Nikita Kucherov’s trade request has already put a handful of teams on alert, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are among the clubs he’d reportedly be willing to consider if Tampa Bay ever decides to move him.
That’s the latest wrinkle in a situation that has the hockey world watching closely. On Friday, it was reported that the superstar right winger has asked for a trade out of the Tampa Bay Lightning. While Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said they “unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita,” Kucherov’s camp has made it clear he would not be re-signing with the team, and he is in the final year of his contract.
Elliotte Friedman pointed to the pace of the talks as a major factor behind the request. “More than the money, I think that the reason we're here today has been the pace of the negotiations, or lack thereof,” Friedman said.
On Sportsnet’s “Saturday Headlines,” Friedman added that if Tampa Bay were to deal Kucherov, Toronto and Montreal would be among the Canadian options on his 10-team trade list that he would consider.
“I do believe that if Tampa was going to trade him, and Montreal and Toronto could come up with a package that Tampa would like, those are two teams, among many, he would consider,” he said.
Kucherov, 33, has built a résumé that puts him among the league’s elite over the last several seasons. He has won two Hart Trophies, three Art Ross Trophies, two Ted Lindsay Awards, and two Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay.
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