Quoting: math731
Lets say we do Tatar (retain), Poehling for Neal, Broberg and 14th OA. Gives you a top 6 forward, a potential 3C and freeing cap so you can sign a solid UFA to upgrade your top 6 even more
I don't see that happening either. Life is tough for Ken Holland right now:
1. He is carrying over $4,500,000 in dead cap (retention and buy-outs) and doesn't have enough cap space to qualify both Athanasiou and Benning, and extend Ethan Bear, Tyler Ennis, or Riley Sheahan.
2. If he can't move a d-man from his NHL roster he is likely to lose William Lagesson to either free agency or a waiver claim.
3. Jesse Puljujarvi remains unsigned.
4. His top goaltending prospect remains under contract in the KHL for next season.
5. This year he has only two selections within the first 107 draft picks, if he decides to keep his 3rd round selection. If he does that then next year he will have a first round selection, and then have to wait until the 4th round for his next selection.
6. The lack of second round picks in the next two drafts, and the League's decision to pro-rate James Neal's statistics and award Calgary on of Edmonton's next two 3rd round draft picks makes it extremely difficult for Holland to build up the organization's list of prospects, and they are already thin with respect to future forwards.
Moving Neal provides significant cap space, and adding Tatar certainly should boost team offense, but Poehling may or may not be of benefit. Clearly trading away Broberg and one of only three draft picks he has in the top three rounds of the next two years will make life even more difficult for Holland. Sure, signing a UFA may help, but doing so almost always results in too much salary and too much term, further exacerbating Edmonton's ability to maintain a competitive club in the future.