Three Canadian teams among five reportedly out of Nikita Kucherov trade race

Nikita Kucherov's trade market is already taking shape, and a handful of teams are reportedly staying far away from it.

Mike Bartner reports that the Canucks, Flames, Jets, Flyers and Blue Jackets will not be in on the Lightning superstar.

That's five teams off the board before the conversation has even really started.

It comes right after Elliotte Friedman reported Friday that Kucherov told Tampa Bay and his teammates he won't re-sign and wants to be moved.

General manager Julien BriseBois answered quickly, saying the Lightning have no intention of trading him.

Kucherov is 33 and in the final year of an eight-year, $76 million contract that carries a $9.5 million cap hit.

He's the reigning Hart Trophy winner and has four goals and 15 points in 12 games, with the Lightning sitting at 8-3-1.

He also has a modified no-trade clause, which lets him submit a list of 10 teams he'd approve a deal to.

That list is the real key here, and it could shrink the field fast.

The Lightning can refuse to move him this season, but Kucherov is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July.

That means he'll get the final say eventually, and Tampa Bay knows it.

ESPN also reported that Kucherov has his sights set on joining one of the league's other top stars, which could narrow things even further.

Contract talks were described as far apart before this blew up.

Right now it's a waiting game. If the Lightning stay stubborn, the trade deadline will be loaded with questions, and every front office around the league will be watching closely.

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