Montreal Canadiens radio broadcaster Martin McGuire has claimed that Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman are not on good terms, alleging that the two Tampa Bay Lightning stars have a strained relationship away from the ice.
McGuire made the comments during a French-language interview with Mario Langlois on 98.5 Sports, where he has called Canadiens games alongside analyst Dany Dubé since the 2003-04 season.
“Kucherov is at odds with Victor Hedman. I can tell you that the two of them aren’t exactly the type to go out to dinner together while on the road. I think this is something that’s fairly well known around the National Hockey League and within the Lightning organization. Naturally, Jon Cooper isn’t going to discuss these kinds of matters in the public eye, but Hedman and Kucherov, well, you wouldn’t want to invite them to the same party.”
Kucherov’s agent, Dan Milstein, pushed back on the claim on November 3, replying “False” to a post about McGuire’s comments on X, according to Quebec outlet DansLesCoulisses. Neither player has publicly addressed the allegation.
The quote is translated from French, and McGuire’s account has not been corroborated by the Lightning or either player.
Nikita Kucherov and Victor Hedman have led Tampa Bay together
Hedman has worn the captain’s ‘C’ since 2024, taking over after Steven Stamkos left for the Nashville Predators. The 35-year-old defenseman has spent his entire NHL career in Tampa Bay, winning two Stanley Cups, the 2018 Norris Trophy and the 2020 Conn Smythe Trophy.
Kucherov has been just as central to the team’s success. The 33-year-old is Tampa Bay’s all-time leading scorer, a two-time Hart Trophy winner and an alternate captain. He and Hedman have been part of the Lightning’s leadership group during much of the team’s run at the top of the league.
McGuire’s comments come amid uncertainty over Kucherov’s future. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on October 30 that the winger had told the Lightning and his teammates he did not intend to re-sign and wanted a trade.
General manager Julien BriseBois responded that the team “unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita.” Cooper has also said Kucherov is “100 percent a part of this team.”
The Lightning have addressed the trade report, but have said nothing about McGuire’s claim of tension between the two stars.
Edited by Sonali Verma
