The idea of Nikita Kucherov in an Edmonton Oilers uniform is the kind of thought that gets people talking fast. It’s easy to see why. He’s one of the top five players in the league, and after last Friday’s stunning trade request, plenty of teams would love to get involved.
But the Oilers are not in the business of building a highlight reel roster. They’re building a real team, and that’s where the Kucherov conversation starts to fall apart.
Kucherov clarified the situation on Nov. 2, saying, “It was never about the money for me,” he said. “It was more about poor communication and respect.
Over the last four months, we have only had two conversations, and (general manager Julien BriseBois) in the end made it clear that I’m free to walk on July 1.” He is in the final year of an eight-year, 76 million-dollar deal and will become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Tampa Bay GM Julien BriseBois has said the Lightning have no intention of trading him.
For Edmonton, the bigger issue is fit. The Oilers already have a core that’s working, with McDavid, Draisaitl, Bouchard, Hyman, Nugent-Hopkins, Ekholm, and Podkolzin in place.
Pulling one of those pieces out to make room for Kucherov would cut into the chemistry of a group that has started strong. And there’s another problem: there isn’t really a clean spot for him in the lineup they’ve built.
Any deal serious enough to land Kucherov would also mean moving money and real pieces out the door. That would likely include Vasily Podkolzin, Matthew Savoie, and draft picks.
But Podkolzin is too important to even consider as a throw-in. Several Oilers players have told the media how much they love playing with No. 92, and he’s described as one of the glue guys.
He’s also a heart-and-soul player and the first person at the rink every day. That’s not the kind of player Edmonton should be eager to move.
The asset side of this is thin, too. The Oilers’ main trade chips are future 1st- and 2nd-round picks, along with Matt Savoie.
That doesn’t exactly scream competitive package for a player of Kucherov’s caliber. And if Edmonton somehow did find a way to swing it, the depth chart would take a serious hit.
Then there’s the money, which may be the biggest wall of all. In today’s NHL, Kucherov’s next deal would likely come in at at least $20 million a year.
If McDavid re-signs, that could cost Edmonton $25 million a year. That’s $50 million tied up in three players, and it leaves almost no room to add another superstar.
With McDavid, Draisaitl, and Bouchard already in the picture, the Oilers can’t realistically add another 20-million-dollar player.
Kucherov is a world-class talent. No one is arguing otherwise. But for Edmonton, this is the rare blockbuster that makes sense in theory and falls apart the moment you start doing the math.
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