I think this is a case where both teams are happy the trade didn't happen lol
Yeah, Draisaitl's such a terrible player. Barely ECHL level at this point.Thank god that didn't happen. Holy shit.
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.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.
That’s not what I said?Yeah, Draisaitl's such a terrible player. Barely ECHL level at this point.
That seemed like the implication of your post. You sounded like Draisaitl would have been a massive downgrade or something.That’s not what I said?
Massive downgrade? No, but I do think Tampa is a better team with Kucherov.That seemed like the implication of your post. You sounded like Draisaitl would have been a massive downgrade or something.
Fair enough. It's probably better for both teams that the trade never went down. For all we know, the entire thing was manufactured by the media to get clicks.Massive downgrade? No, but I do think Tampa is a better team with Kucherov.
Most likely. And if Kucherov played with McDavid then y’all would have been ripping out your hair watching each guy pass it back to the other. Both refusing to shoot.Fair enough. It's probably better for both teams that the trade never went down. For all we know, the entire thing was manufactured by the media to get clicks.
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.
This is why they probably would not fit well together. When Driasaitl came into the league he was a pass first, pass second and pass third guy whose game was about slowing things down. That is almost the opposite of what he is when he plays with McDavid. He started in about their second year together to work on his shot including that one-timer from just off the goal line specifically to fit with McDavid on the pp. It quickly became a thing during warm-ups as those two would do their own thing while the rest of the warm-up took place. As they started to play more together you started to see Leon play that high tempo game the McDavid plays but in a complementary role as a finisher.Most likely. And if Kucherov played with McDavid then y’all would have been ripping out your hair watching each guy pass it back to the other. Both refusing to shoot.
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.
So much creativity.This is why they probably would not fit well together. When Driasaitl came into the league he was a pass first, pass second and pass third guy whose game was about slowing things down. That is almost the opposite of what he is when he plays with McDavid. He started in about their second year together to work on his shot including that one-timer from just off the goal line specifically to fit with McDavid on the pp. It quickly became a thing during warm-ups as those two would do their own thing while the rest of the warm-up took place. As they started to play more together you started to see Leon play that high tempo game the McDavid plays but in a complementary role as a finisher.
The same amount Tampa would have won with Stuart Skinner in net. 0. Those two are far from the reason they haven't won.
So much creativity.
"How can Leon get a shot off, by evading defenders"
They invented the off-hand fake-bumper shot:
So far in the corner any defender would be insane to try and defend you that out of position shot:
(This became "his Office")
Awkward angle deflection:
Draisaitl is a #1 center on most teams in the NHL...that's the difference for meThat could have been a win win…
Draisaitl and Kucherov are for me both top 5 offense talents
One could say that a center has more value but Kucherov is next to McDavid the best producer and i think he would be a better fit next to McDavid
Especially on the PP Kucherov as a right shot would probably complement McDavid slightly better
Excellent question!
If you were an owner, for instance, would you tolerate your staff to sign and employ trash borderline/sub 900 netminding with all the money you have wrapped up in just McD and Drai alone? I'd ice the finest team I could assemble around them.
When GMs or upper management are allowed to f-k around with acquiring players like Skinner (and do NOT get me started on Oilers netminding over the past decade...W...T...F...), who else do you lay blame on?
Their approach to goaltending has been bewildering to say the least. 40 year old Mike Smith, Talbot, Koskinen, Campbell, now Skinner. Woof. Throwing away prime years of McDavid-Draisaitl with bottom of the barrel goaltending. The rest of the team seems quite good at this point.The same amount Tampa would have won with Stuart Skinner in net. 0. Those two are far from the reason they haven't won.
You didn't take into consideration that Draisatl hasn't played in later rounds much compared to Kuch and his 4 finalsWhy is that? Draisaitl produces more than Kucherov in the playoffs. And the Oilers roster would have lost $1.75M in cap space. And Drai is a better fit for McD than Kucherov.
Well I wouldn’t cause that’s a team stat.You didn't take into consideration that Draisatl hasn't played in later rounds much compared to Kuch and his 4 finals
Draisatl's stats are inflated because relatively speaking he's played more games in earlier rounds compared to Kucherov. In other words if Draisatl had been to the final 4 times, his per game stats would look much bleaker.Well I wouldn’t cause that’s a team stat.