The Edmonton Oilers nearly traded superstar Leon Draisaitl to the Tampa Bay Lightning back in 2019, according to new reports.
Oilers fans will be glad the trade never happened. Leon Draisaitl has now re-signed with Edmonton for 8 more years, and is on track to be one of the best players in franchise history.
However, back in 2019 when Ken Holland took over as General Manager, he was almost sent to the Tampa Bay Lightning. NHL Insider Jeff Marek reported on The Sheet Podcast that Edmonton was working a Draisaitl for Nikita Kucherov trade.
"That year, there were conversations between the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Edmonton Oilers. And the two primaries changing: Nikita Kucherov for Leon Draisaitl. That was the conversation."
That 2019 offseason came after Tampa was swept in the playoffs by the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Lightning were looking to make major changes.
Marek said that the Oilers were also asking for forward Anthony Cirelli on top of Kucherov, and that asking price was the reason the trade was abandoned.
Edmonton Oilers Nearly Traded Leon Draisaitl to Tampa Bay Lightning for Nikita Kucherov
It's absolutely wild to think of what could have been if this trade would've been made, and how different both teams would've been.
The season after their colossal collapse against Columbus, the Lightning won back to back Stanley Cups with Nikita Kucherov playing an integral role.
However, that was also the season that Leon Draisaitl solidified himself as a true superstar in the NHL. Draisaitl scored an absurd 43 goals and 110 points in 71 games, but the Oilers still only played 4 playoff games.
The Oilers don't have a cup yet to go with their duo of generational talents, but it's undoubtedly a better move to lock up and keep Leon Draisaitl rather than trading him for an older winger and a defensive center.
Ken Holland was never shy of making a bold move, but looking back, this may have been a trade that would've been unforgivable from Oilers fans.
