Hagel Criticizes Larkin While Defending Kucherov
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel defended Nikita Kucherov’s trade request and took a pointed swipe at Detroit’s Dylan Larkin before the teams met on November 3.
The trade request by Tampa Bay winger Nikita Kucherov was a major topic before the Lightning faced the Detroit Red Wings on November 3. Kucherov, who has spent 13 seasons with Tampa Bay, wants to leave the team. Teammate Brandon Hagel backed him, saying Kucherov has given a great deal to the city and remains committed to playing hard for the Lightning.
Hagel contrasted Kucherov’s situation with Larkin’s. He noted that Larkin sought a trade after agreeing to an eight-year deal with Detroit in 2023, while Kucherov’s request came at the end of his current contract. Hagel and Kucherov have worked together during the offseason, and Hagel described the winger as a friend and good teammate.
Detroit has suspended Larkin without pay while it seeks a trade partner. Trade discussions have included possible deals involving both players, though the report said a move sending Larkin to Tampa Bay seemed unlikely. The teams entered the matchup amid speculation about both trade requests, with important points at stake in the Atlantic Division: Detroit was six points behind division-leading Boston, while Tampa Bay was five points back. The report anticipated a hard-fought game despite the attention on the trade turmoil.