As crazy as it seems, I don't think the Edmonton deal is outrageous value-wise.

As an edmontonian who watches the team, I think you have a good sense on the trade value here, but the Oilers wouldn't be very interested in this deal because of the situation it leaves the team in. Just made up a mirror oilers roster of this trade and without nurse or that first it makes doing anything else pretty tough. For instance, mcdonagh is a left shot and kreider is a left winger. So on the left side we would have Hall, Pouliot, Maroon, and Kreider and on the right we have Eberle and Yakupov, who we want to trade. On defence it leaves McDonagh, Klefbom, Sekera, Davidson, Ference and Reinhart as lefties and Fayne as the righty. One of the big stipulations the Oilers are going to be dancing around this summer is they need right shot guys. Eberle is virtually the only right shot player on the team, so even though the value looks good, I don't think the Oilers would move Nurse and their 1st rounder just for McDonagh and RFA Kreider.

This EDM trade is absolute garbage. Mac would bring in all 3 then you include Kreider? That's really, really bad and then McIlrath. No interest at all in Yak or Nurse.

Solid moves

I get where you are going as L shot needs to be viewed throughout the lineup as opposed to simply D. The most critical area in which having a R shot or two is on the PP, but that doesn't necessarily mean a R shot D. McIlrath is a big, young righty who doesn't have top-end foot work, but is very capable on the third pair currently and should have some solid upside and limited downside. While McIlrath has a wicked shot, until he develops a bit more he's not really a PP option though. Still solid add for Edmonton. To you're point on Eberle, I'm not an oilers fan, but as he is the only high-end right shot you've got it's probably tough for Chia to move him regardless of scenario. Also, we did take Yak in this trade.

No way McDonagh returns that entire package. 4th overall in a top-heavy draft, high 2nd rounder, high quality D on EL and a roster winger with upside? Not to mention shaving ~$5 mil in prospective cap (including Tkachuk)? Come on... On a pure potential return basis, might be able to get more if the players were traded separately, but given the cap implications and needs of both teams, I think it works well.

I don't see the Rangers trading Mcdonagh to Edmonton without them including Hall or Drasitil

Agreed except for Hall no (not happening), Draisaitl yes.



That is pushing it IMO but i'll leave it at that. Not having interest in Nurse makes no sense. The kid is 21 yo......do you not have interest in Ristolainen, Morin, Morrissey, Pulock either? the guy was drafted ahead of all these players.



McDonagh is a just under a Norris calibre type dman at the moment. Kreider is a very solid second line winger and Mcilrath is a decent prospect with some upside. Nurse is a top defenceman prospect, Yakupov is a 10g 3rd liner or a 30g first liner, the 4oa is going to be a solid top line forward or dman depending on who is chosen and the second rounder is basically a late 1st rounder.

Break this trade down and you get:

McDonagh for the 1st and 2nd rounder = If I'm Edmonton I'm making that trade any day son.He is exactly what they need. The guys is a stud and is better than Vatanen, Barrie, Dumba, or any other dman currently available. NY has ginormous hole on defence now but replaces it with a projected top line forward Tkachuk/Dubois and another solid prospect.
Kreider for Nurse = With what Edm has on the LH side they can risk losing Nurse now. Kreider helps this team win now! Nurse gives NY a potential replacement for McDonagh down the road.
Yakupov for McIlrath = Hard to say. I think Yakupov is going to make whoever picks him up in trade look really smart if he's put in the right situation with quality leadership. The 1st overall skill set is still there, the kid needs a teacher and role model on his line to guide him to his potential. McIlrath is a decent prospect with some upside but hasn't proven enough yet. He could be very good or he could be average. Only time will tell on this one.



That's because its not crazy. Unrealistic maybe.

Love the thoughts and you're spot on. McDonagh return is low, Kreider return makes sense & McIlrath/Yak is an arguable wash (cogent arguments for both sides). The kicker is the cap savings. Yandle gets resigned (not a replacement for McDonagh by any stretch, but still a valuable piece) and team now has some breathing room to maneuver. I doubt Gorton is taking a one-year approach to this offseason. Question is, does the move give the rangers enough to acquire/build a squad that can compete in 2-3?

Mac >> 4th and 2nd rounder
Kreider and McIlrath >> Nurse and Yakupov

Nurse is overrated. I've seen EDM fans agree