Bombshells hit the NHL on Friday night, and the biggest one came out of Tampa Bay.
Nikita Kucherov met in person with Lightning management, then made his trade request public, according to the reporting that set social media off. But the story didn’t stop there. Tampa Bay answered quickly and firmly, with general manager Julien Brisebois issuing a blunt rejection of the idea.
“We are aware of the media reports regarding the future of Nikita Kucherov with the Lightning,” the statement from Brisebois reads. “We unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita.
That was the loudest headline of the night, but it wasn’t the only one. The Detroit Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin situation is still swirling, and temporary GM Shawn Horcoff didn’t exactly soften the edges when he told Larkin to widen his trade list if he wants out. Elliotte Friedman also weighed in on what comes next for Larkin in 32 Thoughts, keeping the situation very much alive.
In Pittsburgh, the Penguins’ goaltending picture is starting to look more complicated than they probably wanted. Arturs Silovs is off to a roaring start, which is obviously a good problem in one sense, but it also feeds into a situation the Penguins may not have planned for in net.
There was also a practice update from Pittsburgh. Sidney Crosby spoke about his rough start to the season, and the team is still missing the one thing they badly want. On top of that, PHN+ had its weekly locker room insider column, with Rickard Rakell discussing the top line, a different approach to handling trade chatter, and some candor that may help explain the Penguins’ system issues this season.
Down in the minors, Wilkes-Barre took a hit when Harrison Brunicke left Friday’s game in Utica and did not return for the third period. The Baby Pens finished with five defensemen.
Elsewhere around the league, Connor Hellebuyck is changing things for the New Jersey Devils, who rolled past the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday. And in Philadelphia, the Flyers are hearing the word soft from their own players as the pressure keeps building.
As for Montreal, the Canadiens have won four straight in regulation. And Boko Imama gave the Panthers something to remember, throwing hands in a tilt that ran over a minute and could end up being the fight of the year.
In Other News...
Sidney Crosby Sent A Clear Message About What Penguins Still Lack
Sidney Crosby was the first Penguins skater on the ice for practice, using the extra time after a recent overtime loss to work on his skills before the full team session began. It was a small detail, but a telling one for a club still searching for steadier footing. Crosby spoke about wanting more consistency and about the need to sharpen his game from night to night, a familiar message from a captain who knows Pittsburgh cannot afford too many uneven stretches.
The Penguins then kept the same lines and pairings in practice as they turned the page toward their next game in Montreal, a sign the coaching staff is not rushing into changes just yet. There was also another notable skater on the ice before practice, adding to the sense that this was a day built around fine-tuning rather than overhaul. For a team trying to turn close losses into points, the bigger question is whether the current mix can provide the consistency Crosby is pushing for. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Already Have A Goalie Dilemma They Can't Ignore
The Penguins are already navigating a goaltending balance that could shape the early part of the 2026-27 season, with Arturs Silovs emerging as the steadier option while Sergei Murashov waits for a clearer opening. Pittsburgh is trying to sort out how to handle two young netminders who both need development time, but who also cant both get the kind of workload they want if the team keeps leaning on one more than the other.
Coach Dan Muse has made it clear the usage will stay fluid, with decisions tied to performance and development needs rather than a fixed rotation. For the Penguins, that creates an immediate test of patience and timing, because the organization wants to find the right long-term answer in net without letting either goalie sit too long or lose momentum in the process. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Prospects Let A Winnable Game Slip Away Late
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins had a game in hand against Utica and let it slip away late, falling 4-3 after building a lead and then watching the Comets reel off three straight goals. Melvin Fernstrm and Avery Hayes supplied the offense for Pittsburghs affiliate, while both goaltenders, David Rittich and Joel Blomqvist, finished with 20 saves in a contest that looked winnable for much of the night.
Hayes was a bright spot beyond the score sheet, scoring shorthanded and continuing a strong run of form for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. For a prospect group that needs to bank points and learn how to close out tight games, the finish was a frustrating one, especially after the Penguins had put themselves in position to leave with a result. [Read more 🡒]