Jeff Marek exposes failed trade involving Leon Draisaitl for Nikita Kucherov!

Hockey fans love to hear about the What ifs around the National Hockey League and a big one emerged on Tuesday when host Jeff Marek revealed how, according to his sources, the Tampa Bay Lightning were reportedly in talks with the Edmonton Oilers for a Nikita Kucherov for Leon Draisaitl trade in the summer of 2019.

Marek’s co-host on the Sheet Greg Wyshynski could not believe it, and I mean, he is not the only one!

After the 2018-19 season, Kucherov was coming off an incredible year, posting 41 goals and 128 points. He went on to win the Hart and Art Ross Trophies, but it was only a year later that Tampa was able to hoist the Stanley Cup. You may remember how that 2019 spring, the Bolts were humilated and swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Which might be why the Lightning considered that monster trade in order to shake things up.

Draisaitl was coming off his own breakout season, putting up 50 goals and 100 points for the first time while his Oilers did not make the postseason. A year later, he would be the one winning the Hart and Art Ross.

At the time of the reported aborted trade, Draisaitl was entering the third year of a deal that had to be one of the biggest bargains in the NHL at $8.5 million annually. Kucherov, who is two years older than the German star forward, was just about to start the first year of an eight-year contract worth $9.5 million per year.

In the transaction, the Oilers reportedly pushed to acquire 21-year-old Anthony Cirelli as well. According to Marek, that’s where the talks broke down and, as we all know, the trade never materialized.

But could you imagine the impact that trade would have had? Especially since both Draisaitl and Kucherov have only gotten better and better since the summer of 2019.

This one blows my mind!