The Pros and Cons of the Edmonton Oilers Trading Their 2013 First Draft Pick

For the fourth season in a row, the Edmonton Oilers find themselves in a position on the outside of the playoff race looking in and holding what has the potential to be the No. 1 overall draft pick in this year's NHL draft. 

Unlike previous seasons, however, the NHL has now adopted a lottery system for those teams who do not make the playoffs to have an increased chance at the first overall pick. 

Meaning, for a team like Edmonton, the appeal to trade that pick may be a bit more significant if it doesn't carry the same chances of securing the first overall selection. 

Unless the Oilers’ fortunes change, their first pick will be a high selection and would have significant trade value this season. 

Here are the pros and cons of the Edmonton Oilers trading their 2013 first draft pick.

PRO: They Would Be Able to Add a Top Power Forward

One of the major deficiencies on the current Edmonton Oilers roster is a lack of size and physicality.

The team boasts one of the most talented groups of young forwards, but lacks that prototypical power forward.

A player who combines both size and skill would bring an added dimension to a rather one-sided Oilers attack.

The Oilers would be able to use their first-round selection as the primary asset in any deal, and the return would fetch the team an established player.

A risky move, considering the Oilers may have a chance at the first overall selection, but perhaps a necessary move considering all of the areas the team needs to improve in order to really progress.

CON: Draft Pick Could End Up Being the No. 1 Selection

If the second half of the 2013 plays out like the first half, then the Edmonton Oilers could very well find themselves holding the No. 1 overall pick once the lottery selection is complete. 

With that uncertainty looming over the team, it will be very hard for Kevin Lowe and Steve Tambellini to make any sort of moving containing that first pick, unless a bona fide star returns to the Oilers in the deal. 

The 2013 draft pool features such high-end forwards as Jonathan Drouin and Nathan Mackinnon, as well as a potential franchise defenseman in Seth Jones. While the team doesn't need any more small, skilled forwards, a defenseman like Jones could be that missing piece in the Edmonton Oilers' rebuilding phase.

PRO: The Pick Could Fetch a Franchise Defenseman

If the Oilers were to trade their first pick in 2013, it would almost certainly attain a No. 1 defenseman in return, which is perhaps the team's biggest need. 

The Oilers made strides by adding Justin Schultz in the offseason, but still require that go-to guy who can compete against the opposition's top talent every night. 

Ever since Chris Pronger departed Edmonton, the team has lacked that shutdown type of defenseman, and the team desperately needs that defensive anchor.

PRO: Could Trade Their Pick and Aquire a Pick and a Player

If the Oilers do end up securing one of the higher picks in the 2013 draft, the team could very easily turn that one pick into two very good assets. 

By trading down from the No. 1 slot, the team could theoretically trade for an NHL-ready player and a later first-round selection. 

This could, perhaps, be the best option for the team, as the Oilers have drafted the best player available regardless of position over the last few seasons, and it appears that it's time to draft positions of need. 

If the team could add a defenseman and a draft pick, then it could be a good decision for the Oilers to trade their first selection in 2013.