Tikkanen and Kurri played with various centermen after Gretzky's departure, including but not limited to Messier. If there was a particular center-winger duo it was rather Messier and Glenn Anderson.Tikkanen was on the left wing, Kurri on the right. Messier was their centreman. Tikkanen was never a full time center, and didn't take over for Gretzky. Tikkanen was often on the LW with Kurri and Gretzky too. Him or Craig Simpson.
Of course I know that Kurri was a complete player. I already acknowledged that. Gretzky shot a lot more in their earlier years together. As time rolled on, Gretzky became the playmaker, Kurri settled in as the sniper. His one timer on the powerplay was a killer, just like Draisaitl's, but they took it from different spots.
I don't see any scenario in any era where Jari Kurri would have ever won an Art Ross or Hart Trophy, regardless of where he was playing. Can't say the same for Draisaitl. He's a contender to win those awards every season even with McDavid around.
Gretzky's last year in Edmonton he shot more in 64 games than Kurri did in 80. Kurri had a good shot, but it was never like Gretzky was just feeding him. They had good synergy together and it didn't matter much who ended up doing what. Kurri led the league twice in even-strength goals, but never on PP. In Los Angeles he then became more of a PP shooter as often happens with older players, but that was years later and well past his prime.
Draisaitl wouldn't get many Hart votes with McDavid around either if there were 50 or 60 voters with 3 votes each like there were back in the day. Nowadays it's around 200 with 5 votes each.