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

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I think this is a case where both teams are happy the trade didn't happen lol

 

[Duke74]

Thank god that didn't happen. Holy shit.

Yeah, Draisaitl's such a terrible player. Barely ECHL level at this point.

 

[Fourier]

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.

Not every pair of great players mesh. Crosby and Malkin don't really fit so well together. I am not sure that Kucherov would work well with McDavid since there is only one puck. Draisaitl reinvented his game specifically to fit with McDavid. They work together like Gretzky and Kurri. And like Kurri away from Gretzky, when Draisaitl is away from McDavid he plays a very different style of game.

Frankly, from an Oilers perspective, I am happy that this did not happen. I will let Tamp fans assess the deal from their side.

 

[Master P]

Yeah, Draisaitl's such a terrible player. Barely ECHL level at this point.

That’s not what I said?

 

[Duke74]

That’s not what I said?

That seemed like the implication of your post. You sounded like Draisaitl would have been a massive downgrade or something.