Oilers Shouldn’t Trade for First Overall Pick if Selection Becomes Available

In a recent surprising statement from the San Jose Sharks, they revealed that they would be open to trading the first overall selection in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft if they end up winning the draft lottery.

If #SJSharks get the No. 1 pick, Grier says he's more willing to entertain offers for it than last year.

Not that he's giving it away, he'd be looking for a Herschel Walker/Ricky Williams-type offer.

"At the top, after Schaefer, it's probably more forward-heavy."

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 18, 2025

The expectation is that Matthew Schaefer will be the first prospect to hear his name called at the upcoming draft, and he has the potential to be a top-pairing defender. There would be quite a few teams interested in acquiring that first overall selection if the Sharks are willing to part with it, and the Edmonton Oilers could be one of those teams.

Related: Oilers News & Rumours: Kane, Frederic, Ryan, Kapanen, Walman

The Oilers are currently focused on winning their first Stanley Cup since 1990 after coming up just short last season, after losing in seven games to the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final. At the 2025 Trade Deadline, the Oilers tried to make a splash and came close to acquiring superstar Mikko Rantanen, which could indicate they’re willing to spend big to allow themselves to contend for seasons to come.

With that in mind, it’s safe to assume they would be willing to try and make a deal for a top prospect like Schaefer if he’s available closer to the draft. It may be quite the price tag to try and convince the Sharks to part with their first-round pick, but at the end of the day, the Oilers could be one of many teams that try to make a splash before the 2025-26 season.

What Would a Trade Look Like?

Trading the first overall draft pick is uncommon in any sport, so it’s hard to predict what a trade could look like for that selection. If we use what Schaefer’s potential is as a gauge for a trade package, it’s possible the Sharks would want at least a prospect, a second-round pick, and a young NHL-ready player in return. The Oilers could put a package like that together, but does it make sense for them to do that?

There are some other prospects the Oilers could consider selecting over Schaefer, including Michael Misa, Porter Martone, and James Hagens, who are all forwards. If the Oilers don’t have a spot for Schaefer next season, it’s possible they would consider selecting one of the potential star forwards instead, but in that case, why would they make the deal?

The only thing that would make this deal make sense, at least in some way, is if the Oilers see a world where they can’t get an extension done with Evan Bouchard. If that’s the case, and they want to add a new young defender, the deal makes some sense. However, if they don’t see a world where Bouchard is affordable, there are better options available for them to find a replacement.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t make any sense for the Oilers to make a deal for the pick. They may be forced to make some tough decisions this offseason, but they should try to make a splash elsewhere if they want to add some strength on their blue line, rather than taking a risk on a young defender who will need time to develop before he builds confidence at the NHL level.

As the 2024-25 postseason moves along, be sure to continue following The Hockey Writers as your source for news from around the NHL and the hockey world.