Nikita Kucherov’s next contract is suddenly being viewed through a very different lens, and Leo Carlsson’s new number is a big reason why.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said on 32 Thoughts that Carlsson’s $18 million AAV deal has shifted the negotiating landscape for the Tampa Bay Lightning and their star winger. As shared by NHL Rumour Report, Friedman put it this way:
“Re Nikita Kucherov/Lightning negotiations: Not a lot [of info] gets out of there...my guess on this one is that the post-Leo Carlsson [18m AAV] world has changed the dynamic there - 32 Thoughts”
Carlsson’s deal came after the Philadelphia Flyers signed him to a five-year, $90 million offer sheet in July 2026, only for the Anaheim Ducks to match it. The result was an $18 million average annual value for the 21-year-old.
That figure now sits in the background of Kucherov’s own talks, and the gap between his current pay and what could be next is massive. He is entering the final year of a contract that carries a $9.5 million AAV, and any new agreement is expected to come in far higher.
Chris Johnston also weighed in on what Kucherov might land on his next deal, saying the range being discussed could reach around $20 million per year. On his show, Johnston said:
“I heard some pretty big numbers that he was looking for, something like 20 million dollar range on like a six year deal.”
Kucherov is coming off another huge season, one that featured 130 points in 76 games, with 44 goals and 86 assists. He added five assists and a goal in seven playoff games before Tampa Bay’s run ended. Last season also brought him his second Hart Trophy, after he was named the NHL’s most valuable player.
The 33-year-old has spent his entire NHL career with the Lightning since debuting in 2013, and he has helped them win Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021.
He is eligible to sign an extension now, but the new CBA has changed the options on the table. The eight-year maximum is no longer available after the new agreement took effect on Sept. 16.
For now, Kucherov can either strike a deal before this season is over or wait until next summer. If he holds off, he’ll have another year behind him before his next contract kicks in at age 34.
In Other News...
Lightning Preseason Opener Brings An Early Roster Battle Into Focus
The Lightning are using their 2026-27 preseason opener against the Nashville Predators to get a first real look at how the roster is taking shape. Morning skate offered the first clues about the forward groups and defensive pairings, while Andrei Vasilevskiy and Mads Sogaard are lined up to handle the goaltending duties as Tampa Bay eases into exhibition play with a veteran-heavy group.
Even with camp still sorting itself out, the roster picture is already beginning to tighten. Tampa Bay has trimmed three players from try-out contracts, a reminder that the evaluation phase is moving quickly as rookies and bubble players keep competing for attention, ice time and a longer look before the preseason schedule gets deeper. [Read more 🡒]