Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli held trade talks with Edmonton GM Steve Tambellini on Saturday, and admitted on Monday that they expect to speak again before the beginning of the 2010 National Hockey League draft on Friday night.
"I spoke to Steve on the weekend," Chiarelli said on a conference call, admitting the primary topics were Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin, and which team preferred which player with their top two picks in the draft. "(Tambellini) is probably as close, or has these guys as close as we do. Neither of us is committed to moving forward on that discussion.
"We’ll talk (again), but if the draft were tonight, I would say there would be no deal."
Edmonton drafts first overall, while Boston has the No. 2 pick. Tambellini expects a more pointed discussion when next they speak in Los Angeles this week. The Oilers GM flies out Tuesday.
"I know conversations a day before, or two days prior to draft will be much more direct from what I’ve been listening to — from a lot of managers," Tambellini told sportsnet.ca Monday.
Chiarelli has ruled out trading the No. 2 pick, courtesy of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Phil Kessel deal. He also sounded skeptical that he would part with much value to ensure the Oilers laid off the player he preferred, admitting, "As of today we have one guy over the other. But it’s very close. Very close."
Tambellini isn’t tipping his hand either, but senses there may be some synergy with Boston after those first two picks.
"We’re definitely at different stages, regarding the cycle of development. No question about that," Tambellini recognized.
Chiarelli sounded open to dealing his No. 15 overall selection however, which could fill out the package with Edmonton. He also has the Leafs’ second rounder (32nd overall) as well as his own (45th), plus the Bruins’ and Toronto’s No. 1 pick in 2011 to play with.
You can be confident the Bruins, a team looking to win now, will deal some of those picks for bodies.
The Oilers, a team in full rebuild mode and deep in wingers, could send a Dustin Penner or Ales Hemsky to centre-rich Boston in a package that include the No. 15, perhaps a younger player or prospect, and also firm up who gets Seguin and who gets Hall.
Sheldon Souray is also on the block in Edmonton, though the Oilers would be asked to take back an unfavourable contract. Oilers captain Ethan Moreau is also in play.
"I have to be open to any proposal, especially where we are as an organization," said Tambellini, whose team finished dead last in the NHL this past season. "This is a wonderful opportunity for us to add a player we know that, eventually when we get to point where we think we have a chance to win, this player will be part of that.
"We have the No. 1 pick and 2 really good seconds. Even if we don’t move our picks, we have a really important opportunity here."
Is Tambellini open to trading any roster player? "Absolutely. Have to be."
Of all the various trade talks Chiarelli has held with colleagues over his career, he admits this scenario with Edmonton is unique.
"It is different," he said. "Generally I would characterize it as, we both don’t want to lay any cards to each other right now. I genuinely believe that Steve is of the same opinion on these players as we are. They’re very close. I don’t know if (talks will) ever get truly in detail. I know we’re both very noncommittal (right now)."
He admitted the Bruins have their guy, but wasn’t tipping his hand on which one he liked more.
"The premise is, you want to draft the best player available. But these two kids are so close, it’s a unique situation. We’re in a good spot," he said, after having visited both players at their respective Ontario homes in recent weeks.
"They’re both terrific kids. Both very confident," Chiarelli said. "Tyler seems to be a little more extroverted than Taylor. Both families are tremendous families.
"Taylor has done all these things, and won, and you can’t ignore that. But Tyler… his level of improvement is significant from one year to the next. And he’s still growing.
"Both are confident in their own way, ready to do everything that they’re asked, and want to win very badly."
Stay tuned. A Boston-Edmonton deal of some magnitude appears likely.
