Opinion: Unlike Hellebuyck And Larkin, Nikita Kucherov Is Doing The Lightning A Solid

Wow, this one is seismic.

Among the superstars in the NHL who are asking/demanding they be moved, there's probably not a person in hockey who had Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov on their bingo card.

With 13-plus seasons, two Hart Trophies, two Art Ross Trophies, two Stanley Cups, and more than 1,100 career points as the franchise’s leading scorer, Kucherov looked like as sure a bet as you could find to finish his career with the team that drafted him.

But, unlike Connor Hellebuyck and Dylan Larkin, Kucherov is actually doing his team a favor with his public declaration.

For so many reasons, this is different than the other two. And when the dust settles and emotions subside, the Lightning are going to be happy Kucherov greased his own skids out of town.

Watch for more in the video column above.

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