[AlbertaOiler72]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I have been saying that the Oilers need to make a bad trade in an effort to balance out their team and get better. Didn't think they would actually do it.

This is a bad trade. Any way you slice it, it was poor value for Edmonton.

With that being said, Taylor Hall is also a 'problem' for Edmonton - we as Calgary fans have seen it for a long time. I would expect they trade away Eberle soon as well, as I think he was a worse player than Hall, and just as much a problem for Edmonton.

I like Larsson. I would hope that the Flames acquired him. I think he would be exceptionally strong next to Hamilton this year, and he absolutely has top pairing potential. Yes, Larsson was playing top pairing in NJ, but NJ sucks. It was admirable that he was keeping his head above water - really shows there is upside to him - but a top-pairing defencemen TODAY he is not. I don't care what HERO charts tell you - he is not any more of a top-pairing guy today than Justin Shultz is, or even just as laughably - Davidson is for the Oilers (seriously, Davidson is bottom-pairing guy, and nothing more).

I think this is a good proverbial win for both teams in the long run - Oilers would NOT get better as long as Hall was in the picture. He needed to be removed out of the equation. Getting a bag of peanuts would have been a win. Adding Larsson - a guy who is a decent defencemen at his age is a huge bonus.

New Jersey wins big time. They will absorb Hall's 'issues' well,and I bet Hall becomes a better player in time.

Looking at straight-up value - it was downright embarrassing for the Oilers. However, they just needed to do it. Any way you slice it, Hall was an issue that would always block Edmonton from taking a step forward. This was also a huge shot across the bow for the rest of the Oilers' forwards. Losing will not be tolerated, and if you are perceived as being part of the problem, you will be traded away.

If I was Draisaitl, Puljujarvi and especially McDavid... I would immediately make myself a cancer to the team to get my butt out of there as fast as possible!

Edit: Forgot to add: Though I think Larsson has a really good ceiling - a definite #1 - he has only barely been holding his head above water for a very short time in NJ on the top pair. If the Oilers don't find a partner for him - an experienced #1 guy - I think Larsson will regress, and this trade will look sillier every year. I don't think the Oilers will find that player, and thus I agree with the sentiment that Adam Larsson is the biggest loser in all of this. Not only does he have to play in Edmonton, but he is almost assuredly going to see his career tank.

I.....I can't believe I'm agreeing with you

still...terrible trade