Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov wants a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning, although there is a possibility he comes to Toronto in the offseason.
Nikita Kucherov is the talk of the National Hockey League right now, and it is easy to see why. He shockingly requested a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning, months before he becomes a free agent on July 1.
He has made it clear he won't re-sign, so he is giving the Lightning the option to trade him and at least get some assets in return. In the midst of all this, the Leafs have been named as a potential destination. Kucherov wants to play with a superstar, and Auston Matthews fits that bill.
A new report from RG surfaced today, and as it turns out, Kucherov truly is excited about the Leafs. A source says Kucherov wants to play in a big market where the fans won't forget him.
Furthermore, it was revealed that Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, and David Pastrnak are the three players he is most interested in.
For Leafs fans, the true bombshell came when the source said the Leafs are the most likely option and that it is likelier than not that Kucherov just goes ahead and signs there on July 1 as opposed to a trade.
"Toronto is the more realistic option," the source said. "Not a trade. He will just go there in the summer."
-
It is the kind of report that will completely blow the minds of Leafs fans, as superstars like that don't often go out of their way to name the Leafs as an option.
Can the Maple Leafs even make it work?
Unfortunately, for the Toronto Maple Leafs, they are projected to be way over the salary cap next season. With a Kirill Marchenko deal set to kick in and Auston Matthews in talks to renegotiate in 2028, general manager John Chayka has an awkward hill to climb here.
The Maple Leafs would have to move out a ton of talented players to afford Kucherov at a salary of around $18 million per season.
It's the kind of move that you dream about making, although, at the end of the day, it's still more of a fantasy than a reality.
Do you believe Nikita Kucherov is coming to Toronto?
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Maple Leafs place 26-year-old forward on waivers after lackluster start