Let’s jump on a grenade right out of the gate with the Tampa Bay Lighting — and Nikita Kucherov — hosting the Blackhawks tomorrow night. Matt Larkin at Daily Faceoff wrote about the teams he views as the most intriguing trade fits for Kucherov, and Chicago came up. Yes, the Chicago Blackhawks.
Larkin isn’t the first — and probably won’t be the last — media member to suggest the Blackhawks could be a fit for Kucherov. Does it make sense? And would he even want to come to Chicago?
Here’s the case Larkin made for the Hawks to acquire Kucherov:
The Hawks would not check the “win now” box for Kucherov, though he’d obviously help them do a lot more winning…now. But Chicago would constitute a shift to a much bigger market for a player who has spent his career in relative obscurity. They’d offer a star center for Kucherov to play with in Connor Bedard. The Hawks, going nowhere in their rebuild, are getting desperate to accelerate their timeline, and Kucherov would undoubtedly help there. They also have the cap space to pay him whatever he wants; they’re sitting on more than $37 million for next season, according to our partners at PuckPedia. And the Hawks have the right mix of young NHL talent (i.e. Frank Nazar) and high-end prospects to potentially intrigue Tampa with an offer.
A couple thoughts here… first and foremost, I have some questions about referring to a two-time MVP and two-time Stanley Cup champion as “a player who has spent his career in relative obscurity.” Kucherov is a household name, Tampa or not. This isn’t Marian Hossa wanting to move out of Ottawa or Atlanta. Yes, Chicago’s a bigger market than Tampa. Yes, the Blackhawks are an Original Six franchise. But let’s not act like Kucherov has been stuck in Columbus or Seattle for ten years and has been underappreciated because of his team.
Blackhawks a Kucherov Fit?
With that being said, the Blackhawks do have an intriguing mix of young NHL talent and high-end prospects (and draft capital) to offer Tampa. And Kyle Davidson has done business here before (Brandon Hagel). I doubt that the Blackhawks would consider a move involving Nazar if they didn’t have extension assurances in place before a trade was consummated. And, even then, moving Nazar — who is viewed as a core piece — would compromise the Blackhawks’ young center rotation for a 33-year-old who wants big money (read: more than Bedard) on a new deal.
My understanding is that teams have called the Blackhawks about Oliver Moore, and some view him as a center long-term. Fully understanding that Moore is both playing wing in Chicago and he has a contract extension kicking in next year, there’s market interest in the player.
It might not mean a ton, but Kucherov is represented by Dan Milstein, who also represents Blackhawks defenseman Artyom Levshunov (who, by the way, is a restricted free agent in 2027). Of course, he also represents Ilya Mikheyev. (Another aside: Milstein also represents Washington forward Ivan Miroshnichenko, who has also been linked to the Blackhawks recently.)
However, as I’ve stated previously, any thoughts the Blackhawks might have about entertaining a deal for Kucherov would depend on an extension being in place to keep him in Chicago beyond this season. And how he views Jeff Blashill, who was an assistant on his coaching staff in Tampa for three years, likely plays a huge role in that conversation. Blashill’s job may not exactly feel the most secure at this moment.
I will note that Kucherov won the Art Ross Trophy twice and finished top-three in Hart Trophy voting twice while Blashill was in Tampa. With Blashill on his coaching staff in Tampa, Kucherov averaged 37 goals and 89 assists and had his best season in 2023-24 (44 goals, 100 assists).
Hence then, the article about could the blackhawks really make a play for nikita kucherov was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Could the Blackhawks REALLY Make A Play for Nikita Kucherov? )
Also on site :
- McLaren brings 2027 thinking into its Brazil upgrade push
- Bruno Fernandes to Al-Hilal: Why €55m Man United transfer is ‘Unlikely’ in January – Football Whispers Index score
- Illinois vs. Detroit Mercy Women’s Basketball: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch