Report: Kucherov & Top Lightning Teammate 'At Odds' With Each Other

Nikita Kucherov spoke with the media on Monday for the first time about his trade request, saying it was “poor communication and respect" that led to him wanting to bring his Tampa Bay reign to an end.

We're hearing a report now, however, that there's also a conflict between Kucherov and Lightning captain Victor Hedman, which could have played into it.

Montreal Canadiens play-by-play announcer Martin McGuire said on 98.5 FM in a French interview that the two elite Bolts players are far from best friends. The station's website translated his comments as follows: 

Kucherov is having a conflict with Victor Hedman. The two of them aren't exactly on the road for dinner together, I can tell you that. I think it's something that's pretty well known in the NHL, and around the Lightning. Of course, (head coach) Jon Cooper isn't going to talk about these things publicly, but Hedman and Kucherov aren't exactly (two guys) you'd invite to the same party.

Whether or not Kucherov and Hedman are truly at odds (Kuch's agent Dan Milstein, as you'd expect, denied it), McGuire went on to question whether the Lightning's all-time leading scorer would be a good fit for what the Habs are building.

"Kucherov is a winger who can sometimes turn a loss into a victory. You really have to give him that," McGuire added. "A player like that is attractive. But the way the Canadiens have built their business (...), I wonder if it's not somewhat contrary to what the Canadiens have been trying to build for almost five years."

Both the Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs were mentioned this week by insider Elliotte Friedman as two teams that Kucherov would likely approve a move to. But whether that comes as some kind of blockbuster trade in-season, or as a straight-up UFA signing on the open market next July, remains to be seen. 

Friedman dropped the bombshell last Friday night that Kucherov would not be re-signing with Tampa after this season, and asked for a trade, but will continue to play for the team.