Report: Nikita Kucherov won’t re-sign with Lightning, asks for trade

Two-time Stanley Cup champion and reigning Hart Memorial Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov has requested a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Friday evening.

Kucherov, 33, has four goals and 15 points in 12 games with the Lightning to start the 2026-27 regular season. According to Friedman, Kucherov has notified both Lightning management and his teammates that he does not intend to re-sign with the club.

“The exact reasons are unclear at this point, but Kucherov — the NHL’s reigning MVP — is in the final season of an eight-year, $76-million contract. Last week, he passed Steven Stamkos as the leading scorer in franchise history,” Friedman wrote. “Both Lightning GM Julien BriseBois and Dan Milstein, Kucherov’s agent, declined to comment.”

“For most of us, Kucherov staying in Tampa seemed like an absolute certainty. Obviously, we were wrong about that. Who knows where we go by the trade deadline and July 1, but Kucherov has made it clear he is not happy and, at this time, prefers another path.”

Per the terms of his contract, Kucherov must provide the Lightning with a list of 10 teams with whom he will approve a trade.

The Lightning originally selected Kucherov in the second round (No. 58 overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft. The 5’11” winger has spent his entire professional career to date in the Lightning organization, having helped the club reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2015, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Kucherov has reached or surpassed the 100-point plateau six times in his career to date, winning the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorer in the 2018-19, 2023-24, and 2024-25 seasons. Last year, he was named league MVP for the second time in his career after pacing the Bolts with 44 goals and 130 points in 76 games.

The Lightning have not won a playoff series since their last trip to the Stanley Cup Final, which ended with them falling to the Colorado Avalanche in six games. Still, they currently sit comfortably in an Atlantic Division playoff spot with an 8-3-1 record and 17 points through 12 games this season.

Kucherov’s trade request comes in the wake of similar demands by the likes of Connor Hellebuyck, Dylan Larkin, and Brady Tkachuk. This case, however, appears to be quite different from the rest, as Kucherov is notably requesting a trade away from a Florida-based team and did not win a gold medal at the most recent Winter Olympics.

Through 891 career NHL games over parts of 13 regular seasons with the Lightning, Kucherov has collected 405 goals and 1,139 points. The Maykop, Russia product has added 54 goals and 177 points in 159 career playoff contests.