Pierre LeBrun links Kucherov to the Islanders for one reason

Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic is now tying Nikita Kucherov to the Islanders, and the link runs through GM Mathieu Darche.

The Lightning winger is playing for Tampa Bay tonight's schedule aside, as the team prepares for Thursday against Chicago, and his name keeps showing up in trade and free agency talk. Now a new destination has entered the mix.

LeBrun noted that Darche has a relationship with Kucherov from his Tampa days, and said he fully expects the Islanders to try to be a player from a July 1 perspective.

-

That phrase matters. LeBrun is not describing a trade push this season. He is pointing to free agency, which fits the contract situation: Kucherov's deal is listed as running through 2026-27, with unrestricted free agency at expiry.

It also lines up with what David Pagnotta said today on Daily Faceoff Live. According to Pagnotta's report on Kucherov staying put, the star is likely to remain with the Lightning until July 1st.

Kucherov isn't playing like a man halfway out the door. He had two assists Tuesday night in a 4-2 win over Detroit, and he sits at 20 points in 14 games.

Why Kucherov fits what the Islanders need

The Islanders are 7-5-2, sitting 5th in the Metropolitan Division with 16 points. They were shut out 4-0 by Edmonton in their last game, and their goal differential is just +1.

That is a team that can use a player who produces. Kucherov has 4 goals and 16 assists this season, and he has 1,143 career points over 893 games. Few players in the league can change the look of a lineup that fast.

Peter DeBoer's group hosts Carolina on Thursday, and the Islanders have plenty to sort out before anyone talks about next summer. Still, landing a player of this caliber would be a franchise-altering swing, and Darche clearly knows the way to the door.

The Lightning are 9-3-2 and third in the Atlantic. They are not sellers, and they have shown how far they were willing to go to keep him. Tampa Bay's two offers to Kucherov were reported by LeBrun earlier this week, before the trade request.

Bold take: if Kucherov does reach the market, Darche's relationship will be worth more than any cap space the Islanders can clear. Tampa will have to win that conversation first, and that fight is far from over.

Until July 1, every Kucherov game is also a data point for Darche.

Also read on Markerzone.com:
Connor Hellebuyck writes an open letter to Jets fans and finally reveals why he requested a trade