NHL: Edmonton Oilers at Tampa Bay Lightning - Source: Imagn

What a Leon Draisaitl, Nikita Kucherov trade swap between Oilers and Lightning could have looked like in 2019

Modified Dec 19, 2024 05:31 GMT

Jeff Marek, formerly of Sportsnet, now the host of "The Sheet" on Daily Faceoff, sent shockwaves through the NHL world when he mentioned on Tuesday that Leon Draisaitl and Nikita Kucherov were discussed in a blockbuster trade back in 2019 between the Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Marek had this to say about the trade talks.

"There were conversations, and I've had this confirmed, there were conversations between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Edmonton Oilers and the two primaries changing, Nikita Kucherov for Leon Draisaitl," Marek said.

Marek went on to mention why the deal fell through in the end:

"I'm not sure how close they got. I think that Edmonton may have also wanted Cirelli and that's when things kind of (became) - meh, well that's not gonna happen."

By the sounds of it, the trade would have been Draisaitl in exchange for Kucherov and another piece. The Oilers wanted more than a 1-for-1 swap and certainly would have loved for Anthony Cirelli to be that other piece.

But as Marek said, Tampa wasn't willing to include the shutdown Center. Should Tampa have offered a draft pick, potentially a second or third-round pick in addition to Kucherov for Draisaitl, we may have seen this massive deal come to fruition.

Let's take a look at the effects that this swap of superstars could have had in 2019.

Leon Draisaitl on the Tampa Bay Lightning: Draisaitl would have been on the top line with Brayden Point, playing either Left-Wing or Center - considering that he is versatile enough to play both positions. He also would have been in his one-timer spot on the top power-play unit, the same spot Kucherov mans.

The difference is that Kucherov is a pass-first player, whereas Draisaitl is more known for his scoring ability, especially on the power play. It would have been interesting to see how that dynamic played out.

Nikita Kucherov on the Edmonton Oilers: Kucherov would have slotted in on Connor McDavid's Right-Wing creating one of the best duos in the NHL. The combination of skill and hockey IQ with McDavid and Kucherov would have been nearly impossible for opposing teams to handle.

Kucherov would also have been on his off-wing on the first power play across from McDavid working his magic. The thought of having to face a McDavid-Kucherov lineup would certainly have kept coaches around the NHL up at night.

It has all worked out just fine for Leon Draisaitl and Nikita Kucherov

Leon Draisaitl and Nikita Kucherov have been two of the NHL's most productive players since 2019.

Since the beginning of the 2019-20 season, Draisaitl has 585 points (245 goals, 340 assists) in 399 games. He has also racked up 92 points (35 goals, 57 assists) in 61 playoff games, including being a major factor in the Oilers' run to the Stanley Cup Final last season. Leon won the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, and Ted Lindsay Award for his efforts in the 2019-20 season.

Kucherov has amassed 458 points (146 goals, 312 assists) in 305 games since the beginning of the 2019-20 season. His playoff efforts have been just as productive, recording 106 points (24 goals, 82 assists) in 82 games, leading the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021. Kucherov added another Art Ross trophy to his collection in the 2023-24 season.

Hockey fans would have loved such a trade with the potential of seeing Nikita Kucherov on Connor McDavid's wing, and Leon Draisaitl in Tampa Bay with other stars in Vasilevskiy, Hedman, and Point. However the Oilers and Lightning are surely content with the superstars that they currently have.