It has been widely speculated that the Oilers might put the first-overall draft pick into play, as the team is already loaded with great young talent up front.
"It's too early (for a trade offer)," Tambellini told the Journal earlier this week "Lots of teams haven't had their (scouting) meetings yet.
"I mean, if we can get a good (established) player and a good draft pick and we feel great about it, we'd do it. But maybe by the time we get out of the meetings, we decide that player X is by far the best player. If so, we're taking the pick."
Tambellini could look to move another player or two, should the Oilers decide to draft and keep Yakupov.
The Oilers are thin on the blueline and Tambellini will be in the market for some help on defense this off-season, but that doesn't mean he'll move the first-overall pick just for the sake of dealing it.
"I don't think you can have too many good of anything," Tambellini said. "It's going to be interesting at the scouting meetings. I want to see where our guys separate players by position, by talent now, by projection. Maybe there is no separation. Maybe it doesn't matter a forward to a defenceman at the end of the day."
