One of the NHL’s biggest names may be on the move, and the timing makes this a stunner.
Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov has reportedly told the organization he won’t re-sign and wants a trade, according to Friday night reporting. For a player with his track record, that kind of news doesn’t come around often - especially not before the trade deadline.
Kucherov has built a resume that puts him in rare air. Drafted 58th overall in 2011, he has piled up 405 goals and 1,139 points across 13 seasons, production that lines him up with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.
He’s also already won two Stanley Cups, made seven All-Star teams, captured three Art Ross Trophies, and taken home both Hart Trophies and Ted Lindsay Awards. Last season, he claimed his second Hart after scoring 44 goals and 130 points in 76 games.
Even now, he’s producing like nothing has changed. Through 12 games this season, Kucherov has four goals and 15 points, and he recently became the Lightning’s all-time points leader when he passed Steven Stamkos with an assist in a 5-2 loss on October 24th.
With that kind of production and pedigree, it’s no surprise he’d be the top name on the market. At 33, Kucherov stands as the best player available for trade, and every contender is expected to have at least some interest.
Another notable name in the trade picture is Dylan Larkin, who is currently sitting out while he waits for a move. On October 29th, his agent Pat Brisson said in a statement relayed through The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun that Larkin would remain out until he’s dealt, after requesting a trade this past summer. He has been suspended without pay.
Larkin’s trade request dates back to the summer, when the Red Wings captain supplied a 10-team list. Every team on it is in the United States: the Lightning, Utah Mammoth, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Carolina Hurricanes.
There’s recent precedent for this kind of situation ending with a move. American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck asked for a trade from the Winnipeg Jets, skipped training camp, and was suspended. That suspension ended last Friday, and the same day he was traded to the Devils.
Elsewhere in the hockey world, Team Russia remains barred from tournaments because of its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The IIHF and several member nations, including Team Canada, have objected to that ruling.
There are still a number of obstacles before any return can happen, including visas, whether host countries are willing to take on the event, and other logistical hurdles.
Russia’s next eligible tournament is the World Junior Championship, which is scheduled for late December and early January in Edmonton and Red Deer. If Russia is allowed in, last tournament’s ninth-place team, Team Norway, is expected to be moved down to a lower division to open a spot.
In Other News...
Oilers Trade Search Could Come Down To One Crucial Center Decision
The Oilers search for help down the middle is starting to sound less like a broad shopping list and more like a test of priorities. Edmonton is looking for a center who can bring some size and a more physical edge while also adding depth, and the names floating around range from the rugged to the highly talented. Matthew Rempe, Quinton Byfield, Kirby Dach and Shane Wright have all surfaced in the conversation, with the speculation shaped by reporting from Sportsnet and Elliotte Friedman and by how each player might fit what Edmonton is trying to build.
What makes the discussion interesting is that the Oilers are not just chasing a body for the lineup, but weighing different kinds of upside against the cost of getting it done. Some of these targets are more speculative than others, and some have already been tied to trade chatter, which only adds to the intrigue around how aggressive Edmonton wants to be. For a team that knows how valuable center depth can be in the spring, the real question may be which direction it chooses when the market finally asks it to pick one. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Just Got Tied To A Concerning Flames Injury Update
The Flames are dealing with a fresh injury issue in goal after Devin Cooley was ruled week-to-week with a lower-body injury, according to coach Ryan Huska. Cooley went down in the game against Edmonton after a collision with Colton Dach, adding another layer to a matchup that already had plenty of physical edge.
Brennan Othmann is also day-to-day with an upper-body injury, while Connor Zary of the AHL's Calgary Wranglers is week-to-week after knee surgery. For the Oilers, the immediate concern is less about the injury report itself than the ripple effect it can have on a division rival, especially if Calgary has to shuffle its depth and crease plans for the near future. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Face One Huge Problem In Any Nikita Kucherov Pursuit
Any talk of Nikita Kucherov and the Oilers immediately turns the hockey world on its head, because players of that caliber rarely even reach the rumor stage. The Lightning winger is the kind of talent that can reshape a contender overnight, which is why any possible pursuit would naturally draw attention in Edmonton, where the push to stay in the Stanley Cup mix never really stops.
The catch is that the path to even getting involved is murky, and that is where the real challenge begins for the Oilers. There are already layers to sort through with his situation in Tampa Bay, from the trade framework to the list of teams he would consider, and the clock is only going to make things more complicated as the season moves along. Even for a team that would love to add a player like Kucherov, the logistics may be the biggest obstacle of all. [Read more 🡒]