The Tampa Bay Lightning still have not locked up Nikita Kucherov on a contract extension, and the longer this stretches out, the more the conversation starts to feel familiar.
Elliotte Friedman raised the issue on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, saying it is unusual for a player Julien BriseBois values this highly to go this long without a new deal. Friedman suggested that if the process keeps dragging, it could mean BriseBois has already put his best offer on the table and does not intend to move any higher.
That would mark a different kind of standoff than the one that led to Steven Stamkos leaving in free agency, though Friedman noted that BriseBois has shown in past negotiations that he is willing to take a firm position. With the cap rising and Kucherov still among the NHL’s elite, Friedman believes that approach may be in play again.
Pierre LeBrun offered a calmer read on the situation. His reporting is that everyone involved appears relaxed, with the sense that the deal will get done when it gets done.
The reigning Hart Trophy winner wants to remain in Tampa, the Lightning want him long term, and there is still time before July 1. Even so, LeBrun said it is difficult to predict exactly when the agreement will come together.
Jeff Marek floated a far more speculative angle on The Sheet Podcast, offering what he called a wild prediction tied to the Montreal Canadiens. He pointed to the possibility of more Russian players ending up in Montreal and to the idea of a veteran mentor for Ivan Demidov.
If Kucherov were to reach free agency and not re-sign with Tampa, Marek said he would expect Kucherov to want to play with smart players and win, and he sees Montreal as a fit. Marek also acknowledged that BriseBois could sign Kucherov at any moment and shut the whole thing down.
For now, there is no sign the talks have collapsed. But with the season getting closer and the extension still unfinished, the questions around Kucherov and Tampa Bay are not going away anytime soon.
In Other News...
Lightning Opening Night Roster Leaves One Surprising Name On The Outside
The Lightning settled on a 23-man, salary cap-compliant roster for opening night, and the shape of it says a lot about where this team is starting the season. Tampa Bay is carrying 13 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders, with the blue line staying intact and a handful of players exposed to waivers ending up on the Syracuse side of the organization. With Yanni Gourde and Dominic James both unavailable, the forward group had less wiggle room than usual as the club sorted out its first roster of the year.
One of the more notable pieces of the picture is Benjamin Rautiainen, who is not in the opening-night mix after being loaned to Tappara in Finland. The Lightning are keeping plenty of defensive depth on hand, but the forward group has already been thinned by injuries and the decision to send Rautiainen overseas, leaving one of the more interesting roster questions to watch as the season gets underway. [Read more 🡒]