MAJOR report reveals Blackhawks linked to Kucherov trade...

Last Friday, Nikita Kucherov asked the Tampa Bay Lightning to trade him. The next night in Nashville, he had three points. And today, the Blackhawks were reported among the teams linked to him per David Pagnotta. Chicago has Conor Bedard and about $0.9 million in cap space. So can this actually happen? Let's talk about the price, the cost, and how he would actually look next to Conor Bedard. And it starts with why he's even available. Kucherov says it wasn't about the money. Quote, it was never about the money for me. It was more about poor communication and respect. He says Julien Brisebois talked to him twice in the last four months. Go back to September 16. Tampa's GM said of an extension, quote, the sooner the better, obviously. The same day, he said, quote, both parties I know would have preferred to have a deal today. He also said the market has changed. Quote, obviously, the market has evolved. The cap has gone up tremendously over the last few years. About six weeks later, Kucherov requested a trade out. So the sooner the better turned into a trade request. And this isn't a guy who hates Tampa, quote, I got drafted here, this is my 14th year, a couple of championships, my kids grew up here, and I'm forever grateful for this organization. That's why, quote, poor communication and respect lands so hard, because it sounds like this guy felt ignored, this guy's probably the best player in their franchise's history. John Cooper, the head coach, said after Nashville, quote, he's a proud Bolt, he gave us a hell of a chance. And Brayden Point said, quote, that's his business, he's my teammate, he's my friend. Asked if he sees himself in Tampa after the season, Kucherov said, quote, I made my request and yeah, this is not a player leaving the door open. And he said it with the season still on, quote, for now I'm a part of this team and I'll do anything I can to help my teammates win. So he's professional and that matters because a player who keeps producing is only going to leave his value up higher and Tampa knows it. And the clock is real. He makes $9.5 million this season, the last year of his deal. Then he's an unrestricted free agent in July. So whoever buys him could potentially be buying a rental unless they get a deal signed first. Start with something that stands out. The reigning MVP makes $9.5 million this season. Bedard makes $15 million. That's $5.5 million less. Reportedly Tampa offered four years at $15 million a year, and he turned it down. Chris Johnston reported the Lightning won't go past $15 million a season, while Kucherov is said to want about six years at $20 million. Do the math. Four years at $15 million is $60 million. Six years at $20 million is $120 million. That's a $60 million gap. That's the problem Chicago has to solve before they even send anybody for him. Bedard makes $15 million a year and Kucherov at $15 to $20 million, and that's $30 to $35 million on two players. That's 26 to 31% of a $113.5 million cap in 27-28. And Chicago has the room. Our sheet has $78 million committed for 27-28. Even adding that $4.8 million Sportrac says that the sheet is missing. It's more than $30 million of space. So they can fit him under the cap. And the real question is, would he be willing to go and sign there? And that's why the order matters. There's two ways this goes. One, Chicago trades for him and then tries to get an extension in place. Then Kucherov holds all the cards and he can refuse a deal there and then just walk off in July. The second way is they have an extension already agreed upon before the trade happens and then you're not giving up all these prospects and picks for nothing. And he has a say. The cap sheet lists a modified no-trade clause, and one report says he can block 10 teams. Chicago isn't the only name. In May, speculation listed Carolina, the LA Kings, New Jersey, the Islanders, and Washington, and our tweets have Toronto speculation as well. That May speculation put the price at at least a first-round pick and a top prospect. Our mock goes past that. It has a first, a second, and three players, so let's look at what it would cost. And if you're enjoying daily NHL breakdowns like this, go down below, hit that subscribe button. We're on the road for 20,000 subscribers and we're so close. So go down below and stay up to date on everything around the NHL. So why would Chicago just go out and pay everything right now when they could wait for July? Because when he hits the market, every team in the NHL is going to be chatting with this guy, and Chicago's only going to be one team out of the other 31 in the league going after him. A trade gets you to that conversation first, and that's what you're paying for. And what you pay with matters. Chicago has two second-round picks in 2027, its own and Vancouver's. The second is the easy part. The first and Nazar are where Chicago thinks twice. Think about it for Tampa. When Kucherov eventually does walk in July, if they don't trade him, they're going to get nothing back for him. But now, if they trade with Chicago, they'll get some picks and three players. Because Chicago has other holes. Byram has missed the last seven games with an upper body injury, and he is not cleared. Now let's take a look at what a deal would look like so you can judge the price. So here's what the trade would look like. Chicago sends out Frank Nazar, Roman Kanchurov, Sam Rindell, a first round pick and a second round pick for Nikita Kucherov. Nazar is the centerpiece, $6.6 million a year through 2032-33, with a modified no-trade clause. Pagliara praises Chicago's strong pairing with Frank Nazar, who has been alternating between the wing and center. That's why he's the piece Chicago asks on first, and the piece that maybe Chicago would hesitate on. Rinzel is the cheap piece, $941,667 a year for two more years, then he's a restricted free agent. Kanzaroff is a prospect piece for sure, and a guy who I think could really help out this roster. Now the picks, Chicago's owns two first round picks in 2027, it's own in Edmonton's, and Tampa has no 2027 first at all, it went to Seattle. So Chicago first really fills the hole for Tampa as they have no pick. Now the cap math. Chicago is at $103.1 million against $104 million ceiling. So it has $0.9 million of room. That's SportTrack's numbers from October the 6th. Nazar and Rinzel send out about $7.5 million. Kucherov comes in at $9.5 million. That adds up to about $2 million. So Kanzarov or somebody else has to carry about $1 million out the door too. For Tampa, it's a cap win. It sends out $9.5 million, takes back about $7.5 million, and saves about $2 million. It has $2.8 million in room as of right now. And Nazar, like we said, has a modified no trade clause, so he would have to agree to go. But going to one of the top contenders in Tampa, I think would be an easy yes. So why go out and give up all these players for Kucherov? Because you're putting them next to Bedard. Kucherov is at 1.39 points a game this season in the 99th percentile among NHL players. Bedard is at 1.12 points a game in the 94th percentile, and he's on a five-game point streak with three goals and three assists. Per 60 minutes, it's the same story. Kucherov is at 3.96 points per 60, 98th percentile, and Bedard is at 3.29 in the 93rd percentile. Kucherov also shoots 2.7 times a game in the 91st percentile, so he isn't only a passer. And that is the pitch to Kucherov. Come pass to Bedard, and he's going to get you a lot of points. Add them up, and that's 2.51 points a game between two players. On the power play, Bedard is at 0.5 points a game, 96th percentile. Kucherov is at 0.39 in the 92nd. Now picture them on the same unit. Bedard shoots three shots a game and scores .5 goals a game, a 4-1 goal pace over 82 games. Kucherov passes 1.08 assists a game in the 99th percentile. That's a shooter who gets the reigning MVP feeding him passes. It isn't perfect. Kucherov gives it away 1.92 times a game, bottom 1% in the league. Bedard is at 1.38, which is minus .38 a game plus minus. But you live with that, because on the other side of things, you get 1.39 points a game, and we'd be happy to have that. And Chicago needs it. The Hawks are eight points back of the third place in the Central, going into Monday's game with Colorado. But they already even called their last loss against Boston one of their best games of the season, so they're closer than what the standings say. So here's my take. I think Chicago is a real fit for Kucherov, but only if they can get an extension done first. Because Chicago is giving up a lot here, right? They're giving up Brinzel, Nazar. They're also giving up Kucherov, a few picks. You don't want to ship that out for a season rental of Kucherov. You want to have that deal or extension in place. But if I'm Chicago, I go into this trying to keep Nazar off the table. But I think you will kind of need him to be in here just with the way the cap situation is right now. Tampa isn't powerless either. They can decide to keep Kucherov this season and try to go for a Stanley Cup and then just let him walk or they might say hey maybe we need some pieces going forward and they can make a trade and I think out of all the teams in the NHL Chicago has some of the best prospects and players to get back here. Do it with a signed deal and Bedard gets one of the best partners he's ever had. But remember, this is just a link and not a confirmed deal. Tampa hasn't traded them yet, and Chicago is only one name on a long list. So would you do it? Go down below, comment K if you want Kucherov, and comment N if you think that they should just keep Nazar. So watch for two things. If Kucherov's camp starts talking to Chicago about extensions, then we could be seeing a trade coming very soon. And whether Tampa still treats him like a player, it can keep going forward and try to go for another Stanley Cup. Keep an eye on that. Because it's not enough for Chicago to want him. He's going to have to want Chicago as well. This has been another episode of NHL Digest. If you enjoyed, go down below, hit that subscribe button. We're going to be here every day with the latest news around the NHL. As always, I'm your host, KC. Keep your stick on the ice.