![\"Nikita](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/GettyImages-2274086572-e1793468990743.jpg\")
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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Nikita Kucherov Canadiens Lightning<\/p>\n
In an original trade pitch, we consider what it would take for the Montreal Canadien<\/a>s to trade for Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov.<\/p>\n Kucherov, the reigning Hart Memorial Trophy winner as the league MVP, has asked for a trade out of Tampa Bay, the team he has starred for for he past 14 seasons, after contract negotiations between the team and player broke down.<\/p>\n Rumor has it that Kucherov was offered four years and $60 million by Tampa Bay and turned down that offer<\/a> as he understandably wants more money, leading to his trade request.<\/p>\n One of the teams that Kucherov has been most linked to already is the Canadiens<\/a>, who could surely use the two-time Stanley Cup winner.<\/p>\n So, what would it take for Montreal to acquire Kucherov? Let\u2019s take a look at a trade proposal.<\/p>\n Canadiens\/Lightning Nikita Kucherov Trade Pitch<\/p>\n In an original trade pitch, Kucherov would be sent to the Canadiens for the following trade package that we propose below.<\/p>\n Lightning Trade:<\/p>\n F Nikita Kucherov ($9.5 million expiring contract)<\/p>\n Canadiens Trade:<\/p>\n F Josh Anderson ($5.5 million expiring contract) As part of this trade pitch, Kucherov would sign a five-year, $100 million contract extension ($20 million per season), ensuring that the Canadiens do not lose him in unrestricted free agency next offseason, while also making sure that Kucherov is among the highest-paid players in the game, which he deserves to be.<\/p>\n With Kucherov accounting for $9.5 million this year and Anderson and Bolduc combining for $9.7 million, the salary cap hit is almost a perfect match, making this deal doable from a cap perspective.<\/p>\n Why Both Teams Would Do This Trade<\/p>\n For the Canadiens, it\u2019s easy to understand why GM Kent Hughes would pull the trigger on this trade. Kucherov is one of the NHL\u2019s truly elite talents, a top-three player in the league who is still in the prime of his career at age 33. He is coming off his second Hart Memorial Trophy-winning season, having scored 44 goals and 130 points for the Lightning last season. He is already on pace this season for another 100-point year, and he would make the Canadiens one of the top Stanley Cup contenders as soon as he arrives in Quebec.<\/p>\n In exchange for Kucherov, the Canadiens would give up Anderson, a rugged, veteran winger who can chip in with some timely goals and also play a physical brand of hockey. Anderson, too, is a free agent after this season, and while he would like to re-sign in Montreal, the team has not yet committed to a contract extension for him, which makes me believe he would be available in a trade.<\/p>\n As well, the Canadiens would trade Bolduc, a 23-year-old winger on the rise who is locked into a long-term contract at a good price. On top of that, the Canadiens would give the Lightning their top-10 protected first-round pick in the 2027 NHL Entry Draft, plus Vegas\u2019 2nd-round pick in the same draft.<\/p>\n Neither Anderson nor Bolduc are as good as Kucherov, but given that the Lightning risk losing their star for nothing next summer if he leaves as a free agent, getting back two quality wingers plus a first-round pick and a second-round pick is a very good return for an impending UFA, and one that Lightning GM Julien BriseBois needs to seriously consider.<\/p>\n So, Canadiens and Lightning fans, would you do this trade, and do you think it\u2019s fair for both sides? Let us know in the comments below.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tAdam Martin<\/a> Adam Martin is a sports journalist with over 15 years of experience. He has a speciality in MMA, while also covering the Big 4 Sports. Adam is currently a contributor to Heavy.com, with previous experience working for The Toronto Star, Sportsnet, theScore, Bookies, BJPenn.com, and MMAOddsbreaker.com. More about Adam Martin<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getty Nikita Kucherov Canadiens Lightning In an original trade pitch, we consider what it would take for the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":700234,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5103],"tags":[265,5,264,21,5147,4],"class_list":["post-700233","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-montreal-canadiens","tag-canadiens","tag-hockey","tag-montreal","tag-montreal-canadiens","tag-montrealcanadiens","tag-nhl"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nhl\/117537221376468822","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/700233","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=700233"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/700233\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/700234"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=700233"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=700233"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=700233"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nF Zachary Bolduc ($4.2 million for this season plus three more seasons)
\n2027 1st-round draft pick (Montreal\u2019s own, top-10 protected)
\n2027 2nd-round draft pick (Vegas Golden Knights pick, previously acquired)<\/p>\n