Why the Blackhawks could be the perfect landing spot for Nikita Kucherov

The hockey world has been turned on its head more than once this season, and it got another shock this past weekend when Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov requested a trade from his longtime club. 

Based on reports from the Lightning and insiders, it appears the Russian winger will not be dealt midseason, as Tampa Bay looks to take another run at the franchise's fourth Stanley Cup and could see Kucherov walk to the open market.

If that happens, some teams could present massive offers. According to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, Kucherov is looking for a six-year deal with a cap hit around $20 million. Some teams may not be able to accommodate a contract that large, but the Chicago Blackhawks may be able to make it work. 

Chicago has a number of pending free agents it could move out, including Teuvo Teräväinen, Andrew Mangiapane, Jordan Greenway, Ryan Ellis and Ian Cole, which would free up roughly $23.25 million of cap space. 

With the growing salary cap also playing a factor, it could mean the Blackhawks would have more than enough room to fit a Kucherov contract. Chicago GM Kyle Davidson has also shown in the past he is not afraid to spend money like giving Patrick Kane his massive two-year, $16 million deal. 

The Blackhawks also wouldn't lose much by removing lineup players as prospects like Sacha Boisvert and Marek Vanacker will likely be called up and become main roster forwards that could fill in the losses of Mangiapane and Greenway while Kucherov could overtake Teräväinen's top-six role. 

On the backend, Ellis has been a sitting contract as he remains on injured reserve, and Cole is 37 years old and more than likely won't be brought back next season, so they won't be major losses either.

The gain of a superstar like Kucherov would fast-track Chicago's rebuild and could give any of the team's three elite centers, Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar and Anton Frondell, the best linemate of their careers to date.

Roster fit works with Kucherov's demands

The fit also makes sense as Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman recently reported on his 32 Thoughts podcast that fit will play a major role in Kucherov's decision, particularly on the power play. 

Friedman explained that Kucherov will likely look for a team with special teams elements similar to his time in Tampa Bay, including a one-timer option like longtime teammate Steven Stamkos, which Bedard or Patrick Kane could provide. 

He would also want a heavy shot from the point like Darren Raddysh, which Chicago has in Artyom Levshunov. Levshunov ranks in the 75th percentile in hardest shot this season, with a 91.72 mile-per-hour shot on October 25 against the Florida Panthers.

The fit is there, and the Blackhawks would be able to give Kucherov a blank check and could make a concentrated pitch that he would be a major part of rebuilding Chicago back into a contender. 

The Blackhawks are among the bottom tier of the league again this season, but with many of the team's youngsters and prospects showing promise, they may be able to start enticing standout players like Kucherov and push the rebuild into its final stages.

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