Friedman drops a major Kucherov update, and July 1 could become Tampa's biggest nightmare

Elliotte Friedman just shared the impression around Nikita Kucherov in his 32 Thoughts column, and it points to a long wait for the Lightning.

The Lightning star is in the final season of his contract, and the buzz around his next deal has grown louder every day this week. Tampa Bay is 10-3-2 and sitting third in the Atlantic Division, so this lands while the team is winning.

Friedman noted that the impression is that Kucherov won't sign anywhere until July 1st.

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That one line carries a lot of weight. It suggests no extension is coming in the middle of the season, and it also suggests the Lightning won't be the only team in the conversation once free agency opens.

Kucherov is 33, and his current deal is set to end as an unrestricted free agent after this season. No extension has been signed. If he reaches the market, he becomes the biggest name available by a wide margin.

The noise has been building for days. Our earlier look at a Kucherov trade proposal built around Kirill Marchenko showed how quickly other teams are already imagining him in a different sweater.

Nothing about his play suggests a star ready to slow down. He has 20 points in 15 games this season, with 4 goals and 16 assists, and he is a +6.

What a July 1 decision means for the Lightning

Waiting until July 1st leaves Tampa Bay with an uncomfortable choice. Julien Brisebois can keep the team together and ride out the season, or he can listen to offers before the deadline and gamble that the market is real.

I don't like the second option. The Lightning are 8-0-0 at home, they just beat Chicago 4-1 on Thursday night, and Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 25 of 26 shots. Moving a 20-point player from a contender because of a column is a bad idea.

Still, there is real tension in it. Jon Cooper's group has been far weaker away from Tampa, going 2-3-2 on the road, and a distracted locker room is the last thing it needs before a trip.

The Lightning also have the Andrei Vasilevskiy contract situation raised by Dan Milstein hanging over the same summer. Two core pieces, one offseason.

Tampa Bay plays at Minnesota on Saturday, and Kucherov's silence on all of this will be tested again with every question he gets.

Quick hits

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS: John Tavares skated in a regular sweater at practice this morning, according to Mark Masters of TSN and Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun. That's a good sign for Toronto.

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MINNESOTA WILD: Michael Russo says Jesper Wallstedt starts for the Wild tonight against the Sharks, with Calvin Pickard set to follow tomorrow. Minnesota already has its goalie plan mapped out.

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COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: NHL Rosters reports Columbus recalled Steven Lorentz and Jack Williams from Cleveland, hours before tonight's game at Buffalo.

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Also read on Markerzone.com:
Kirill Marchenko is already leaving Toronto in this blockbuster Nikita Kucherov trade proposal