Nikita Kucherov wants to play with a McDavid or a Matthews or a Pastrnak
Daria Tuboltseva of RG Media: A source to RG about Nikita Kucherov:
“He wants to be the top scorer every year and play on a team with McDavid or Matthews or Pastrnak, plus in a big market, so people talk about how good he is. Playing in Florida, people forget about you from time to time.”
The source added that Tampa “is average on its own” and that Kucherov understands they can’t squeeze out anything more and you can’t win there.
Are the Toronto Maple Leafs a realistic landing spot for Kucherov?
“Toronto is the more realistic option,” the source said. “Not a trade. He will just go there in the summer.”
About “Poor Communication and Respect” for Nikita Kucherov and Not the Money
Eliotte Friedman reported on Saturday Headlines that the Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens could be two of the teams he’d be interested in playing for. GM Julien BriseBois released in a statement that he has no intention of trading Kucherov.
Could the Toronto Maple Leafs trade for Nikita Kucherov?
Jonas Siegel of The Athletic: So Tampa Bay Lightning GM Julian BriseBois said he has no intention of trading Nikita Kucherov, but that doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t trade him. There could come a point in the next several months where BriseBois decides to trade him.
Could the Toronto Maple Leafs get in the Kucherov trade discussion? It would probably take William Nylander or Kirill Marchenko to get the Lightning’s attention. Nylander might make the most season there. He’s 30-years-old and pacing for 53 goals and 110 points.
That is not a no-brainer trade for the Leafs, though, as Nylander is younger and has five years left on his deal at $11.5 million. Chris Johnston said Kucherov was looking for a six-year deal at around $20 million per and will be 34 years old next year. Nylander has a no-movement clause.
Marchenko was just acquired and extended by the Maple Leafs. He doesn’t have any trade protection until 2028 though. Marchenko and Kucherov have the same agent. Kucherov would be an upgrade today but what about the future and a $8.5 million more per season? For the first four years, he likely would, but after that?
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Would BriseBois even want to trade within the division? Would the Leafs even want to pay $20 million when he’s 37, 38, and 39?
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