Kucherov Requests Trade; Lightning Say No — SkimNews
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- Nikita Kucherov requested a trade and told teammates on the team plane Friday that he wanted to play elsewhere, sources told ESPN.
- Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said late Friday that the club had “unequivocally” no intention of trading Kucherov.
- Nikita Kucherov, 33, is in the final year of an eight-year, $76 million contract; with the NHL salary cap rising, he was due for a raise potentially exceeding twice his current $9.5 million average annual value, but negotiations remained far apart.
- Nikita Kucherov’s modified no-trade clause allows him to submit a 10-team list of approved clubs for Tampa Bay to negotiate with, and sources said he wants to play alongside another top superstar.
- Dan Milstein declined to comment publicly on the request beyond saying he would “stand by Nikita unconditionally.”
- Nikita Kucherov is a three-time Art Ross Trophy winner, the reigning Hart Trophy winner and a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay in 2020 and 2021.
- Nikita Kucherov recently surpassed Stamkos as Tampa Bay’s all-time leading scorer and has four goals and 15 points through 12 games this season.
Why it matters: With Kucherov in the final year of his $76 million deal and talks far apart, Tampa Bay remains the gatekeeper for a trade because his modified clause limits negotiations to 10 approved teams. His request therefore cannot move him alone; it makes the Lightning, whose all-time leading scorer wants out, the deciding party.
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