I personally think the oilers would want more of a game changer if Akey was going the other way. That being said I certainly could see the oilers being willing to counter offer with a forward prospect instead.

That’s fair. With the little cap space EDM has I figured their options are limited

They are somewhat limited but that doesn’t mean it’s any more wise to throw top blue line prospect in a trade just to shake things up. Do think oilers are getting to a point a shake up is somewhat needed and this post I’m actually digging the idea of Vrana. If the blues would be willing to look at forward prospects really think there could be something interesting here.