from Larry Brooks of the New Yorik Post,

- ...the NHL is skewing young and younger. The geezers are fast becoming an endangered species. And “fast” is the operative word.

- Of the 24-and-unders in the NHL, there is Connor McDavid, and for me, then there is Kucherov, ahead of Auston Matthews, Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine, Leon Draisaitl, Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau.

Yzerman got Kucherov and got him good last time, taking advantage of the winger’s lack of salary arbitration rights and the Russian’s utter disinterest in using the KHL as a lone piece of leverage beyond sitting out last season. Yzerman, we’re told, refused to offer a two-year deal. Fact is, he wanted to lock up Kucherov for four or five years. But he and agent Scott Greenspun were able to hold that off.

Still, Kucherov changed agents after the season, signing on with Daniel Milstein of Gold Star Sports. Next time, Kucherov and Milstein will hold the hammer.

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