Tonight a report from NHL insider Jeff Marek has revealed that the Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning almost pulled off a wild trade around Leon Draisaitl and Nikita Kucherov. After being linked to a trade to acquire a former Edmonton Oiler earlier this week new news has come out regarding a narrowly missed trade from the Oilers. During a new appearance on The Sheet Podcast NHL reporter and insider Jeff Marek spoke about a trade that nearly got completed in 2019. According to Marek the Tampa Bay Lightning and Edmonton Oilers were close to closing a deal that would swap Leon Draisaitl and Nikita Kucherov. 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. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/thesheethockey/status/1869176068869083147'> </a></blockquote></div> At the time the Oilers were still led by Ken Holland and Draisaitl had yet to sign long-term with the Edmonton Oilers. On the flipside, the Lightning were struggling to get over the final hurdle to win a Stanley Cup at the time and were looking to make a shake-up to try and improve their roster. As a result, Draisaitl for Kucherov was reportedly discussed by the two sides but ultimately each stuck with their player. Now almost 5 years later it seems like the right decision was made by all parties involved. <h3>Should the Oilers regret not trading for Nikita Kucherov?</h3> With the Lightning winning back-to-back Stanley Cups the next season clearly things worked out well for them as Kucherov went on to be a key part of those teams. In 2024-25, Kucherov is the main star of the Lightning with Steven Stamkos now calling Nashville home. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/ECloskyWTSP/status/1867426228170580003'> </a></blockquote></div> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/StatsCentre/status/1869171374436315642'> </a></blockquote></div> As for the Oilers of course Leon Draisaitl has been an incredible player in his own right. Just one season removed from the trade talks between the two sides Draisaitl won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP and broke out as one of the elite centers in the NHL. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/StatsCentre/status/1869171374436315642'> </a></blockquote></div> Despite having individual success the Edmonton Oilers haven't quite had the same team success finally making a Stanley Cup Final last season but ultimately falling to the Florida Panthers. Regardless Ken Holland and that Oilers regime likely does not regret holding on to Draisaitl as the team now has one of the best center duos in the NHL locked in for several seasons in their prime.