The NHL rumor mill has two big names at the center of it right now, and both situations have plenty of moving parts. The Buffalo Sabres are still trying to pry Dylan Larkin out of Detroit, while Nikita Kucherov’s trade request out of Tampa Bay has already put a long list of teams on alert.
Buffalo’s push for Larkin remains alive, but the Red Wings captain is still holding firm on his current stance. Emily Kaplan of ESPN said the Sabres, along with Montreal and Boston, are among the clubs trying to persuade Detroit to get Larkin to rethink his preferred destinations list. Chris Johnston reported that Buffalo has already put a substantial offer on the table, but the Red Wings couldn’t really take it seriously because Larkin isn’t willing to go there.
Even after a strong playoff run last season, Larkin hasn’t moved off that position. Elliotte Friedman reported that could eventually change, though. Darren Dreger of TSN added that Buffalo is still a no-go for Larkin, while noting he might be open to them if he remains on the sidelines and isn’t making any money.
Kucherov’s situation in Tampa Bay is a different kind of mess. He said his trade request isn’t about salary or doubts about the Lightning’s chances. Instead, the three-time Stanley Cup champion pointed to his relationship with general manager Julien BriseBois, saying the breakdown came from how contract talks were handled.
Speaking with reporters Monday, Kucherov said communication had been poor and that he had only two conversations with management over four months. He also took issue with BriseBois telling him he was free to leave when his contract expired July 1.
His agent, Dan Milstein, also pushed back on the idea that Kucherov thinks Tampa Bay is no longer a contender. Milstein said Kucherov loves the organization, his teammates, and head coach Jon Cooper, and that the issue is strictly between the player and management.
The tension has naturally invited comparisons to Steven Stamkos’ departure in 2024, when BriseBois also chose not to meet the captain’s contract expectations.
Around the league, interest in Kucherov is already building. Pierre LeBrun reported that at least 25 teams could have internal interest, with several clubs standing out as possible landing spots.
The Maple Leafs would make sense as a fit next to Auston Matthews, while the Canadiens could appeal because of Kucherov’s relationship with head coach Martin St. Louis.
Other teams mentioned as possible suitors include the Utah Mammoth, Los Angeles Kings, Vegas Golden Knights, New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Dallas Stars, and Seattle Kraken. The Red Wings could also get involved, especially with their connection to Kucherov through Larkin.
For now, Tampa Bay looks prepared to keep Kucherov through the rest of the season. As LeBrun wrote:
“The most important thing to know at this early stage is that, as far as I understand, Kucherov does not yet have a short list of teams. He has been focused on making this difficult decision with Tampa Bay, but in terms of letting his mind wander to other teams, Kucherov will need to take his time over the next few months and do a deep dive with his agent on potential fits.”
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