FanPost

My Ideal 2011 Draft Week & Opening To Free Agency


Immersing yourself in draft and prospect information for an extended amount of time isn't good for the grounded hockey brain. By the time the draft rolls around, you start to become convinced that the 180th-ranked prospect is legit and he's just been overlooked by scouts. So as long as my brain is thinking castles in the sky aren't completely unobtainable, I present to you my ideal next seven days.

Friday, June 24th, 5:12 p.m. - Gary Bettman walks to the podium at XCel Energy Center and says something. Unfortunately, the announcement is drowned out by boos. After a few minutes of wondering what was said, it turns out the Bettman said: "There has been a trade. The Edmonton Oilers have traded the #1 overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry draft to the Florida Panthers for the #3 overall pick and the Panthers first pick in the second round, #33 overall. Florida is on the clock."

Friday, June 24th, 5:13 p.m. - Twitter breaks. Oilogosphere explodes into a giant ball of flame war.

Friday, June 24th, 5:35 p.m. - Taylor Hall strides to the podium at XCel Energy Center and says, "The Edmonton Oilers are proud to select, from Skelleftea of the SEL, defenseman Adam Larsson"

Friday, June 24th, 5:45 p.m. - Bettman, under a constant chorus of boos at this point makes another announcement. No one knows what it is. Pierre finds out and goes apoplectic on the TSN broadcast. "The New York Islanders have just traded the 5th overall pick for the 19th, 31st and 33rd. I don't understand why. Can't they see that blah blah blah?"

Friday, June 24th, 5:48 p.m. - Taylor Hall strides to the podium once again and says, "The Edmonton Oilers are proud to select, from the Drummondville Voltiguers, Sean Couturier."

Friday, June 24th, 5:49 p.m. - Twitter breaks. Oilogosphere melts down.

Friday, June 24th, 7:00 p.m. - TSN announces that Edmonton and Los Angeles have executed a trade. "Edmonton trades their second selection in the third round, #74 to Los Angeles for Ryan Smyth"

Friday, June 24th, 7:01 p.m. - Twitter breaks. Edmonton yelps with glee.

Saturday, June 25th, 10:00 a.m. - TSN announces that Edmonton and Minnesota have completed a trade over breakfast. "Edmonton trades Theo Peckham and Andrew Cogliano to Minnesota for Nick Schultz."

Monday, June 27th, Noon - Darren Dreger breaks the news that Edmonton has bought out the contract of Nikolai Khabibulin.

Friday, July 1st, 10:00 a.m. - @NHL_Oilers annouces the signings of Edmonton native Vern Fiddler, Jose Theodore, Adam Hall, Steve Montador and Mike Grier.

The Edmonton Oilers would head into training camp with a mix of vets and young players, balanced offense and defense and a stable goaltending situation.

Smyth
Gagner
Hemsky





Hall
Horcoff
Eberle





Paajarvi
Fiddler
Omark





Jones
Hall
Grier











Schultz
Gilbert






Whitney
Montador






Smid
Petry












Dubnyk



Theodore






Fraser



Brule



Foster



Now back to reality...

Trending Discussions