One of the greatest players in Tampa Bay Lightning history may soon be wearing a different jersey. According to Sportsnet, Nikita Kucherov has told the Lightning he won't sign a contract extension and has requested a trade. Kucherov, a two-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time Hart Trophy winner as league MVP, is one of the best players of his era.
The 33-year-old just passed the legendary Steven Stamkos for the all-time franchise lead in points and has shown no signs of slowing down. Just last season, Kucherov posted 44 goals and 86 assists en route to his second Hart Trophy win. His underlying numbers were even better with a five-on-five goal differential of plus-38 and an expected goals share of 57.0 percent.
Only a select few players can drive play from the wing like Kucherov, and that makes him a unicorn of sorts. Kucherov is in the final year of a contract that pays him $9.5 million per season, and with the salary cap rising rapidly, he's due for a gargantuan raise next summer. It sounds like Kucherov and the Lightning were too far apart on that number, so the superstar winger has shifted his focuse to a change of scenery.
It's important to note that Kucherov has limited trade protection in the form of a 10-team trade list, but that should be more than enough for the Lightning to find a suitable trade partner. With that in mind, let's take a look at five teams that would be ideal fits for Kucherov as he prepares for the next chapter of his illustrious career. Right out of the gate, this is the most natural fit of all the potential landing spots.
General manager Kent Hughes has done a superb job of locking down his young core on team-friendly contracts, and as a result, the Canadiens have nearly $30 million in projected cap space for next season. They also have a glaring need in their top two lines, and I'd say the reigning Hart Trophy winner would fill that role quite nicely. Montreal's moment to strike is now.
It's an ascendant team with a great salary cap situtation and assets to spend. It's time to make a splash, and this would be a tsunami. Just imagine Kucherov on a power play unit with Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson and Ivan Demidov.
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