Tampa Bay Lightning star forward Nikita Kucherov has requested a trade, sources told ESPN on Friday night, confirming an earlier report.
Sources told ESPN that Kucherov informed his teammates of his decision on the team plane Friday, as the club prepared to take on the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
Later on Friday, Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said in a statement that, "We are aware of the media reports regarding the future of Nikita Kucherov with the Lightning. We unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita."
Kucherov, 33, is in the final year of an eight-year, $76 million contract. With the NHL's rising salary cap, the winger is due for a massive raise, potentially more than double the current $9.5 million average annual value. Negotiations between Tampa Bay and Kucherov's camp remained far apart, sources said, and that gulf led to a meeting Friday in which Kucherov said he wanted to play elsewhere.
Kucherov's agent, Dan Milstein, told ESPN that he will not be commenting on the matter publicly, other than to say he will "stand by Nikita unconditionally."
Kucherov has a modified no-trade clause, which allows him to submit a 10-team list of approved teams for Tampa Bay to negotiate with. Sources also told ESPN that Kucherov has his sights set on playing with one of the NHL's other top superstars.
It's a stunning development, especially 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, winning 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. Kucherov, a Russian-born winger, has spent his entire 14-year NHL career in Tampa Bay.
Sportsnet was first to report the news Friday.
