What happened: Nikita Kucherov's trade request from the Tampa Bay Lightning leads The Athletic's weekend NHL rankings. The column calls it a tough month for the league's top five.

Why it matters: Kucherov won the 2026 Hart Trophy, his second NHL MVP award, and has said he will not re-sign with Tampa Bay. The request lands a week after the Hellebuyck trade reshaped the league's trade market.

What to watch: GM Julien BriseBois has said the Lightning have no intention of trading Kucherov. Whether that holds as other teams circle is the question for the coming weeks.