NHL Rumors: Where Could Nikita Kucherov End Up in Free Agency

Every year, those in the industry look ahead to the free agent class and say to themselves it’s a pretty loaded class with highly skilled players. For the most part, most don’t get to July 1st. However, this summer could be fascinating, given that players like Quinn Hughes and Nikita Kucherov are pending free agents and in the final years of their contracts.

Quinn Hughes hasn’t been as vocal about his contract situation, keeping it close to the vest, but if you had to guess, the Minnesota Wild and GM Bill Guerin aren’t going to trade him given how this team is performing this season. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning have adamantly said they aren’t trading Kucherov, who will be walking to free agency on July 1st.

Things can change on a dime, but Kucherov’s stance isn’t a negotiating tactic, as he told his teammates this was his final season with the Lightning. So many are wondering where he will end up. As Jim Biringer of Full Press Hockey said during an appearance on Off the Rush on 101.1 the Pulse FM in Vancouver, he expects Nikita Kucherov to end up in a big city, where he can play with other NHL superstars.

Full Press Hockey Transcriptions

Host: “Emily Kaplan had a tweet a couple days ago talking about the Nikita Kucherov situation and how he’s eyeing other superstars and other teams to go play for. In your honest opinion, who are those superstar teams and superstar players that Emily Kaplan might have been referring to?”

Jim Biringer: “Look, I mean, I think it’s no secret. Immediately I pointed to Montreal, like Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson, guys like that. And I know people in Montreal were like, “No, can’t have him up here because of what [Kucherov] said. If you listen to what he said, he was right. Yeah, it was a little condescending, but he was right. They acted like they won the Stanley Cup after they beat the Lightning in Game Four because everybody knew they weren’t going to beat the Lightning that year.

Around Full Press Hockey

Tampa Bay Lightning: Nikita Kucherov Walks the Road to Free Agency

Montreal Canadiens: Could the Montreal Canadiens Trade for Dylan Larkin?

Detroit Red Wings: Dylan Larkin Has Played His Last Game for the Detroit Red Wings

Minnesota Wild: Quinn Hughes Will Make a Decision When He is Ready To

PODCAST: NHL BOMBSHELL! Nikita Kucherov REQUESTS A TRADE?! Lightning Superstar Wants OUT!

WANT MORE PODCASTS? NHL TRADE RUMORS! Washington Capitals Linked to Dylan Larkin & Nikita Kucherov — Does It Make Sense?

But Montreal is a place that he wants to go. I want to credit Dave Pagnotta who said that he talked to him and said Montreal is a city he would play in. Look back to Artemi Panarin. He wanted to play in big cities, right? He went from Chicago to New York to LA with a stopover in Columbus. Like, he wants to play in big cities.

I gotta imagine, I wouldn’t rule out Toronto just because, it’s a big market, big city. He wants to be recognized, right? Superstars like (Nathan) MacKinnon in Colorado. Edmonton obviously has superstars with (Connor) McDavid and (Leon) Draisaitl. The New York Rangers. I would have no doubt because it’s a big-time team, big-time market. It’s New York. Maybe he goes to LA and goes hooks up with Panarin.

There are so many options. Maybe he goes to Chicago and plays with a (Connor) Bedard or (Patrick) Kane. That’s something too. Again, big cities, big market recognition. A lot of these players want that now, and he got it in Tampa. Let’s not kid ourselves here. Everybody knows Nikita Kucherov is a top-five player in the National Hockey League as it stands right now.” 

Full Press Hockey Analysis: A lot of teams will be trying to get their hands on Nikita Kucherov. We know the Seattle Kraken will try, as they have been looking for a high-priced offensive superstar. The Kraken tried on Jason Robertson and Artemi Panarin and failed because the team isn’t in a position to win.

Again, the first team that was mentioned was the Montreal Canadiens, given how they tried to acquire Matthew Knies and Kirill Marchenko. It makes sense given how Kucherov, like Kaprizov, operates the offense from the wing position. You can do that with superstar players like that, even with average center play.

It will be hard for the Toronto Maple Leafs to add Kucherov even in a rising cap world. But again, the New York Rangers, given how the owner wants to win, will certainly do their best to get him to the bright lights of the big city. Teams like the Utah Mammoth, New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, and Vegas Golden Knights will be players in the Kucherov sweepstakes this summer.

You have to wonder about a place like Nashville, given how Kucherov and Predators forward and former teammate Steven Stamkos shared a smile ahead of the game last week. It will be interesting to see where he lands, as he has hinted at the type of hockey players he wants to play with.

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