Nikita Kucherov’s trade request has already sent the hockey world spinning, and if the Tampa Bay Lightning winger eventually reaches free agency, the Chicago Blackhawks could be one of the teams best positioned to make a real run at him.
For now, reports from the Lightning and insiders suggest Kucherov will not be moved during the season. Tampa Bay is still trying to chase its fourth Stanley Cup, and the more likely outcome is that the superstar winger gets to the open market instead. If that happens, the bidding could get wild.
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported that Kucherov is seeking a six-year contract with a cap hit around $20 million. That kind of number will be out of reach for plenty of clubs, but Chicago may have the flexibility to pull it off.
The Blackhawks could clear significant room by moving several pending free agents, including Teuvo Teräväinen, Andrew Mangiapane, Jordan Greenway, Ryan Ellis and Ian Cole. Together, that would open up roughly $23.25 million in cap space. With the salary cap rising, Chicago could have more than enough room to make Kucherov’s deal fit.
Kyle Davidson has also shown he’s willing to spend when the moment calls for it. The Blackhawks GM handed Patrick Kane a massive two-year, $16 million contract, and that kind of move suggests Chicago would not shy away from a huge swing if the right player became available.
Losing those roster pieces might not hurt as much as it sounds. Prospects like Sacha Boisvert and Marek Vanacker are expected to get called up and could help replace the production of Mangiapane and Greenway. Kucherov, meanwhile, could slide into Teräväinen’s top-six role.
On defense, the Blackhawks would also be moving off contracts that already make sense to shed. Ellis is on injured reserve, and Cole is 37 and likely not coming back next season.
The upside is obvious: adding Kucherov would speed up Chicago’s rebuild in a major way and give one of its three elite centers - Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell - the best linemate they’ve had so far.
There’s also a stylistic fit here. Elliotte Friedman said on his 32 Thoughts podcast that fit will matter a lot in Kucherov’s decision, especially on the power play.
Friedman noted that Kucherov will likely want special teams pieces that resemble what he had in Tampa Bay, including a one-timer threat like Steven Stamkos, something Bedard or Patrick Kane could provide. He would also want a heavy shot from the point like Darren Raddysh, and Chicago has that in Artyom Levshunov.
Levshunov ranks in the 75th percentile in hardest shot this season, and he fired a 91.72 mile-per-hour shot on October 25 against the Florida Panthers.
Chicago is still near the bottom of the league, but the presence of young talent and promising prospects could make the Blackhawks more attractive to a player of Kucherov’s caliber. If the fit is right, they could put a blank check on the table and make the case that he’d be a central piece in turning the rebuild into something bigger.
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