Source: The Leafs Should Trade for the 1st Overall Pick #mycolumn:

By winning the draft lottery and adding Connor McDavid to a group that already includes 1st overall picks Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov, and 2014 3rd overall pick Leon Draisatl, 2013 7th overall pick Darnell Nurse, and Jordan Eberle, the Edmonton Oilers really put the “Embarrassment” in “Embarrassment of riches”.

In fact, it borders on being unfair for the rest of the league. Except that the Oilers continue to defy the odds and be horrible because of supreme mismanagement and terrible ownership. In fact, that owner is suing the owner of McDavid’s OHL team, the Erie Otters. Has that managed to already cause a rift? Perhaps:

This tweet is not a coincidence. A source has also talked about McDavid and the Oilers, and said that the Leafs should trade for the 1st overall pick. Talk about a scoop. 

The idea stems from the fact that Edmonton doesn’t really need a centre. They already have Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Leon Draisatl. And we all know that you need to draft for need in today’s NHL. The Oilers need D and goaltending help more than anything. And they could also use some toughness because they rely on too much skill.

When my source said the Leafs should trade for the 1st overall pick, we floated some ideas that addresses both team needs. Here is where we netted out:

Let me tell you why this deal makes a lot of sense and Edmonton would be fools not to take it. 

First: Roman Polak. He brings toughness and bigness and is, on paper, a defenseman. He can bench press a lot of weight, which is important because someone needs to carry the load on D. 

While Polak hits things, Robidas brings that veteran presence that the Oilers need. They are a young team, especially on defense. Justin Schultz needs to learn from Robidas because Robidas is good defensively and Schultz is not.

Those two will be playing a big role in front of the centrepiece of this trade, which is James Reimer. Now some might think that Bernier needs to be a part of this deal, but I disagree. Reimer is a well-known Christian man, and you need to believe in some sort of higher purpose and plan to play for the Oilers because it is obvious Oilers management does not.

Those three are the main return for the pick. But because the Leafs will be getting a forward back, it makes sense for them to send one and a sweetener to seal this deal.

The first forward going to Edmonton is Joffrey Lupul. He has already played there, so it’s likely he will want to go back. 

The sweetener, but underrated part of this deal is Tyler Bozak. I am conflicted about including him because Connor McDavid compared himself to Bozak. In fact, sending him to Edmonton might make this deal incredibly lopsided. But my source is willing to do it. If Bozak can almost hit 50 points with Phil Kessel, imagine how many he can get with Jordan Eberle.

This deal makes sense for both teams. It solves all issues that the Oilers have, and will surely help them battle for a wild card playoff position next season. It also gives the Leafs a pretty good player to play with Zack Sill.

Will the Leafs trade for the 1st overall pick? Hard to say. But my source is confident: the Leafs should.