Kucherov Requests Trade From Tampa Bay After Reaching Free Agency
The reigning MVP informed the Lightning he will not re-sign, ending a period of uncertainty that has defined the franchise's recent postseason struggles.
By Pedro Barnes ·
Nikita Kucherov has asked the Tampa Bay Lightning to trade him, ending his tenure with the organization as an unrestricted free agent after the current season concludes. A person with knowledge of the talks told The Associated Press on Friday that the 33-year-old winger informed the team he would not re-sign with the club. The individual spoke on condition of anonymity because the negotiations remain private.
Kucherov holds an eight-year, $76 million contract signed in 2018 that expires after this season. Since joining the league in 2013, he has recorded 1,139 points in 891 regular-season games. That total ranks third among all players over that span, trailing only Connor McDavid of Edmonton and Nathan MacKinnon of Colorado. In the playoffs, Kucherov has 177 points, the highest total during that same period.
General Manager Julien BriseBois previously described Kucherov as a historically great player and potentially the best in the world. In mid-September, BriseBois stated that the team's goal was to sign Kucherov to a new deal to keep him central to a perennial contender. He noted that both he and Kucherov's agent, Dan Milstein, preferred to finalize a contract to resolve the uncertainty. The Lightning have not yet secured that extension.
The move positions Kucherov alongside other recent high-profile trade requests, including Brady Tkachuk, Connor Hellebuyck, and Dylan Larkin. Unlike those players, Kucherov faces immediate free agency, which increases the urgency of the decision. He became the franchise's career points leader last weekend by passing former captain Steven Stamkos. Through the first 12 games of the current season, Kucherov has 15 points, second on the team behind Brandon Hagel.
The Lightning's recent success is tied to the presence of Kucherov and Victor Hedman. The team has made the playoffs 12 times in the last 13 seasons and reached the conference finals four times. However, they have lost in the first round in each of the past four years. Other key players in the rotation include goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy and center Brayden Point. A message sent to the Lightning seeking comment on the development was not immediately returned as of Friday.
