Oilers nearly lost Leon Draisaitl in awful trade with another Canadian team

One of the most fun things to do as an NHL fan is to look back at the what could have been moments from years prior. With today's topic, I don't think it is an overstatement to say that this trade quite literally could have changed the entire NHL. Here is a preview of the trade- and it brings a lot to be talked about.

This trade is so mind-blowing looking back on it nowadays. Thinking that the Oilers could have given up Leon Draisaitl and Darnell Nurse only to trade 5 picks down in the draft for P.K. Subban is absolutely ridiculous. Montreal would have absolutely walked away the winners here, getting someone who is regarded as a top 5 or higher player in the entire league, and Darnell Nurse who despite his contract is definitely still a very good blue liner.

This is not even taking into consideration the fact that P.K. Subban only had 3 more good years in the NHL, then when he got paid on the Devils was widely considered the worst defenseman in the league. Especially at the contract he would've got, that would have obviously stifled any momentum the Oilers could have had, and they would have undoubtedly been stuck at the bottom of the league.


However, this entire trade rested on the fact that the Canadians could acquire Pierre-Luc Dubois at the fourth overall pick. But of course the Blue Jackets ended up taking PLD at the 3 spot, voiding out the trade for the unbelievably lucky Edmonton Oilers.