It's possible. Tkachuk was an RFA though so he had fewer options.
Huh?
Tkachuk had the exact same options as Drai would in this kind of scenario…
Tkachuk flat out told the team up front that there was no way he was signing long term with them. He was leaving as soon as he could. Calgary could force the issue and keep him for another year. But he would hit UFA eventually and he was gone. So they could keep him until he hit UFA or they could try to work out a sign and trade deal so the team didn’t lose him for nothing like they just had done with Gaudreau…
It was fairly stand up of him. He could have played games and walked for nothing. But he controlled his destiny and he also ensured the team got max return on the trade.
But Tkachuk had all the power in that situation. He gave the team a list of teams he would sign an extension with, because the only way the team got max return was if he signed an extension as part of the deal. He picked the teams he would go to and then Calgary got to have an auction and get a big return from within the list of teams he provided.
If he wanted to do it, Drai could do the exact same thing here…. He could give the list of teams up front if he already knows where he wants to go. If he isn’t sure exactly where he would want to go, he could ask the Oilers to let his agent reach out and talk to some teams he might be interested in to help set up the list.
But it’s basically the same kind of deal. The best deal for the Oilers most likely comes only if Drai signs as part of the deal, same as in the Tkachuk situation. RFA or UFA doesn’t really matter…. Both would have been looking at an 8 year extension at big money…. It’s just going to be a bigger contract for Drai than the bargain Tkachuk signed for and the return going back to the Oilers likely would be even bigger given the player that Drai is going that way…