A Nikita Kucherov Trade Has Too Many Obstacles For the Wild

Image courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images By Robert Brent - 7 hours ago Nikita Kucherov recently set the NHL news cycle on fire when he informed the Tampa Bay Lightning that he wouldn’t be re-signing and requested a trade. The star winger is coming off a Hart Trophy season and is likely one of the most talented players ever to be available for trade. When a player of that caliber is looking to move, every team is interested, and every fan base speculates about why he could end up in their city. Would it make sense for the Wild to make a run at Kucherov? At least some people appear bullish on the idea. Joe Smith recently encouraged the Wild to try to bring the winger to St. Paul. Meanwhile, Michael Russo rated the Wild as a team that should consider it in an Athletic staff piece on how hard every team should pursue Kucherov. At first glance, the union makes some sense. The Wild are a contending team with a core group of superstars who are aggressively looking to improve. Kucherov and Kirill Kaprizov are close friends, and Kaprizov has already said he’d love to play with Kucherov. However, before we start salivating over the idea of Kucherov in forest green, let’s see whether it makes sense beyond the desire to acquire a superstar. Unfortunately, a few issues make this trade seem unlikely. The most pressing problem with this dream trade is that the Wild have to put together a package that’s actually tempting for Tampa Bay. That already seems like a major roadblock. The Wild have depleted their future assets in recent years trading for David Jiricek and to acquire Quinn Hughes . That depletion has left the team struggling to put together a trade package for Dylan Larkin . If the pieces Minnesota is dangling aren’t enough for Larkin, are they likely to be attractive enough for Tampa Bay? The situations are different. Kucherov is a pending unrestricted free agent and is 33 years old. The lack of contract control and age could drive down his price. Still, Nikita Kucherov is a much better player than Dylan Larkin. He’s an MVP-level talent, and the relationship between Tampa and Kucherov appears less acrimonious than the case between Larkin and Detroit. Larkin is refusing to play another game for the Detroit Red Wings, while Kucherov is still a point-per-game contributor for a team sitting in a playoff position. Tampa Bay doesn’t have to rush to trade Kucherov. If they intend to move him, they can wait for a bidding war at the trade deadline where every contending team wants a piece. Teams with far more attractive trade pieces than Minnesota (think the Montreal Canadiens or Utah Mammoth’s deep prospect pools ) will likely be in the hunt. Larkin wants to go to Minnesota, and the Red Wings have every incentive to resolve their acrimonious situation with him. If the Wild can’t put enough together to make that deal, it seems unlikely they’ll have the assets to be the most attractive offer for Kucherov, who will have far more competition in the market. This issue is an especially difficult hurdle because of the package the Wild can offer. If players like Danila Yurov or Charlie Stramel plus draft picks are in play, then the offer is firmly futures-based. Tampa Bay is trying to compete now. The one exception to that logic is if Minnesota trades a major piece. It could make sense to trade two lame-duck assets for each other if Quinn Hughes tells the Wild he isn’t going to re-sign and Kucherov theoretically would extend with the Wild. That trade would also mean adding an older wing. Kucherov is still one of the league’s best, but Hughes is fully in his prime. Regardless of the age factor, it’s a lot to assume that’s how the dominoes would fall until Hughes makes his intentions known anyway. Minnesota’s far more likely not to move an impact player from its core, especially if the point of a Kucherov acquisition is to go all-in on a run at the Stanley Cup this year. Even if you can find some package to attract Tampa Bay, there’s also a roster-construction concern. Minnesota desperately needs a center. Kucherov is the kind of talent that is good enough that if you have the chance to add him, you figure out the other details later. Still, the Wild are so shallow at center that it doesn’t make sense to spend what little assets they have left without addressing their top priority. The Wild also need to think about how they’ll manage the cap. Kucherov reportedly wants a $20 million annual contract. The Wild could only be a long-term option for Kucherov if Hughes isn’t re-signing. Even if that does happen, between a Kucherov extension and Kaprizov’s monster contract, the Wild would be paying nearly $40 million a year for two wingers. They’re both worth the money and the cap is rising, but they’d be overinvested in one position. Ultimately, Kucherov is the kind of talent that any team would want to employ, and that’s why anyone would justify the trade. It’s especially tempting for the Wild due to his connection with Kaprizov. Even so, Minnesota and Tampa Bay don’t seem like the right trade partners. Between the cost to acquire and retain Kucherov and the fact that it doesn’t really fit with Minnesota’s current needs, this feels like a video-game trade rather than one they can execute in reality. By Robert Brent Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants you to develop your voice, find an audience, and we'll pay you to do it. Just fill out this form . minnesota wild nhl nikita kucherov