Not a chance

I am absolutely 100% on board with ekholm as a target been saying it since news on klef broke. Play styles are comparable in many ways. I don’t think the trade purposed works for both sides but very much do like the concept.

Does Poile submit his resignation simultaneously? Good Lord

Maybe a move like this saves his career. Nashville has two centres making 8 million per year in a flat cap world….arguments could easily be made that both are under performing relative to their contracts. Duchene is owed nearly 40 million on his contract. There will be a price to pay to move that. Two 2nds is hardly unreasonable and taking on James Neal is hardly a handcuff situation as Nashville could easily buy him out and save around 30 million plus in the process freeing up cash to restructure the forward group. Like I said, I believe Duchene is still a good player and could rejuvenate his career playing with two of the best players in the world. The gamble is on Edmonton. Ekholm for Jones could probably be tweaked with a different prospect instead or a second prospect added….but really Ekholm is a year from UFA.

I don't love the deal from Edmonton's side too much either. That kind of money and term on a roll of the dice is risky business, regardless of the other incentives in the deal, IMO.

I could see Nashville trying to incentivize Seattle to extract one of their 2 "albatross" centers --- likely Johansen (less remaining salary, 2 years younger, 1 year less in term). I think the cost might be comparable to what you've laid out but they wouldn't need to take on a contract like Neal's in return. (Ie. 2 second rounders and a solid roster player or prospect (probably not Ekholm) for Seattle to select Johansen in the Expansion Draft.)

You neglected to mention the massive retention on Duchene's contract you're asking for here. EDM gets Duchene at a very cheap $5.5M, Ekholm, two 2nds, and dumps Neals contract, for the cost of a marginal youngish defenseman in Jones, and you feel the Oilers are the ones gambling here? Sorry, but that's ludicrous.