The reigning MVP could have his eyes on the Atlantic Division.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens are two teams that Nikita Kucherov would consider as trade destinations, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported during Saturday Night Hockey.
Kucherov has a modified no-trade clause, meaning he can submit a list of 10 approved teams he can be traded to.
The Russian forward has a 10-team list, but the teams on it are currently unknown, Friedman added.
This latest development comes after Kucherov informed both his teammates and the Lightning organization that he will not be re-signing with Tampa Bay and would like to be traded.
There was a meeting between Kucherov, his agent Dan Milstein, head coach Jon Cooper, and GM Julien Brisebois on Friday, but they were unable to settle the situation, Friedman reported. The Lightning released a statement saying they would not be trading Kucherov.
"We are aware of the media reports regarding the future of Nikita Kucherov with the Lightning," Brisebois said in a statement. "We unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita."
Kucherov, 33, is in the final season of an eight-year, $76-million contract and had 130 points (44 goals, 86 assists) last season in his second Hart Trophy-winning campaign.
Friedman's reporting also included that Kucherov initially wanted his contract to be in the same territory as Kirill Kaprizov's deal, but that changed after Leo Carlsson's off-season offer sheet.
However, the biggest catalyst in Kucherov's decision was the lack of pace in the negotiations.
