Nikita Kucherov is one of the best players in the NHL, and every team certainly would love to have a player of his caliber on their roster. That is why it was so surprising to see reporting on Friday evening that Kucherov not only won't be re-signing with the Lightning after the season but is requesting a trade now.
As has been the case with several stars who have requested trades, like Connor Hellebuyck or Dylan Larkin, the reigning Hart Trophy winner has some say in where he will play next with a modified no-trade clause. Unlike some other no-trade clauses, this one is different as he can provide the Lightning with a list of 10 teams he is willing to be traded to.
On Saturday, Elliotte Friedman provided an update on where things stand with Kucherov and the Lightning. He said that there hasn't been much new information but did mention two teams that he believes Kucherov would have on his list.
"I do believe that if Tampa was going to trade him and Montreal or Toronto could come up with a package that Tampa would like, those are two teams, among many, that he would consider," Friedman said.
Kevin Bieksa highlights the biggest hurdle for the Montreal Canadiens to acquire Nikita Kucherov
There is no question that the Montreal Canadiens and Nikita Kucherov would be a perfect match, as the Canadiens are a young team just entering a Stanley Cup window. A player of Kucherov's caliber, even at this stage of his career, would be the type of player to get them over that hump.
However, after Friedman's reporting on Kucherov, Kevin Bieksa brings up the one sticking point that the Montreal Canadiens are going to have a tough time overcoming. That is the fact that the Tampa Bay Lightning would not want to trade Kucherov within the division.
The Lightning, even if they trade Kucherov, are not going to want to give up on the season and still want to compete for a Stanley Cup this season. They probably will want a trade package that includes players who can help them now, and while the Canadiens could offer that, their path back to a Stanley Cup gets much tougher with Kucherov in Montreal.
For the Lightning, their goal will be to move Kucherov not just out of the division but out of the conference. They ideally wouldn't want to have to face Kucherov until the Stanley Cup Final.
This means that the Canadiens would have to overpay and give them an offer that they can't refuse. It is going to have to be just a big trade package that undeniably would improve the Lightning roster.
For the Canadiens, it would be a risk, but they have such a deep roster along with NHL-ready prospects that it is something they have to try for. Since the reporting of Kucherov's trade request, the Lightning have made it clear they aren't interested in trading their forward.
However, if Kucherov makes it clear that he won't re-sign in Tampa, then Julien BriseBois will want to get something in return instead of losing him for nothing in free agency. It will be worth watching as the NHL Trade Deadline gets closer if rumors pick up and if the Canadiens can do enough to get a trade done.
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