Hart Trophy Winner: Kucherov Seeks Exit From Tampa Bay
The 33-year-old winger told the Lightning he will not re-sign his $76 million contract and has requested a trade before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
By Amina Howard ·
Nikita Kucherov informed the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday that he will not re-sign with the club and has asked for a trade, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The source, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private, said the move ends a long tenure for the reigning MVP. A message sent to the Lightning seeking comment on the development was not immediately returned.
Kucherov is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season. That status follows the conclusion of an eight-year, $76 million contract signed in 2018. During that period, he helped Tampa Bay win two Stanley Cups, led the NHL in scoring three times, and won the Hart Trophy in the 2018-19 and 2025-26 seasons.
General Manager Julien BriseBois had previously described Kucherov as a historically great player and potentially the best in the world. At a news conference in September, BriseBois stated the team's goal was to secure a new deal that keeps Kucherov around for years as part of a perennial contender. He noted that he and agent Dan Milstein would keep lines of communication open to reach that agreement.
"I have every reason to believe that he’s going to remain an elite player well into his 30s," BriseBois said in mid-September. "Both parties, I know, would have preferred to have a deal today to be able to put that behind us. We haven’t been able to do that."
Kucherov, 33, became the franchise's career points leader last weekend by passing former captain Steven Stamkos. He has recorded 15 points in 12 games this season, ranking second on the team behind Brandon Hagel. His 1,139 points in 891 regular-season games since his 2013 debut are third among all players during that span, behind only Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. His 177 playoff points are the most during that same period.
The departure makes Kucherov the latest high-profile star to request a trade in recent months. Brady Tkachuk moved from Ottawa to Florida, Connor Hellebuyck went from Winnipeg to New Jersey, and Dylan Larkin remains in limbo with Detroit. Unlike those players, Kucherov has less time left on his current contract, creating uncertainty for a franchise that has made the playoffs 12 times in 13 seasons.
Tampa Bay has reached the final four times with Kucherov and Victor Hedman at the center of its core, though it has been knocked out in the first round in each of the past four years.
