Could Predators Reunite Cup Winning Duo After Reigning MVP Requests Trade?

For many years, the duo of Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov were synonymous with success as they led the Tampa Bay Lightning to multiple Stanley Cups. Now that Kucherov wants out of Tampa Bay, could Predators GM Chris MacFarland reunite the pairing in Nashville?

The Predators have been struggling to score in 5-on-5 play, currently their 18 goals sit the fifth-lowest in the league in that scenario. Kucherov would help significantly in that regard. Last season, 35 of his 44 goals were scored at even-strength and so were 57 of his 86 assists. He's won either the Art Ross Trophy or the Hart Trophy each of his last three seasons and he has historically thrived when it matters most in the playoffs.

This season, Kucherov has scored four goals and has a total of 15 points in his first 12 games.

From a salary cap perspective, the Predators would have very little issue fitting Kucherov onto the team this season. He's in the final year of his eight-year contract, which carries an average annual value of $9.5 million. With that being said, as one of the league's top scorers, he could easily demand double his current salary as an unrestricted free agent next summer.

With Ryan O'Reilly, Ross Colton, Matthew Wood, and half of the current defensive core all in need of new contracts for the 2027-28 season, the Predators could easily get priced out of keeping Kucherov long-term. As a result, there's significant risk in acquiring him, as it would mean doubling down on the aging core for this season rather than selling off assets to build for future success.

Acquiring Kucherov would also limit the Predators' ability to address their blue line, which has left quite a bit to be desired to this point in the season. 

If the goal is to bring a Stanley Cup to Nashville as soon as physically possible, it's hard to imagine that having Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov on the same team once again would be a bad idea. They've won two Stanley Cups together and they still have enough left in the tank to win a third if things go well. 

Earlier this week, Diandra Loux of The Hockey News - Tampa Bay mentioned how much Kucherov admires Stamkos following their time together on the Lightning, now it could be time for their careers to come full circle in a new city.