Nikita Kucherov stunned the Tampa Bay Lightning and the hockey world at large on Friday.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the superstar Russian winger has told the Lightning organization that he won’t re-sign with Tampa Bay and wants to be traded. Per TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, Kucherov also informed his teammates that he wants out while flying on the team’s plane to Nashville to play the Predators on Saturday.
After the news dropped, Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois released a statement saying that the club “unequivocally” has no intention of trading Kucherov.
In response to BriseBois, Kucherov’s agent, Dan Milstein, told LeBrun that Kucherov “has spoken to all the parties involved and there’s nothing else to add at this time.”
Kucherov, 33, is playing his last season on an eight-year, $76 million contract ($9.5 million AAV) that he signed with the Lightning in 2018. According to PuckPedia, Kucherov doesn’t have a full no-move clause in his contract, but rather a 10-team trade list, which gives him some control over his next potential team.
Sources also told ESPN’s Emily Kaplan that Kucherov has his sights set on playing with one of the NHL’s other top superstars.
Earlier this fall, NHL insider Chris Johnston reported that Kucherov and his representation were looking for a six-year contract extension with an average annual value of $20 million. According to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, the Lightning came up short on those demands, offering Kucherov a four-year deal worth $15 million a season.
Kucherov will be 34 when his next contract kicks in, making the rumored salary a tough ask for most teams. Despite those possible concerns, the most recent NHL MVP is still playing at a star level, recording 15 points (4g, 11a) in 12 games this season after posting 130 points (44g, 86a) in 76 games during the 2025-26 campaign.
Just last week, Kucherov passed Steven Stamkos as the Lightning’s all-time leading scorer, reaching 1,138 career points (405g, 733a). The Lightning honored him for the feat on Thursday night during their 6-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets.
Nikita Kucherov recognized as Lightning’s new all-time leading scorer
The Lightning are 8-3-1 to start the 2026-27 season and sit third in the NHL’s Atlantic Division, although they have a higher points percentage (.708) than both teams, the Boston Bruins (.679) and Montreal Canadiens (.692), ahead of them.
Kucherov is the latest of several star NHL players to request a trade in recent months, following similar decisions made by Connor Hellebuyck, Dylan Larkin, and Brady Tkachuk.
