The 2016 NHL Entry Draft is a moment forever etched in the minds of Edmonton Oilers fans, not just for who they selected, but for who they passed over. With the fourth overall pick, the Oilers chose Finnish winger Jesse Puljujarvi. However, just two picks later, the Calgary Flames selected Matthew Tkachuk. Hindsight, as they say, is 20/20, and in this case, it paints a picture of what could have been a vastly different, and perhaps more successful, Oilers franchise.

In the years leading up to the 2016 draft, the Oilers had been perennial bottom-dwellers, consistently picking high in the draft lottery. While they had drafted star players like Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Connor McDavid, the team struggled to translate individual talent into collective success. The hope was that Puljujarvi, a highly touted prospect, would be another key piece in the Oilers' rebuilding puzzle.

Leading up to the draft, the consensus top three picks were Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, and Puljujarvi. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets selected Matthews and Laine respectively. However, the Columbus Blue Jackets surprised many by taking Pierre-Luc Dubois third overall. This left Puljujarvi available for the Oilers, who eagerly snatched him up. According to Tkachuk, the Oilers were interested in drafting him.

Tkachuk himself believed he was going to be drafted by the Oilers. He recounted how members of the Oilers' draft table were "staring me down and kind of giving me smiles". However, after the Dubois pick, "you just see those phones starting to ring like crazy at the Edmonton table," said Tkachuk. The Oilers then selected Puljujarvi.

While Puljujarvi possessed undeniable skill and potential, his tenure with the Oilers was ultimately underwhelming. He struggled to adapt to the NHL game, and his development was hampered by injuries and inconsistent performance. After bouncing between the NHL and AHL, Puljujarvi eventually requested a trade and returned to Europe.

Tkachuk, on the other hand, has become one of the league's premier power forwards. Known for his exceptional skill, grit, and leadership, Tkachuk has consistently produced at a high level throughout his NHL career. He is a two-time NHL All-Star and was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's most valuable player in 2023. In 2024 and 2025, Tkachuk won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Florida Panthers.

The Oilers' decision to pass on Tkachuk in 2016 is a stark reminder of how unpredictable the NHL draft can be. While there's no guarantee that Tkachuk would have reached the same heights in Edmonton, his combination of skill and tenacity would have undoubtedly been a valuable asset. It's tantalizing to imagine an Oilers team with both McDavid and Tkachuk, two players who possess the rare ability to both score and agitate.

Instead, the Oilers watched as Tkachuk became a star for their provincial rivals, the Calgary Flames, before being traded to the Florida Panthers. He even won two Stanley Cups, defeating the Oilers in the Final. While the Oilers have since found success, the missed opportunity to draft Tkachuk remains a nagging "what if" in franchise history.