Jarrod Sharp

Alright, after sleeping on it, here are my thoughts. Kucherov is actually doing the #GoBolts a favor here and his situation is completely different from every other player who has asked for a trade. He’s a pending UFA and he’s being upfront with the team about where he stands. Isn’t that what everyone wants? A little honesty and transparency? He hasn’t just lived up to his contract, he’s exceeded it. He’s been one of the best players in the league and helped bring them two Stanley Cups. Now he wants something new and he’s earned the right to command a max contract. If Tampa wants to keep him around for one last run, that’s their decision, but there’s no reason for him to have to sit out, be punished, or be made out to be the bad guy. This is exactly how situations with pending UFAs should be handled.