Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov requests trade after MVP season
The Russian winger told the club he will not re-sign, ending years of speculation about his long-term future in Florida.
By Rahul Garnier ·
Nikita Kucherov, the reigning NHL MVP, has asked the Tampa Bay Lightning to trade him, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The player informed the team that he does not intend to sign a new contract with the franchise.
The individual spoke to The Associated Press on Friday under the condition of anonymity because the negotiations are private. A message seeking comment from the Lightning was not immediately returned. Sportsnet was the first outlet to report the development.
Kucherov is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. This marks the final year of an eight-year, $76 million deal he signed in 2018. During his tenure, he helped Tampa Bay win two Stanley Cups and led the league in scoring three times. He received the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player in the 2018-19 and 2025-26 seasons.
The 33-year-old winger has recorded 1,139 points in 891 regular-season games since his 2013 debut. That total places him third in the league for that era, behind only Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. His 177 playoff points over the same span are the highest total in the NHL.
Kucherov became the franchise's all-time points leader last weekend by passing former captain Steven Stamkos. He has 15 points through 12 games this season, a team total that ranks second behind Brandon Hagel.
General Manager Julien BriseBois stated in September that the goal was to secure a long-term deal to keep Kucherov as a core part of a contender. BriseBois described Kucherov as a historically great player and the best in the world right now. He said he and Kucherov's agent, Dan Milstein, maintained open lines of communication throughout the process.
The move follows a trend of high-profile trades in recent months involving Brady Tkachuk, Connor Hellebuyck, and Dylan Larkin. Unlike those players, Kucherov has less time remaining on his current contract. His departure could reshape a team that has reached the playoffs 12 times in the last 13 seasons, though they have lost in the first round in each of the past four years.
Source: WRAZ
