The Edmonton Oilers made a serious push for Mikko Rantanen, and they should be just as interested in Nikita Kucherov. Completing a deal would be complicated, but the opportunity to put him alongside Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl is too enticing to ignore.
This hypothetical proposal would require Edmonton to sacrifice considerable future value:
Oilers receive: Nikita Kucherov.
Lightning receive: Matthew Savoie, Edmonton’s 2028 and 2029 first-round picks, its 2027 second-round pick and the 2028 third-round pick acquired from St. Louis.
Extension condition: Kucherov signs an extension as part of the transaction, with the term and salary negotiated before Edmonton commits.
The Rantanen Blueprint Makes Sense
Dallas acquired Rantanen from Carolina for Logan Stankoven, two first-round selections and two third-rounders, then secured his eight-year extension. Edmonton’s proposed package follows a similar structure: a young forward, two premium picks and additional draft capital.
Ryan Rishaug’s Rantanen reporting indicated Edmonton was “well down the path of an extension” before insufficient trade assets prevented a deal. Having explored that opportunity, the Oilers should absolutely investigate Kucherov.
Emily Kaplan’s destination reporting points to Kucherov wanting another superstar alongside him. Edmonton offers three. His reported 10-team approved trade list gives him significant control, however, and the Oilers have not been confirmed among those destinations.
Kucherov could manipulate defensive coverage beside McDavid or give Draisaitl another elite distributor. His patience would complement their finishing, while spreading those three across two lines could make Edmonton harder to contain.
Would Tampa Bay Accept This Return?
Savoie would give the Lightning a young offensive piece, while the selections could replenish their prospect pool or support subsequent trades. That flexibility matters if Kucherov’s departure eventually becomes unavoidable.
However, Savoie is not automatically equivalent to Stankoven, and late first-round picks offer uncertain value. Tampa Bay could demand a more established centrepiece. There is also an immediate obstacle: Julien BriseBois has said the Lightning have “no intention of trading” Kucherov. This remains a hypothetical proposal.
The extension matters equally for Edmonton. Kucherov is 33, making its length and price critical. Paying this package for several productive seasons is easier to defend than paying it for one playoff run.
Moving Walman or Jarry Complicates Everything
Swapping Savoie’s $886,666 cap hit for Kucherov’s $9.5 million would add roughly $8.61 million to Edmonton’s payroll before any other moves. A separate trade involving Jake Walman or Tristan Jarry would therefore need to help facilitate the deal. Neither move should be treated as automatic, particularly with Walman’s full no-movement protection.
Edmonton would also need to account for replacement players, any retained salary and the extension’s future cost. Moving one contract might not create enough usable space, and paying another team to absorb salary could increase the overall acquisition price.
Would I do it? Yes, provided the extension is sensible and the necessary cap moves preserve a competitive supporting cast. The proposed return is defensible for a player of Kucherov’s calibre. Making every connected transaction work is the difficult part.
Next: Nikita Kucherov Wants Out, Asks Tampa Bay Lightning For Trade
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