Nikita Kucherov’s trade request has not changed the way he’s playing, and Wednesday night was another reminder of just how little it has slowed him down.
In Tampa Bay’s 8-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres, Kucherov took over in the third period and finished with a hat trick and an assist. What had been a one-goal game quickly turned into a runaway, with Kucherov driving the Lightning’s surge when the game was still there to be decided.
The night pushed him to 26 points through Tampa Bay’s first 18 games, a pace that works out to 122 points over 84 games. If he stays anywhere near that level, it would be the fifth 120-point season of his career.
He has been even more productive since the trade request became public in October. Over the six games since then, Kucherov has four goals, seven assists and 22 shots on goal for 11 points. The Lightning have gone 4-2 in that stretch.
That kind of production is familiar territory for Kucherov. He is a three-time NHL scoring champion and a two-time league MVP, so the scoring itself is no surprise. What stands out is that he’s doing it while his relationship with the team has clearly frayed over the lack of communication on a new contract.
The situation got here because Kucherov requested a move and also made it clear he would not re-sign with Tampa Bay after the season in unrestricted free agency. For a player of his caliber, and for a team that is still in contender mode, it was a stunning development.
Even so, Kucherov has not taken the route other players have used in similar situations. Connor Hellebuyck stayed away from the Winnipeg Jets until he was traded to the New Jersey Devils, while Dylan Larkin is no longer playing for the Detroit Red Wings until his request is granted.
Kucherov, by contrast, is still out there producing at full speed.
That matters for the Lightning, who are in win-now mode and have made it clear through general manager Julian Brisebois that they are not moving their best player. Brisebois has also already shown he is willing to let a franchise icon walk in free agency if that’s where things end up, as happened with Steven Stamkos, who was not traded in the final year of his contract before signing with the Nashville Predators.
For now, that may be the likeliest outcome here as well.
And if Kucherov keeps playing like this, Tampa Bay will keep having a real chance. There is no trade package out there that would bring back a better player for this season, even if a deal might make more sense for the future.
In Other News...
Lightning Fans Got An Intriguing First Look At Sam OReilly
Sam OReillys first night in the NHL came with a little more responsibility than a typical debut. Called up from AHL Syracuse, he stepped into the Tampa Bay lineup and got a chance to play in a prominent role right away, a sign the Lightning saw enough in him to trust him in a meaningful spot as they navigated a lineup missing Brayden Point.
For OReilly, the moment was as personal as it was professional. His family and friends were in the building to take in the milestone, turning his debut into a celebration as well as an evaluation. For the Lightning, it offered an early glimpse of a young player getting thrown into the mix sooner than expected, with more of his role likely to come into focus as the week unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Let This One Slip Away After Brief Third-Period Hope
The Lightning rolled through Buffalo at KeyBank Center, turning a game that briefly felt within reach into an 8-3 rout. Nikita Kucherov led the way with three goals, while Andrei Vasilevskiy handled the rest with 28 saves as Tampa Bay kept finding answers whenever the Sabres tried to make a push.
Buffalo had some life from Josh Doan, Jason Zucker and Tage Thompson, but the margin for error disappeared quickly against a Tampa Bay attack that kept piling on. John Carlson also chipped in with a goal and four assists, giving the Lightning plenty of support around Kucherov in a win that looked comfortable by the end and left the Sabres searching for what slipped away. [Read more 🡒]
Crunch Just Hit A Frustrating Low Against Laval
The Syracuse Crunch ran into a wall Friday night at the Upstate Medical University Arena, where the Laval Rocket left with a 5-0 win and little doubt about which side controlled the game. Syracuse could not solve Kaapo Khknen, and even with a perfect 4-for-4 penalty kill, the Crunch never found enough traction to turn the night around. Their power play went 0-for-3, another sign that the offense never really got into rhythm.
Mads Sogaard got the start in net, but the Crunch had to turn to Olivier Rodrigue in the third period as the score grew more lopsided. For a Syracuse team that has spent much of the season trying to build consistency, the loss landed as a particularly frustrating low, especially with chances on special teams going unused and the game slipping away before the final horn. [Read more 🡒]