NHL Rumor Mill – November 7, 2026
Check out the latest proposed destinations for Nikita Kucherov and the latest on the Penguins in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
THE LATEST ON NIKITA KUCHEROV
NHL NETWORK: Elliotte Friedman noted that we haven’t heard yet from Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois about Nikita Kucherov’s comments explaining his trade request and rejection of a new contract.
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov (NHL Images)
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kucherov told reporters Monday that it wasn’t about the money, saying a lack of communication and respect from BriseBois were the main factors. Two days later, agent Dan Milstein said negotiations with the Lightning GM went “horribly wrong,” and the relationship was likely “beyond repair”, adding it was probably time for his client to move on.
BriseBois stated on Oct. 30 that the Lightning had no intention to trade Kucherov, but he’s avoided responding to their remarks.
Friedman reiterated that this isn’t a negotiating ploy by the Kucherov camp. After speaking with people who know the 33-year-old Lightning winger well, they believe he’s serious about not returning to Tampa after this season.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: BriseBois isn’t getting into a public pissing contest with Kucherov, especially if (as some believe) he thinks the superstar winger could change his mind over the course of the season. It’s better to maintain silence publicly while quietly maintaining communication with Kucherov’s camp.
ESPN.COM: Greg Wyshynski published his list of potential trade or free-agent destinations for Kucherov. They include the Montreal Canadiens, Utah Mammoth, the Vegas Golden Knights, the Dallas Stars, the New York Rangers, and the Chicago Blackhawks. However, he didn’t rule out a reconciliation between Kucherov and the Lightning.
SPORTSNET: Michael Amato considered the Carolina Hurricanes, Canadiens, San Jose Sharks, and Washington Capitals as the most interesting landing spots for Kucherov.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: No one knows what teams are on Kucherov’s 10-team trade list. Some of them could be the ones on these lists. However, these proposed lists won’t matter if BriseBois maintains his position that he’s not peddling the high-scoring winger.
That could change if the Lightning are struggling before the March 1 trade deadline, or if a rival club makes an offer too good to refuse. For now, however, we can only go by what we know, which is BriseBois’ unwillingness to trade Kucherov.
PENGUINS WILLING TO SELL SOON
PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Dan Kingerski cited Elliotte Friedman’s recent report claiming the Penguins could be ready soon to become sellers in the trade market.
Appearing on Toronto’s Fan 590, Friedman said he believed trades could happen for the Penguins “pretty quickly.” He believes it depends on what they’ll do with players who have no-trade protection, and whether general manager Kyle Dubas gets a certain level of return.
Forwards Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell and defensemen Eric Karlsson and Kris Letang have some form of no-trade protection. The outlier is winger Bryan Rust.
It’s believed Dubas has set high asking prices on players like Rakell and Rust. Friedman claims he wants high draft picks or prospects ready to step into the lineup.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Moving those players usually takes time to pull off in the salary-cap era. However, the rise of the salary cap for this season has given teams more cap space to work with, resulting in a busier-than-usual opening month in the trade market.
Moving the salaries could be easier than before, but their respective no-trade clauses remain significant hurdles. The age and performance of the players will also affect their value. They’re all notable players, but some of them are past their prime.
As much as pundits keep thinking Utah is in on everyone what they forget is GMBA is working a plan that started back before they were Utah. He has never waivered from the plan. They are exaxtly where he expected and I don’t see them parting with solid young assets for aging players without the cup in sight or some major injuries to make up for.
They habe been patient with their young talent kept their purse strings in line and have a bunch of quality depth. If anything he makes a deal with Det for their good young Dman but again at what price. He isn’t moving any of his top 6 or top prospects
I’ve liked Utah/Arizona for a few years now, Tourigny was my hoped for coach in Montreal when MSL was hired.
Habs get more traction, original 6 etc etc and Utah is who the heck cares but they are following the same steps, same concentration of young talent, stockpiling draft picks aggressively, building on speed.
Fair points, the new wild card though is motivated uber rich owner Ryan Smith. He wants to make a statement in Utah and $$$ aren’t going to hold them back. This isn’t the old Jets/Yotes franchise trying to keep their heads above water with meh attendance revenue and league support. Those, like the billionaire who sprung from the ghetto learning the right life lessons, know the benefit of travelling the journey and making solid fiscal decisions and management has done extremely well in their plan and determination, bravo, well done. It’s a new era and all the hard work is close to paying off, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them be a major player and securing 2-3 big pieces, stabilizing the crease being a priority, to put them over the top within the next season or two. I’d imagine close cousins the Av’s are firmly in their sights.
AZ
What about the Trochek trade?
All trades are about the cost. He went out and got Trochek because of his face off and lwadership prowess and the cost was big. Sergachev was big cost too. So was Peterka. It isn’t bei g afraid to do it at all. It is does thig guy fit in now and the next few years. Larkin did not have Utah on his original 3 team list so it became Trocheck. I would bet he would have thought long and hard about Larkin first. 3 years younger and fairly similar stat lines. He would fit into their cup chase longer than Vinnie.
GMBA has said for years they have a plan and are right on track. This isn’t yet a serious cup contender year over year. They need some of their young guys to go next level. They need a win in net and more depth on D
I think the leafs made a mistake trading for Marchenko . Could they swing a deal with Montreal or Detroit to upgrade their defence.
Ghule and Kapanen.
Or
Edvinsson straight up.
Edvinsson plus for nylander?
Then larkin for Hughes?
What makes you think Nylander would waive his full NMC to go to Detroit?
Where Hughes is concerned, he has a MNTC and Detroit could well be on that list.
Jeff,
Are you proposing Guhle and Kapanen for Marchenko?
Yes
This is a question as opposed to a comment….with all the speculation on possible destinations for Kucherov regardless of the cap increase how do the mentioned teams squeeze him in and remain under the cap? As NHL player salaries increase it would mean increases right across the board, from back up goaltenders to third and fourth liners. So again, what is required to make such a move work?
Brad, your question only raises more questions.
First of all, it would need to be a team on his 10-team “preferred” list. And from all the speculation so far, of the 10 teams with the most projected cap space (according to Puckpedia), and so being the closest capable of absorbing upwards of $20 mil AAV with a minimum of other moves, probably only 3 or 4 are likely on his list, And after picking out the likeliest destination would they, in turn, be prepared to extend a long-term deal?
Pittsburgh – $59,088,750
Seattle – $50,710,536
NY Islanders – $42,218,750
St. Louis Blues – $46,650,001
Minnesota – $45,977,501
Detroit – $45,565,834
Calgary – $43,458,334
Vancouver – $42,170,833
Nashville – $40,020,444
Los Angeles – $36,075,000
Of course most of the above – if indeed not all – also likely have pending RFAs and even UFAs they’d wish to re-sign, and to add Kucherov to the group at his anticipated cap hit, they’d likely have to move out an expensive contract (or two) to clear space for all. Which means they’d have to find takers, and since THOSE players would naturally be deemed to be the most expendable, who would want them at their cost?
Personally, I think BriseBois keeps him around for the season and lets him walk as a UFA next spring. And I bet he then finds that teams won’t be lining up to offer a deal of that magnitude (and term) for a player – regardless of how good he’s been – who will be 34 y/o at th e start of next season.
Kucherov to the Habs and his $20 million expectation would seriously upset the “team first” philosophy of GM Kent Hughes.
So far, everyone on the Habs has bought into it while bringing in Kucherov would no doubt elevate their offense, it could adversely affect the long term outlook for this competent and well run organization. In short, resist the temptation and stay away from Kucherov.
Thank you for your attention to this matter,
Tess, let’s add:
1) The reality of the tax difference in Montreal versus Tampa. The lack of respect Kuch cites is attached to not enough $. If 15 million per in Tampa would have done it, there would be no issue now.
2) Every home game win by the Habs ends with an on ice interview with a Habs player. Kuch is infamous for his disdain for the media. Doe anyone really believe he would go to media mad Montreal under any conditions? And Habs management wouldn’t stand for it.
For that matter, same thing in Toronto, or any Canadian market.
At first I thought it was a lark but apperently it is two sites are saying Dylan could be a bruin by Sunday.
First let me state that I am biased by my unadulterated hate of the Bruins. I will say that hands down coach of the year award should have gone to Sturm last year. That roster stunk, is not much better this year, and here they are chugging along at an elite clip. Begrudging kudos to them, but they were easily handled by a very flawed Buffalo team in playoffs, and I see the same type of outcome for them this year.
Pasta is a magician that carries that team, along with Swayman who I would take over any goalie out there right now. A battler that gives them a solid chance to win every night.
All that being said, Larkin is yet to add them to his list and I don’t know how Boston tops a deal that others have offered to date. I know you don’t want go give Hagens, but would think Minten would have to be involved. Probably Letourneau as well, and maybe a little more around the fringes to make money work.
Still doesn’t wow me and Detroit definitely wants to be wowed. Unlike the Edvinsson situation where every day closer to Dec 1 decreases their leverage, they can let Larkin sit forever.
May be proven wrong, but hard to see him landing in Boston. Time will tell.
Minten Hagens not going anywhere near Detroit. Sweeney not stupid
John, unless you can pinpoint the two sites and it turns out they aren’t fan blogs, it probably is a lark bordering on wishful thinking.
After some serious digging I could find no serious or verified reports that he’ll be a Bruin by tomorrow. Indeed, there has been absolutely no confirmation that he’s even agreed to add Boston to his “preferred” locations.