Bob Stauffer Just Dropped a Huge Hint About Nikita Kucherov’s Next Team

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When it comes to influential NHL agents, few carry more weight than Dan Milstein.

Milstein represents many of the league’s top Russian players and currently has dozens of NHL clients under contract. Among the biggest names on his roster are Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy. He’s also known for being one of the most outspoken agents in hockey, never shying away from advocating for his clients or sharing his opinions publicly.

Throughout the Kucherov trade request saga, Milstein has maintained that his client remains committed to playing hockey while he handles the business side of things. But one opinion from Milstein that may suddenly have new relevance to Oilers fans has nothing to do directly with Kucherov.

It has to do with Mike Babcock.

Milstein Has Always Been One of Babcock’s Biggest Supporters

When Mike Babcock was given another opportunity to coach in the NHL, Milstein made it clear he fully supported the decision.

Several of Milstein’s clients have played under Babcock throughout his career, including Pavel Datsyuk, Nikita Zaitsev, Ilya Mikheyev, and more recently Kirill Marchenko. While Babcock has faced criticism from other players during his coaching career, Milstein said neither he nor his clients ever had an issue with the veteran coach.

In fact, he went as far as calling Babcock one of the greatest coaches in the game.

“I know Mike Babcock well from his days in Detroit and his days in Toronto. He has had many of my clients, from Pavel Datsyuk to Nikita Zaitsev to Ilya Mikheyev and others. I personally think that Mike is one of the greatest coaches in this game. I have never had any issues, and none of my clients have had any issues with Babcock. My clients want to be pushed, they want to be coached, and my clients would love to win more than anything.”

At the time, those comments were viewed primarily as a defense of Babcock. Looking back now, with Milstein representing a superstar who has reportedly asked out of Tampa Bay, they may carry a little more significance.

Bob Stauffer’s Kucherov Hint Turned Heads

During intermission coverage of the Oilers’ game against the New York Islanders, Bob Stauffer dropped an interesting nugget while discussing Kucherov’s future. The comment was brief, but it immediately stood out.

“In the back of my mind, Gene, I think that Dan Milstein has a place already in mind for Nikita Kucherov. I don’t know what that place is, but Dan’s a very smart agent. By the way, a big fan of Mike Babcock’s, as well. So we’ll see where Kucherov goes. A lot of Russian players, by the way, end up in the New York area.”

On its own, it’s fairly harmless. An agent likes a coach. Not exactly headline material. But in the context of Kucherov reportedly wanting a change of scenery, the remark feels a little more intentional.

Adding fuel to the speculation, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that Kucherov is interested in playing alongside another elite superstar. If that’s truly high on his priority list, there aren’t many teams that can offer that opportunity.

The Oilers can.

However, Stauffer’s mention of the New York area shouldn’t be overlooked, either. The New York Rangers would make plenty of sense as a destination if Kucherov is looking for both star power and a strong Russian presence. Igor Shesterkin remains one of the NHL’s premier goaltenders, and the Rangers recently added Pavel Dorofeyev to their growing Russian contingent. With stars such as Adam Fox already in place, New York offers the type of big-market spotlight and championship aspirations that would undoubtedly appeal to a player of Kucherov’s caliber.

Interestingly, Milstein doesn’t currently have any clients on the Rangers roster. That said, if New York emerges as a serious contender, Kucherov could quickly change that.

As for Edmonton, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl remain the league’s premier superstar duo, while Evan Bouchard continues establishing himself among the NHL’s elite offensive defensemen. Add Babcock’s presence and Milstein’s long-documented respect for the coach, and it’s not hard to see why some people are starting to connect the dots.

Whether those dots actually lead anywhere is another question entirely.

The Biggest Obstacles to Kucherov Joining Edmonton

The challenge for Edmonton is simple: acquiring Kucherov won’t be easy.

If the Lightning ultimately move one of the best players in the world, there will be no shortage of teams willing to make aggressive offers. Edmonton may struggle to put together the most competitive trade package, particularly compared to organizations loaded with high-end prospects and draft capital.

That reality may make free agency a more realistic path, assuming Kucherov eventually reaches the open market and Edmonton ranks among his preferred destinations.

Then there’s the salary cap.

Even with cap growth on the horizon, fitting Kucherov alongside McDavid, Draisaitl, and Bouchard would require some serious financial gymnastics. Having four players account for that large of a chunk of the team’s payroll would create major roster-building challenges, even for a front office as aggressive as Edmonton’s. Still, the upside is obvious.

A power play featuring McDavid, Draisaitl, Kucherov, and Bouchard would be almost unfair. It would instantly become one of the most talented units the NHL has ever seen. And if Kucherov ever found himself on a line with McDavid or Draisaitl, it would be must-watch hockey every night.

For now, the odds remain long. But when you combine Stauffer’s comments, Milstein’s admiration for Babcock, and reports that Kucherov wants to play alongside other elite stars, the Oilers are one of the few teams that can realistically check every box.

And that’s why this speculation isn’t going away anytime soon.

Next: Oilers Linked to Matt Rempe, But One Major Problem Makes This Trade Hard to Justify