Tampa Bay Lightning star forward Nikita Kucherov has requested a trade, sources told ESPN on Friday night, confirming an earlier report.
Kucherov, 33, is in the final year of an eight year, $76 million contract. With the NHL’s rising NHL salary cap, the winger is due for a massive raise, potentially more than double his current $9.5 million average-annual value. Negotiations between Tampa Bay and Kucherov’s camp remained far apart, sources said, which led to a meeting on Friday in which Kucherov said he wanted to play elsewhere.
Kucherov’s agent, Dan Milstein, and Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois did not immediately respond to ESPN’s requests for comment.
It’s a stunning development, especially surprising considering how much success the Lightning and Kucherov have had together. Kucherov is a three-time Art Ross Trophy winner and the reigning Hart Trophy winner as league MVP. He has won two Stanley Cups with the Lightning, in 2020 and 2021.
Tampa Bay is third in the Atlantic Division at 8-3-1, including winning each its first six home games. Kucherov has four goals and 15 points through 12 games.
Kucherov recently surpassed longtime teammate Steven Stamkos to become the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. The Russian-born winger has spent his entire 14-year NHL career in Tampa Bay.
Sportsnet was first to report the news on Friday.
