Andrei Vasilevskiy’s future in Tampa Bay may be worth watching, but for now the Lightning goaltender doesn’t sound like a player looking for an exit.
According to his shared agent, Dan Milstein, Vasilevskiy and Nikita Kucherov are being treated as separate situations, and the goalie’s feelings about the organization are not the same as his teammate’s. Milstein said Vasilevskiy is extremely happy in Tampa Bay and wants to finish his career there. His target is to play 1,000 games for the Lightning.
Kucherov’s path, on the other hand, has become murkier. The winger also wanted to end his career in Tampa before contract talks went sideways.
General manager Julien BriseBois previously let Steven Stamkos leave, and Kucherov now appears to be trending toward free agency. If negotiations with Vasilevskiy ever turn sour, there’s no guarantee he won’t end up in a similar spot.
Evander Kane is also heading into a new chapter, just not in the NHL. Milstein said the 35-year-old forward is expected to sign with a Russian team, with the deal likely to be completed this week.
Kane had a couple of chances to stay in North America, but the market never really opened up for him after he became an unrestricted free agent. The 16-year NHL veteran spent last season with the Vancouver Canucks and posted 13 goals and 31 points in 71 games.
Injuries held him to only 21 games in 2024-25, and his time in Vancouver didn’t create much traction. A strong run in Russia could help him get back on NHL radars, but a return looks doubtful.
If Kucherov does eventually become available, Greg Wyshynski of ESPN listed seven possible landing spots: the Montreal Canadiens, Utah Mammoth, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay and the New York Rangers.
New York stands out as the most intriguing of that group. Wyshynski pointed to the Rangers’ willingness to make bold moves even when the team seems to be heading into a retool.
He compared it to the club’s decision to sign Artemi Panarin after preparing its fan base for a tougher stretch. Kucherov would be older than Panarin was when he arrived, but the chance to pair another elite Russian winger with Igor Shesterkin could be tempting.
The Rangers also have salary-cap space next season, which gives them some room to chase a major name, though Kucherov’s age and contract demands would still matter.
The Toronto Maple Leafs could run into a different problem if they try to join that chase. PuckPedia’s Hart Levine said Toronto has only $648,000 in tagging room left, the lowest figure in the league.
Tagging room is the amount a team can commit to future seasons while still operating in the current one. Toronto’s number has been pushed down by offseason moves, including the acquisition of Kirill Marchenko and his $12.5-million-per-season extension.
That doesn’t make a Kucherov pursuit impossible, but it would make the extension side of the deal tricky. Any new contract would hit the Leafs’ tagging room right away, and even a July 1 signing with a massive salary would carry the issue into next season and move the pressure onto Auston Matthews.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Suddenly Have A Real Kucherov Question To Answer
A projected jump in the NHL salary cap is already changing the way front offices are thinking about the next few summers, and Toronto is no exception. Elliotte Friedman has said the cap is expected to climb to $127.5 million in 2028-29, a development that could give the Maple Leafs more room to chase a star-caliber addition if the market breaks their way.
Nikita Kucherov is suddenly part of that conversation after requesting a trade from Tampa Bay, with the possibility that he eventually reaches free agency hanging over the situation. For Toronto, the intrigue is obvious, but so is the catch: any serious run at a player of that magnitude will depend on how the club handles its own major contract business in the years ahead, and those decisions are already lining up fast. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Linked To A Low-Risk Forward Fit That Could Divide Fans
A familiar waiver name surfaced this week when Columbus made Danton Heinen available, and it is the kind of low-cost, low-commitment forward move that always gets attention around Toronto. Heinen brings plenty of NHL mileage, a modest cap hit and the sort of versatility that can appeal to teams looking for depth without changing the shape of the roster.
For the Maple Leafs, the appeal is obvious enough to understand why they were mentioned, even if the fit is not cut-and-dried. Toronto already has several bottom-six forwards it feels good about, which is why a claim would likely spark some debate among fans who want the team to add only if the upgrade is clear, not just available. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Face A Growing Problem Ahead Of Montreal
The Maple Leafs are still tinkering with their forward mix as they prepare to face Montreal, with Jack Roslovic taking a maintenance day and Vinni Lettieri stepping into a prominent role in practice. It is the kind of midweek adjustment that can look minor on the surface, but Toronto is clearly trying to find a little more stability and pace as it heads into a matchup that can expose any cracks in its structure.
Jim Hiller has been pressing the same broader point: the Leafs need more time in the offensive zone so they are not spending shifts under constant defensive stress. The players have echoed the importance of communication and trust in the system, while John Tavares continues to move in the right direction in his recovery and will be evaluated before any return is considered. [Read more 🡒]