The Red Wings could have a new trading partner following big news on Friday night regarding one star player’s trade request.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman delivered a shocker on Friday evening regarding Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Friedman wrote:
“According to multiple sources, Nikita Kucherov has informed both his teammates and the Lightning organization that he will not be re-signing with Tampa Bay and would like to be traded.”
On Oct. 20, Larkin expanded his trade list that also included Tampa. He has also been suspended without pay from the Red Wings.
At this point, interim general manager Shawn Horcoff has got to pick up the phone, call Julien BriseBois, and see if talks can elevate. Or at least to see if Kucherov is interested.
Kucherov is in the final year of his deal, but he has a 10-team trade list. Detroit may not be on the list, and it would admittedly be a tough sale. But if Detroit is a destination Kucherov would be interested in, it could completely change the scope for Detroit in many different ways.
Nikita Kucherov Could Be A Good Fit With The Red Wings
Something that jumps out is that Kucherov (33) and Larkin (30) are only three years apart in age. Kucherov has a $9.5 million cap hit, which fits into the Red Wings’ cap space in 2026-27. Larkin’s cap hit is a manageable $8.7 million. Tampa would also get the player with term, while Detroit would get the player in a contract year.
While Kucherov, a winger, wouldn’t give the Red Wings a proven center, there is less pressure there now with Emmitt Finnie’s emergence. Kucherov would solidify Detroit’s wingers in a group that already includes Alex DeBrincat, Viktor Arvidsson, Lucas Raymond, and Michael Brandsegg Nygard.
