An NHL GM just called out Nikita Kucherov and the Tampa Bay Lightning

He commented on the Max Pacioretty file and the major injury he suffered.

Asked what his plan is for Pacioretty, Waddell said he is already receiving trade offers from teams that want Pacioretty to put his contract on the long-term injured list.

As reported by HABSolumentFan, Waddell said this:

A statement that has many people reacting, especially because of the nice little arrow, not subtle at all, thrown at Kucherov and the Tampa Bay Lightning here.

Obviously, Waddell doesn't want to do what the Lightning did (with Kucherov).

He could decide to put Pacioretty's contract on the LTIR, pick up other good players with the space created on his payroll, and then he could get Pacioretty back, for free, and without his salary counting against the 2023 playoffs.

But he doesn't want to do that.

Remember of course that the Lightning had placed forward Nikita Kucherov on the long-term injured list for the entire 2020-21 season in order to be able to play him in the playoffs while being compliant with the salary cap. A ploy that has caused a lot of reaction.

Many fans, players and NHL executives really didn't like this little trick, and that seems to include the Carolina Hurricanes' boss, who just made it pretty clear.