that Edmonton would only need a short-term top-4 LD in free agency to fill. Subject to change based on performances in the upcoming season of course.

I think the wording is based on games played rather than games missed. Something like "played 40 games in the preceding season or 70 over the preceding two seasons". Klefbom played just 62 last year... so if Klefbom plays 7 or fewer games in the coming season he won't have to be protected, right? Not so fast: the league gets to decide on a case-by-case basis. And we all know that if Bettman is given a chance to screw over the Oilers, he'll do it. So while it's certainly possible that Klefbom becomes exempt from the Seattle draft, it's by no means a given - even if he misses the entire 2020-21 season.

If the Oilers get screwed out of a third round draft pick by prorating then they should be able to benefit from it. I don't think the league would disallow the exemption because his injury problems are well documented. Also would you waste a protection on klefbom if there is a chance he doesn't come back? Would seattle even pick him?

When I go through the future roster they don't NEED to get rid of Neal till the final year of his contract when they go to resign Jones.

so my bet is if they can offload Neal for a pick or a player that they aren't using they will do it but if it's not reasonable then they buy out Neal's last year.

Great questions. I go off the principle that if the league can screw the Oilers over, they will. I've yet to be disappointed... as for Klefbom, I have no idea what the chances are of him coming back, and I suppose he doesn't either at this point. If he can't, then obviously I wouldn't protect him and there's very little chance Seattle picks him even if he is exposed - which isn't a given due to the vague rules.

If they wanted to maximize their potential to win with the team they have now, then freeing up Neal's money means having the cash to go for a Hall, Hamilton, Landeskog, etc or a top goaltender next summer in order to make a genuine run for the thing.