NHL Rumor Mill – November 3, 2026
In today’s NHL Rumor Mill, we look at the latest Nikita Kucherov speculation and some scoring winger trade targets for the Blackhawks.
THE LATEST ON NIKITA KUCHEROV
THE ATHLETIC: Pierre LeBrun reports “at least 25 teams” have internally discussed the possibility of acquiring Nikita Kucherov if the Tampa Bay Lightning change their minds about not trading him.
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images)
Kucherov, 33, will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 after informing the team last week that he wouldn’t sign an extension and wanted a trade. He has a 10-team trade list for this season, which Kucherov submitted in May or June.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: As I noted in today’s Morning Coffee Headlines, Kucherov told the press yesterday that a lack of communication and respect from Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois led to his decision not to re-sign and to request a trade. BriseBois released a statement on Friday indicating the team wasn’t trading Kucherov.
LeBrun believes Kucherov’s list could change given all that’s occurred since he submitted it earlier this year. As far as he knows, Kucherov doesn’t have a short list of teams yet.
Some teams believe the Lightning could change their minds and shop Kucherov before the March 1 trade deadline. In that case, the question is whether he would agree to sign an extension with his new team to maximize the Lightning’s trade return.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: LeBrun listed several teams and the reasons why they could pursue Kucherov if he becomes available in the trade market. All of them have been previously reported since the story broke about his trade request on Friday and duly noted here in previous posts.
As I’ve said before, it’s all a guessing game until we get definitive info on which teams are on Kucherov’s list. Even then, it won’t matter unless Lightning management reverses its stance against trading him.
TSN: Travis Yost listed several hurdles teams must clear if they hope to trade for Kucherov.
The superstar winger’s $9.5 million cap hit for this season is difficult for most contenders to absorb because they’re pressed against this season’s cap. Another issue is whether to pursue him as a rental player or a sign-and-trade target. The latter comes with risk because he reportedly wants a six-year contract with an average annual value of $20 million.
Yost pointed out that not a single contender can currently take on Kucherov’s contract without money going out or salary retention by the Lightning, though teams like the Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes and Utah Mammoth have more cap flexibility than others.
Other clubs must figure out their cap commitments for this season and beyond if they’re looking at a sign-and-trade scenario.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I’ve also mentioned some of those points in my previous posts on this topic. Yes, Kucherov will draw plenty of attention if the Lightning peddle him this season, but making the dollars work (especially beyond this season if he agrees to an extension with his new team) will be difficult.
The Lightning’s asking price will be another big hurdle, especially for teams hoping to make an extension part of the deal. They won’t be interested in a package full of castoffs, and it’s doubtful they’ll want only draft picks and prospects. At least one good young player (likely a forward) must be part of the deal.
DAILY FACEOFF: Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton wonder if Julien BriseBois’ handling of Kucherov’s contract negotiations could cost him his job as Lightning GM.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Lightning have a history of unhappy breakups with some of their greatest players since the late 2000s.
Kucherov’s situation is mirroring that of former Lightning captain Steven Stamkos through 2023-24. Stamkos never requested a trade, but he was obviously unhappy with the state of his negotiations with BriseBois during that season.
The treatment Stamkos and Kucherov have received suggests a trend by BriseBois that might not sit well with other Lightning players, especially those eligible for new contracts in the near future.
Nevertheless, BriseBois’ job is safe if he’s doing what ownership is instructing him to do.
WHICH SCORING WINGERS COULD THE BLACKHAWKS TARGET?
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Ben Pope believes Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson could explore a trade to shake up his struggling roster. According to NHL insider Frank Seravalli, Davidson seeks a “shoot-first scoring winger with size.”
Pope wondered if Davidson’s trade targets could include Ivan Miroshnichenko of the Washington Capitals, Dmitri Voronkov of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Jake DeBrusk of the Vancouver Canucks, and Owen Tippett of the Philadelphia Flyers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Blue Jackets beat writer Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports that GM Don Waddell confirmed he’s received interest in Voronkov, but nobody’s made an offer yet. Portzline said the Jackets would want prospects and/or draft picks in return.
Miroshnichenko is available, but the youngster has yet to establish himself at the NHL level. DeBrusk has a full no-movement clause and could prefer joining a contender. Pope doubted the Flyers would part with Tippett.
The Blackhawks aren’t the only team needing a “shoot-first scoring winger with size.” Staios, for one, has been rooting around that sort of acquisition for well over a year. So far without success.
The one thing he has that teams like Chicago do not is solid depth at C. Now he has to decide to use it because picks/prospects won’t do it.
George that’s a symptom of expansion working there and a great example of why any further expansion will make the league more bush than pro.
Finding a player to fill your roster is one thing, but having depth to replace a top player is almost impossible these days. You cant win without good players and it’s harder and harder to build a team deep enough to overcome set backs resulting in teams chasing their tails, season after season.
I agree Ron, and have said so probably too many times that expansion is more water in the whiskey.
Others believe that a rising tide of players flowing from increasing international uptake of hockey will balance that out.
IMO it’s the distinction between quality and equality.
Bruins get Kuch and treat him like a rental.
They give up Hagens, Mittelstadt(salary) and the Toronto 1st.
Underwhelming return, but it is for a rental. A lot more if it is a sign and trade, but Boston can’t afford $20M AAV.
Johnny Z, why would TBL do that trade? Assuming Boston continues to play well and receives great goaltending, why turn the Bruins into a Cup contender?
Better off going all out themselves. Making the Stanley Cup finals would generate $40 million plus in playoff profits.
I don’t know about that. If TB does trade him, I doubt its within the division and probably not in the conference either.
No way are they trading Hagens (and his friendly contract) for a rental only scenario.
That’s the problem TB will have. They aren’t going to get value trading Kucherov if he won’t do a sign/trade and commit beyond this year.
But then it also becomes tough for a new team to swallow paying someone $20M a year for ages 34-40 based on the new contract that Kuch is seeking.
TB was supposedly at 4x$15M in their negotiations… and it wasn’t a final offer. The agent still had more negotiating to do.
Kuch being this “put off” by the pace of negotiations and going so public is a little odd to me.
Wonder what they could get in a return if they retrain 50% of Kucherov salary. This would help contenders as a pure rental option. I would think Dallas, Colorado, and Edmonton would be all over this option.
A decent roster player have to come back to make the money work plus near ready prospects and first round draft choices.