Elliotte Friedman reveals Nikita Kucherov would welcome a Maple Leafs trade

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday Headlines that Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov would consider a trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs or Montreal Canadiens. Kucherov reportedly requested a trade after growing frustrated with the slow pace of contract extension talks with Tampa Bay. Although Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois and coach Jon Cooper met with Kucherov and stated they will not trade him, sources close to the player consider a change of heart extremely unlikely.

Kucherov reportedly has a ten-team trade list and originally sought a salary comparable to Kirill Kaprizov's $17 million AAV. Panelist Kevin Bieksa argued on the broadcast that Tampa Bay would be highly unlikely to trade the superstar winger within their own division to Toronto or Montreal. Editor In Leaf notes that despite Kucherov's reported openness to Canadian markets, a potential deal to the Maple Leafs faces significant logistical hurdles.