is OTT that desperate to trade up?

I mean if the Oilers do actually get pantsed in the qualifiers, Ottawa's getting a pretty fair deal. The cost to move up about 4 spots in the draft tends to be a second rounder. Let 'em have 6 spots and a hell of a draft for the cost of the super-early second and a bust.

Hawks match it if need be.

And it's the line of Kubalik - Toews and SAAD that make that line great. Study what Saad does next game and you'll see why; like stripping the puck away from McDavid last game in what might of been a high danger chance for the Oilers only to turn it into a Hawks high danger chance.

Ya I just ignore when they say that. Now Kubalik and McDavid would be so good together. You guys say you have a good team but if there wasn’t Covid, and forced the 24 team playoff Chicago wouldn’t even be anywhere close to the playoffs. So Chicago. You can say that you are so good, but then again in a normal playoffs you wouldn’t even be in it. With that said, I’m so excited to see what Edmonton will do this game with Koskinen in net, I’m hoping the last game woke them up and we will give Chicago a whopping tonight.

Hawks match that OS. We will match anything that's in the tier of a 1st and a 3rd for sure.

Is there any concern about the term taking him to UFA?

Not really because Seabrook will be bought out by then, Maatta, Shaw, and De Haan will be off the books. Hawks aren't in as much of a cap crunch as some believe.

A 3 year deal isn't ideal but I would still rather match and get him for three years and worry about an extension down the road than let him walk and only get a late 1st back

the devils trade is borderline offensive, regardless of his slight career renaissance this season. Nobody is taking the Neal contract unless you want Lucic back.

I think OTT deal should be NYI 1st, Chlapik and any 2nd rounder BUT Ottawa's own.
That being said, if Ottawa ends up with two forwards with 3rd and 5th OA (Stutzle/Byfield and Rossi), and Braden Schneider is still on the board at 15 OA - I take this deal.