Will The Edmonton Oilers Ship Out One Of Their Top-End Centers?

The Edmonton Oilers haven't made the playoffs since they lost in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals back in 2006. Since then. they have had many top-end draft picks that still haven't gotten them back in the playoffs. The Oilers have had four first overall picks since 2010: Taylor Hall (2010), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011), Nail Yakupov (2012), and Connor McDavid (2015). In addition to this group of first overall picks, the Oilers added top end talent later in the first round of recent drafts: Jordan Eberle (2008, 22nd overall), Darnell Nurse (2013, 7th overall), and Leon Draisaitl (2014, 3rd overall). 

That is quite the crop of players, but it hasn't been enough to get the Oilers back in the playoffs. Out of all the players listed above though there is only one defenseman. Defense and goaltending have been the weakest links of the Oilers for the entirety of their playoff drought. They are in desperate need of an elite defenseman to lead their defense to the playoffs. All the offensive talent in the world won't help their weak defense. This is where the idea of trading one of their centers comes into play. They have three centers on the roster that could be number one centers on most NHL clubs. McDavid, Nugent-Hopkins, and Draisaitl all have high trade value. 

Based on Draisaitl's recent performance of 26 points in 20 games this season and McDavid's hype as the next best player since Sidney Crosby, it is only natural to assume that Nugent-Hopkins would be the one to go. Trading Nugent-Hopkins for a number one defenseman would be the best way to propel the Oilers into the playoffs as soon as this spring. Oilers management owes it to their fans to get back in the playoffs, and this is the key to doing it. 

Possible trade destinations for Nugent-Hopkins include the Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, and New York Islanders. Nashville would make the most sense for both clubs. The Oilers would get the 31-year-old Shea Weber who has been the center of the Predators' defense for much of the last eight years, and the Predators would get the number one center that they have been needing and wanting for a long time. Weber has a big contract that the Predators might want to get rid of, and they have plenty of talent on defense to still have one of the best defenses in the league. Weber is the oldest and most expensive out of the top four. Nugent-Hopkins would immediately make the Predators' forward group much better and give them a true number one center to play with Filip Forsberg. It's a win-win for both teams that enable both teams to get better. 

Quick trade speculations about the Sharks and Islanders would involve Brent Burns reuniting with Todd McLellan and Nugent-Hopkins headed to San Jose. The Islanders would package Travis Hamonic, and Nugent-Hopkins would be headed to New York. The Oilers need defense help now and the only way they are going to get it is by moving someone like Nugent-Hopkins.