Former Lightning now Maple Leafs D-man Darren Raddysh figured somebody was playing an April Fool’s Day prank when word reached him that Nikita Kucherov, his old Lightning power-play partner, had asked out of Tampa Bay.
At the second intermission of the Maple Leafs vs Canucks clash, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on Saturday Headlines that he believes Nikita Kucherov would consider the Leafs and Canadiens.
“I do believe that if Tampa was going to trade him, and Montreal and Toronto could come up with a package that Tampa would like, those are two teams, among many, he would consider,” Friedman said.
Darren Raddysh spent parts of five seasons alongside the reigning Hart Trophy winner, and the Maple Leafs locker room has leaned on him for intel on the future Hall of Fame winger.
When asked about the possibility of Nikita Kucherov joining the Maple Leafs via a potential blockbuster trade, Raddysh said:
“That would be unbelievable to get him. He’s easily one of the best players in the world. And the way he goes about his business, I think it would be awesome to have him.” per Sportsnet’s Luke Fox.
Nick Paul, another Bolt-turned-Leaf, who arrived in Toronto after being traded to the Maple Leafs this past summer, was warmer on the idea of a reunion with his former Lightning teammate.
“It’s hard to look into those things. You never know what’s really going to happen. But, I mean, he’s a great player, and that’d be great,” said Paul.
Maple Leafs D-man & former Bolt clears the air around Nikita Kucherov’s “grumpy” perception
Darren Raddysh has heard the scouting report on Nikita Kucherov’s temperament for years, and he does not buy it. The version he knows shows up a week after the season ends and skates two hours a day for the rest of the summer, and the edge that outsiders read as grumpiness is really a demand for the best out of the players around him. He was happy to explain:
“A perception everyone kind of has of him is, oh, he might be grumpy, or he might be angry at his teammates. But I think he just wants the best from each and every one.”
Tampa Bay Lightning GM Julien BriseBois said Friday the club “unequivocally” has “no intention of trading Nikita”. Of note, Kucherov has a 10-team modified no-trade clause and $9.5 million cap hit, expiring in July.
Edited by Srihari Anand
