Trade from 3 years ago today stopped Edmonton Oilers from back to back Stanley Cup wins

According to a Frank Seravalli social media post, the Matthew Tkachuk trade was dubbed, 'the trade that tilted hockey's axis'. It is indeed a bold statement, but one that might hold an element of truth.

Matthew Tkachuk was sent to the Florida Panthers from the Calgary Flames in 2022, a season in which he'd posted a 100-point season, and had no intention of signing long-term with Calgary.

In return, the Flames received Jonathan Huberdeau, Mackenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt, and a first-round pick. Though at the time it was considered a bold move by both teams, looking back now, it's easy to see how the Panthers were the winners.

Since acquiring Matthew Tkachuk, Florida lost a Stanley Cup finals, and then won the next two, taking home the Stanley Cup in 2023-24, and 2024-25, defeating the Edmonton Oilers in both series.

Though Florida had always been a competitive team, since acquiring Matthew Tkachuk, they've become grittier, a more aggressive team, and more difficult to play against, bold and physical, all characteristics, in fact, that describe Matthew Tkachuk's game.

Yet, would this have been the case had the Oilers drafted Matthew Tkachuk, instead of Jesse Puljujarvi in the 2016 NHL draft? Would they, perhaps, have won a few Stanley Cups with Tkachuk in their lineup? Would they have beat Florida or another Eastern team if this trade never happened?

It's impossible to say really. At the time of the 2016 draft, Puljujarvi was a highly-ranked prospect with a huge upside to his game. In fact, Edmonton was shocked to find he was still available at his spot in the draft, and so changed their draft strategy to include Jesse. Again, hindsight is 20/20.

An interesting fact, however, is that since 1968, only three teams in NHL history have lost in consecutive finals. For the Edmonton Oilers, it's a rare and painful reality. Yet, there have also been cases of teams losing in the finals, who've then gone on to win the following season; Tampa Bay Lightening and Florida Panthers most recently come to mind.

Again, whether Matthew Tkachuk would have been the difference- maker for the Oilers, and whether he was the reason for the Panthers' victories, one can only speculate. The Panthers did have a core of players that were instrumental, like Barkov, Bennett, Babrovsky and Marchand. And Tkachuk did play hurt in the last finals, if you'll recall.

What is certain, it that the Oilers continue to be a contender with the likes of McDavid and Draisaitl in the lineup. Florida might have Matthew Tkachuk, but Edmonton has the best player and best goal scorer in the world on their side. That counts for something.