The trade chatter around the NHL keeps circling back to the same big names, and Nikita Kucherov is right at the center of it again. This time, though, there’s a little more clarity on where he might be willing to land - and the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs are both in the conversation.
Kucherov’s 10-team trade list gives him some control, but not the final word. The Tampa Bay Lightning have made it clear they will not move him, and Elliotte Friedman said other teams are hearing the same message.
Even so, if the situation ever changed, Montreal looks like a natural fit. The Canadiens have been aggressive in chasing elite talent, and they’ve already been tied heavily to Kirill Marchenko and Matthew Knies.
Toronto is in a different spot, with its focus on reshaping the blue line, but that doesn’t mean the Maple Leafs would ignore the chance to land the reigning Hart Trophy winner. That kind of opportunity doesn’t come around often, even for a team that’s set on fixing other parts of its roster.
Friedman also said on Saturday Headlines that one of the main reasons behind the request was the speed of the contract talks. For a player in Kucherov’s position, an extension is usually wrapped up in the offseason before the final year of the deal.
In this case, he wasn’t pleased with how slowly things were moving. And from what Friedman heard after checking with multiple sources and people close to Kucherov, once he makes a call like this, he doesn’t tend to reverse course.
Dylan Larkin’s situation is still very much in motion, too. After widening his trade list to 10 teams and deciding to sit out until he’s moved, there’s a real chance that list changes again as soon as Nov.
- Friedman said, “I think over the next 24 to 48 hours, it is possible we see that trade list altered.
Some teams like Florida, Vegas, even Colorado, it’s very hard to see anything like that happening.”
The Canadiens have been the team drawing the most attention in that sweepstakes. Reports have suggested they may be ready to meet the Red Wings’ asking price for the star centre, but Larkin is not currently willing to go there. There has been some talk that he could eventually add Montreal to the list, just not yet.
That hesitation makes sense when you look at the teams already on his list. A lot of them are contenders with established top centres, which makes a deal tougher to pull off. Larkin would help plenty of teams, but for some of them, the cost in assets and cap space just doesn’t line up.
Because he has a full no-trade clause, Larkin can keep adjusting the list whenever he wants. That’s not how it works for players with limited trade protection, who have to submit their lists on a set deadline and wait until the next year to change them. In Larkin’s case, he controls the whole thing.
Beyond the headline names, there are still a few players who could draw interest even in a quieter market. Friedman identified five players who may appeal to teams, and Ivan Miroshnichenko is one of them.
Washington made him available after struggling to find him a regular spot in the lineup, and Jeff Marek said the asking price starts at a first-round pick. He’s viewed as a talented player who could do well with a team that has room for him.
Dmitri Voronkov is also in the mix after falling out of favour with the Columbus Blue Jackets’ coaching staff. He’s a big winger, and skating remains his biggest issue, but he has been on pace for at least 20 goals in each of his first three seasons. That kind of production keeps him on the radar.
Nino Niederreiter is another name to watch. The Winnipeg Jets are reportedly listening, and after a career built as a middle-six winger, things haven’t gone well for him in Winnipeg. Friedman said on a previous podcast that the Jets might move him as a service to him as he tries to extend his career, because the way he’s played there could make it difficult to land a new deal.
Shane Wright’s situation has been quieter, but the Seattle Kraken are still trying to find a trade that works after he requested one in the offseason.
And then there’s Connor Zary. He’s injured in the American Hockey League and is listed as week-to-week, though he got off to a strong start with the Calgary Wranglers. The Calgary Flames are willing to move him, but any deal may have to wait until he’s healthy again.
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