Elliotte Friedman used Saturday Headlines to sketch out where Nikita Kucherov might end up, two days after the reigning Hart Trophy winner told the Tampa Bay Lightning he wouldn’t re-sign and asked to be traded.
“I do believe that, if Tampa was going to trade him, and Montreal and Toronto could come up with a package that Tampa would like, those are two teams among many he would consider,” Friedman said.
Kevin Bieksa, sitting beside him, did not let that stand.
“You’re telling me if Kuch doesn’t want to go back to Tampa and he’s saying that, in what universe is Julien BriseBois trading him within the division?” Bieksa said. “In what universe is he sending him to Toronto or Montreal, arguably the best offensive player other than McDavid in the world?”
He then apologized for pouring cold water on his colleague’s reporting, while making clear he thought supporters in both cities should manage their expectations. Friedman laughed it off and, notably, didn’t argue the point.
Nikita Kucherov’s career:
| Category | Total |
|---|---|
| Games | 891 |
| Goals | 405 |
| Points | 1,139 |
| Stanley Cups | 2 |
Which teams are on Nikita Kucherov’s trade list?
Kucherov holds a modified no-trade clause that requires him to submit a list of ten acceptable destinations, which he has done. Friedman said on air that he had been unable to establish a single name on it, and he is the man who broke the story in the first place.
So the Toronto and Montreal talk is Friedman’s reading of what Kucherov would accept rather than confirmation that either is on the list, which is part of why Bieksa felt able to dismiss it so quickly.
Why Kucherov is leaving
Bieksa’s objection is the obvious one. Both clubs play in the Atlantic Division alongside Tampa Bay, who sit 8-3-1 and have no intention of writing off the season. Any package they accept would need to improve them immediately, and handing the best winger in hockey to a team they play four times a year makes that considerably harder.
“We unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita,” general manager Julien BriseBois said in a statement.
What drove the request wasn’t the money alone. Friedman reported that the lack of pace in the contract talks was the major factor, describing Kucherov as a proud man who takes things personally. Chris Johnston has reported he is seeking $20 million a season across six years, against a current cap hit of $9.5 million.
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