NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Three years ago, Lightning wing Nikita Kucherov was in William Nylander’s shoes.



Kucherov, 25, was a restricted free agent (with no leverage of arbitration rights), coming off 29- and 30-goal seasons. He missed the entire training camp and preseason, staying back home in Russia awaiting a contract resolution.



Kucherov wasn’t overly thrilled by Tampa Bay’s contract offers, but with little recourse, he accepted a three-year bridge deal worth $4.76 million annually.



“I just wanted to play,” Kucherov said. “I didn’t want to stay at home.”



But after watching Nylander, the 22-year-old Leafs star, sit out the first month of the regular season during a contract dispute, Kucherov understands that approach. Nylander faces a Dec. 1 deadline to sign or he’s not eligible to play the rest of the season.



Kucherov doesn’t blame Nylander. He supports him. If Kucherov had to...