Jeff Marek "confirms" Leon Draisaitl, Nikita Kucherov trade swap consideration by Oilers and Bolts in 2019

[Duke74]

He doesn't choke at all. That post was clearly sarcasm and just making fun of the idea that the Oilers choke and can't win anything.

I've been one of the more ''The Oilers are very close, McDrai will not go cupless'' people on this entire forum for the last 1.5 years or so.

Sorry, my bad. I realized that afterwards. Apologies

 

[TheNumber4]

Drai is amazing but he's certainly not better than Kucherov. His numbers are likely slightly inflated by McDavid. Whereas Kucherov, like McDavid, is the one doing the inflating. A guy like Point is more like a 75 point guy without Kucherov. And Stamkos has fallen off a cliff this year without Kucherov inflating his numbers.

I won’t get into the weeds about Drai vs Kuch, I think it’s so close you can have arguments on both ends and neither side would ever know if it’s right cause you cant test hypotheticals and transfer players to new teams. From a pure Numbers standpoint, that's the only objective measurement that can be made, Drai beats Kucherov's playoff production, but even then there's caveats.

But again this McDavid inflation discussion is just dumb. You know McDavid has HIS numbers inflated by Drai too? You think there’s many players with better passing and vision than Drai? Who do you think sends McDavid off for many of his breakaways?

Kucherov gets inflation by teammates too. You know like every single player in the NHL cause they play in a 5 man unit. Kucherov has had the benefit of passing to one the Leagues premier snipers of the last 10 years in Stamkos. And Point is no slouch at finishing either, he’s elite in that sense but he can do it many various ways.

 

[Bleedred]

Sorry, my bad. I realized that afterwards. Apologies

No problem!

I would be pissed too, as I've seen similar comments on here that seemed somewhat serious.

 

[dirtydanglez]

would that have been the biggest trade since gretzky?

 

[Nineteen67]

Kucherov had Edmonton on his M-NTC list? I doubt that.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

would that have been the biggest trade since gretzky?

Would be similar to the Heatley for Hossa deal imo. Two top ten players switching teams in their primes.

 

[Soundwave]

Kucherov had Edmonton on his M-NTC list? I doubt that.

This would've been in like 2018 or 2019 when the Oilers weren't a playoff team.

Don't think this really moves the needle that much for the Oilers.

Draisaitl is a bigger, younger player who can play center or wing. He's also best friends with McDavid which makes keeping him easier (Drai's fiance is also best friends with McDavid's wife so that doesn't hurt). Two of them have summer homes right next to each other, so they're like never apart, lol. Draisaitl also has significantly higher production in the playoffs than Kucherov does (1.46 ppg vs 1.13 ppg).

I dunno I'm not really choked this didn't go through. Kucherov is an incredible player too but so is Drai, Draisaitl could win the Hart, Art Ross, and Rocket this season as is. Currently first in goals, second in points.

 

[TheNumber4]

I said this when the story first dropped, and I'll say it again. Thank god Holland didn't make that move. And it goes way beyond just comparing the players abilities, which is admittedly very even comparison.

 

[Theodore450]

Kucherov is the better player. No cap. Oiler fans are either liars or not able to properly assess players if they believe anything to the contrary.

Drai is the better player

 

[Three On Zero]

Tampa dodged a bullet here.

 

[hamzarocks]

I’m glad the Oilers kept Draisaitl tbh.

Draisailt is a legend and a first ball hall of famer

Kucherov is a level higher

Him and Mackinnon are Crosby and OV level players just they didnt start out as good at 18/19 like Crosby and OV did

 

[EXTRAS]

Well keeping kuch probably couldn't have worked out better than 2 cups, so I'm sure tampa is happy this didn't go through. And edmonton has zero cups so wouldn't hurt to go back in time and try the trade.

 

[TheLegend27]

Kucherov is the better player. No cap. Oiler fans are either liars or not able to properly assess players if they believe anything to the contrary.

Draisaitl is a center, less injury prone, better playoff performer, has amazing chemistry with McDavid, and not to mention a couple of years younger. Don’t know why you’re calling out Oiler fans as if it’s an obvious pick.

 

[On The Prowl]

Drai is amazing but he's certainly not better than Kucherov. His numbers are likely slightly inflated by McDavid. Whereas Kucherov, like McDavid, is the one doing the inflating. A guy like Point is more like a 75 point guy without Kucherov. And Stamkos has fallen off a cliff this year without Kucherov inflating his numbers.

McDavid has his points inflated by playing with Draisaitl as well. You see Drai set up McDavid or finish McDavid passes all the time.

 

[Oilslick941611]

I'm not convinced it would have been as fun as Draisaitl with McDavid. These 2 operate similar to the Sedins when on the ice together. Can't just assume automatic chemistry between 2 elite players.

Also Kuch would have bolted at ufa time.

 

[Duke74]

Tampa dodged a bullet here.

Predictable.

 

[Turin]

Kucherov would have left Edmonton and Tampa may not have won so yea, good no-trade for both teams.

 

[On The Prowl]

Draisaitl is a center, less injury prone, better playoff performer, has amazing chemistry with McDavid, and not to mention a couple of years younger. Don’t know why you’re calling out Oiler fans as if it’s an obvious pick.

He either has a bias or doesnt watch Drai enough if he thinks thats an obvious pick. Many nights Draisaitl is better than McDavid.

 

[Soundwave]

Also Kuch would have bolted at ufa time.

That too. Even if he some how resigned, no way would it have been for the 9.5 he gave Tampa with zero state tax. It'd have been well north of that.

Draisaitl has committed his full career to the Oilers and has a strong relationship with McDavid that I don't think Kucherov would have.

 

[elmaco]

Honestly can't decide who's better. I'll have to settle for a draw.

 

[Cup or Bust]

The only way Kucherov would have been successful on the Oilers is if he played with McDavid since the Oilers have never had close to the level of depth as Tampa has had, especially back in those years, I doubt Kucherov would have had much success playing with RNH as his center and guys like Kassian, Chiasson, Yamamoto, or Puljujariv on a second line. I think the Oilers are a better team with Draisaitl, especially since he is a center that can also play wing and has amazing chemistry with McDavid. I really don't think Kucherov would have had the same level of success on the Oilers as Draisaitl has had. Draisaitl is a better fit for the Oilers. Tampa Bay is built around Kucherov, its a better fit for him. It would have been a bad trade by the Oilers to trade an elite center for an elite winger when you lack depth. I don't see it as a positive move by the Oilers.

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

Tweet in the OP is contradictory clickbait.

"a deal was almost made"
"I'm not sure how close they got"

 

[Rschmitz]

Well, Lightning were on their way to setting the wins record and winning the Presidents trophy in the spring on 2019, and they won the cup the next year. Summer 2019 Kucherov won the Hart trophy.

Why would the Lightning even for a moment consider this? Edmonton on the other hand were still trying to crawl out of the cellar, they were the second worst team in the WC. Both are great players, but the Lightning especially had everything to lose by doing a massive shakeup and messing with the winning recipe they had on the ice.

 

[Chips]

I’m glad the Oilers kept Draisaitl tbh.

Both sides probably feel the same way lol. I’d prefer Kucherov but you can’t go wrong either way.

 

[Chips]

I won’t get into the weeds about Drai vs Kuch, I think it’s so close you can have arguments on both ends and neither side would ever know if it’s right cause you cant test hypotheticals and transfer players to new teams. From a pure Numbers standpoint, that's the only objective measurement that can be made, Drai beats Kucherov's playoff production, but even then there's caveats.

But again this McDavid inflation discussion is just dumb. You know McDavid has HIS numbers inflated by Drai too? You think there’s many players with better passing and vision than Drai? Who do you think sends McDavid off for many of his breakaways?

Kucherov gets inflation by teammates too. You know like every single player in the NHL cause they play in a 5 man unit. Kucherov has had the benefit of passing to one the Leagues premier snipers of the last 10 years in Stamkos. And Point is no slouch at finishing either, he’s elite in that sense but he can do it many various ways.

Stammer is a great finisher but hasn’t been a play driver for years. Kuch does a lot of load carrying when they were together.


I do think Kuch is closer in talent to McDrai than any of the three are to Point in overall talent and play driving by a good margin.


McDrai together on the powerplay is easily a fairly unique boost even if there are other great powerplay units. Even in years where multiple players beat or tied them in even strength points, that powerplay is like guaranteed 50-70 points and still put McDavid over some guys in total points.


Last year was a recent exception, and it was still close with whatever was going on with McDavids health