The idea of Nikita Kucherov in a Panthers sweater makes for a wild thought, but the odds of it happening are still long.
That’s the backdrop after NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman reported Friday night that the Lightning star has told Tampa Bay he will not re-sign when his eight-year, $76 million contract expires after this season. Friedman also said Kucherov wants to be moved sooner rather than later.
Kucherov, 33, does not have a full no-movement clause, but he does have a 10-team list of preferred destinations. The Panthers are likely on it, if only because they would have to be in the conversation for a player of his caliber.
Still, a deal between the two Florida rivals feels like a stretch. Tampa Bay would almost certainly prefer to keep one of the franchise’s biggest stars rather than send him to Sunrise, and the Lightning may simply choose to do exactly that.
That possibility was underscored Friday night, when Tampa Bay GM Julien BriseBois issued a firm response: “We are aware of the media reports regarding the future of NIkita Kucherov with the Lightning. We unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita.”
If the Lightning do decide to honor Kucherov’s request, they would have plenty of other teams to work with. The Panthers, though, don’t appear to have the kind of trade package that would get a deal done.
And the price for Kucherov would be enormous. He is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, the reigning NHL MVP and a two-time Hart Trophy winner. In 176 games, he has 44 goals and 130 points, and this season he already has four goals and 15 points in 12 games.
Last Saturday, he moved past Steven Stamkos to become the Lightning’s all-time points leader. After Tampa Bay’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Mammoth in Salt Lake City, coach Jon Cooper said, “We’ve been together since 2013-14. It’s 2026, so I’ve had the pleasure of watching every one of those points,’’
“It was too bad it was on the road, but it was cool to see the whole team go out there. And that’s over a decade of work of what he’s done, and he’s going to go down as one of the all-time greats.”
If Kucherov were dealt elsewhere as a rental, the next question would be whether the Panthers could chase him again in free agency next summer. He reportedly is looking for something around $20 million per season with term, which would make that path awfully difficult for Florida.
So yes, it’s a fun idea. But it’s still the kind of move that belongs more in the rumor mill than in reality.
Kucherov drew a standing ovation from Tampa fans on Thursday night after being honored for passing Stamkos. After Friday’s report, that scene may not be repeated anytime soon.
The Lightning are in Nashville and play the Predators tonight before returning home Tuesday to face the Blackhawks. Tampa Bay’s next game against the Panthers is Nov. 28 in Sunrise.
In Other News...
Panthers Just Sent A Message As Their Attack Keeps Coming
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Anton Lundell was at the center of it, and Seth Jones helped drive the offense from the blue line as Florida kept piling on pressure against a Winnipeg team that had already seen this matchup get away from it once. The result was another convincing statement from a club that is finding ways to score in waves, with one notable milestone tucked into the night and another quietly adding to the sense that this teams ceiling is still rising. [Read more 🡒]
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The prospect notes have been especially encouraging, with Louis-Antoine Denault posting a shutout in the QMJHL and Arvid Drott contributing a goal and an assist in the WHL. Those performances do not settle anything on their own, but they do add to the sense that Floridas system is producing more than just one or two headline names. For a team that has spent recent seasons leaning on organizational depth, those small developments matter, even if the next layer of the story is still waiting to be written. [Read more 🡒]
Stars Could Expose Whether Capitals Hot Start Is Actually Real
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Minnesota, Dallas and Florida are next on the slate, which means Washington is heading straight into a stretch against teams that can expose soft spots quickly. The defensive side already has been tested by injuries, and these games should tell the Capitals whether their fast start is the product of real progress or just a favorable opening run before the grind of playoff-caliber opponents begins. [Read more 🡒]