David Pagnotta says Nikita Kucherov genuinely likes Montreal, and now the Lightning star's name is tied to the Canadiens again.
The chatter has been building all weekend. Elliotte Friedman reported Sunday that Kucherov would be open to playing for the Canadiens or Maple Leafs, according to Friedman, and Pierre LeBrun followed by saying Montreal could be on the winger's trade list.
Kucherov is 33 and the Lightning have him signed through this season, after which he is set to reach unrestricted free agency. That puts July 1 on the calendar for every team that likes what it sees.
And he is not giving anyone an easy reason to look away. Kucherov has 4 goals and 14 assists in 13 games, good for 18 points.
Montreal, meanwhile, comes into Tuesday at 9-3-2 and has won five straight. The Canadiens sit second in the Atlantic Division, one spot ahead of a Tampa Bay team that is fourth.
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | DIFF | |
| 1. Boston Bruins | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 23 | +20 |
| 2. Montreal Canadiens | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 20 | +6 |
| 3. Ottawa Senators | 16 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 19 | +1 |
| 4. Tampa Bay Lightning | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 18 | +5 |
| 5. Florida Panthers | 15 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 18 | +3 |
| 6. Toronto Maple Leafs | 16 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 18 | +7 |
| 7. Buffalo Sabres | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 17 | -6 |
| 8. Detroit Red Wings | 15 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 0 |
Pagnotta, speaking on Leafs Morning Take, said the only place he knows Kucherov genuinely likes is Montreal, and he stressed that he knows it personally because he has talked to the player about it.
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Kent Hughes brings something to that conversation. The Canadiens general manager has a reputation for staying close to his players and treating them with respect, and if respect is what Kucherov is looking for, that reputation is a real selling point.
Why a Kucherov trade to Montreal is still a long shot
The obstacle is the standings. Montreal and Tampa Bay play in the same division, and LeBrun's comments on Kucherov and the Canadiens included the point that the Lightning would never trade him inside the Atlantic.
Bob's read: Tampa has no reason to blink right now. The Lightning are 8-3-2, unbeaten at home through six games, and their best player is producing at a point-per-game clip or better. Selling in November would make no hockey sense.
Still, interest is not the same as a deal, and a player's preference only carries weight if he has the leverage to act on it. A contract that runs out in July gives Kucherov more of that than most.
| GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | |
| 2026-27 | 13 | 4 | 14 | 18 | +5 |
| Career | 892 | 404 | 737 | 1141 | +205 |
Both teams are in action tonight. The Lightning host the Red Wings, while the Canadiens welcome the Jets, and the next round of Kucherov questions will land the moment either result goes sideways.
Should the Lightning trade Nikita Kucherov to Montreal if he asks out?
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