Will the Lightning trade Nikita Kucherov?

This NHL season has already been full of unexpected twists and turns and Friday brought yet another wild one as reigning league MVP Nikita Kucherov requested a trade out of Tampa Bay after informing the Lightning he will not re-sign with the club. Today, the guys break down Kucherov’s shocking trade request and discuss some potential destinations for him, if he actually gets traded at all. Plus, a spotlight on the incredibly tight Atlantic Division standings, the surging Montreal Canadiens, now winners of five straight without captain Nick Suzuki, and our obligatory “McData” check-in on Connor McDavid’s current points pace to close things out.

0:00:00: Intro
0:01:03: Nikita Kucherov requests a trade from the Lightning
0:12:18: Does Kucherov actually get traded?
0:13:54: Who Says No: Nikita Kucherov for Quinn Hughes?
0:16:50: Who Says No: Nikita Kucherov for Ivan Demidov?
0:26:18: The Canadiens have won five straight without Nick Suzuki
0:30:10: Jacob Fowler looks like a Calder Trophy favorite right now
0:33:11: Which Atlantic Division teams will miss the playoffs?
0:35:07: Connor McData: What’s McDavid’s current points pace?

Follow The Athletic Hockey Show wherever you listen to podcasts: podfollow.com/the-athletic-hockey-show-a-show-about-the-nhl

Follow our hosts on Bluesky:

Max Bultman: bsky.app/profile/mbultman.bsky.social
Mark Lazerus: bsky.app/profile/marklazerus.bsky.social
Jesse Granger: bsky.app/profile/jessegranger.bsky.social
Sean Gentille: bsky.app/profile/seangentille.bsky.social
Sean McIndoe: bsky.app/profile/downgoesbrown.bsky.social
Shayna Goldman: bsky.app/profile/shaynagoldman.bsky.social
Scott Wheeler: bsky.app/profile/scottcwheeler.bsky.social
Chris Peters: bsky.app/profile/chrismpeters.bsky.social

Follow our hosts on X:

Max Bultman: x.com/m_bultman
Mark Lazerus: x.com/MarkLazerus
Jesse Granger: x.com/JesseGranger_
Sean Gentille: x.com/seangentille
Sean McIndoe: x.com/DownGoesBrown
Frank Corrado: x.com/frankcorrado22
Shayna Goldman: x.com/shaynagoldman_
Corey Pronman: x.com/coreypronman
Chris Peters: x.com/chrismpeters
Scott Wheeler: x.com/scottcwheeler

.com/hockeyshow

Photo credit: AP Photo/Chris O'Meara