NHL Trade: Will Panthers Target Kucherov? Don’t Bet on It

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Just as the Dylan Larkin saga in Detroit picked up steam, the latest blockbuster trade request hit the on Friday night: Lightning star Nikita Kucherov wants out of Tampa Bay. The Florida Panthers have been loosely linked to Larkin, but Kucherov in Sunrise?

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That’s a spicy one.

And, most likely, a near impossibility.

The Kucherov report from NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman hit just before the Panthers 5-2 win against the visiting Winnipeg Jets on Friday night.

Friedman reports that Kucherov has told the Lightning he will not re-sign with them when his eight-year, $76 million contract ends after this season — and, he would like to be traded sooner rather than later.

Kucherov, 33, does not have a full no-movement clause in his contract but does have a list of 10 teams he would be willing to go to.

The Panthers are probably among them because, well, why not?

That does not mean a trade between the rival Lightning and Panthers — for one of Tampa Bay’s best players and franchise legends, nonetheless – is likely.

One would think the Lightning would rather keep Kucherov if the only other option is to send him south to Sunrise.

And, keep him, they just may.

Friday night, Tampa Bay GM Julien BriseBois released this statement: “We are aware of the media reports regarding the future of NIkita Kucherov with the Lightning. We unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita.”

If the Lightning decide to honor Kucherov’s request, they have a host of other teams they can make a deal with.

The Panthers do not have the kind of trade capital that would make a deal work anyway.

But boy, what a player Kucherov is.

A two-time Stanley Cup champion, Kucherov is the reigning NHL MVP who scored 44 goals with 130 points in 176 games.

Kucherov, who is also a two-time Hart Trophy winner, has already scored four goals with 15 points in 12 games with the Lightning.

Last Saturday, Kucherov passed Steven Stamkos as the team’s all-time leader in points.

“We’ve been together since 2013-14. It’s 2026, so I’ve had the pleasure of watching every one of those points,’’ coach Jon Cooper said after the 5-4 OT loss to the Mammoth in Salt Lake City.

“It was too bad it was on the road, but it was cool to see the whole team go out there. And that’s over a decade of work of what he’s done, and he’s going to go down as one of the all-time greats.”

One would think whichever team pays the assumed heavy price the Lightning will demand for Kucherov would have a new contract either agreed to beforehand or close enough for comfort.

But, if Kucherov were to go somewhere else in the NHL as a rental, could the Panthers target him next summer as a free agent?

He reportedly is searching for something in the neighborhood of $20 million a season with term.

The Panthers have about $9 million under next year’s $113.5 million salary cap — so you do the math.

That is a hefty price and probably one the Panthers would have to shake their collective heads at and move on.

Fun to think about, though.

Just do not bet on it ever happening.

On Thursday night, Kucherov got a standing ovation from fans in Tampa after he was honored for passing Stamkos.

After this news broke, do not bet on that ever happening again, either.

The Lightning are currently in Nashville and will play the Predators tonight before returning home Tuesday to face the Blackhawks.

Tampa Bay does not play the Panthers until they visit Sunrise on Nov. 28.

ON DECK: GAME No. 15DETROIT RED WINGS at FLORIDA PANTHERS

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