Nikita Kucherov’s contract situation is turning into one of the most intriguing storylines in Tampa Bay.
The Lightning forward is extension-eligible, and Chris Johnston said on The Chris Johnston Show that the numbers being floated are enormous. Johnston said he had heard Kucherov could be looking at “Something like $20 million range on like, a six-year deal.”
That kind of price tag would put Kucherov in rare air, even for a player coming off a Hart Trophy season. Johnston pointed to the obvious appeal - Kucherov is “wildly productive,” “great player,” and “special player” - but also stressed the risk that comes with paying that much to a player who is “age 33, turning towards 34.”
Tampa Bay’s history makes this even more interesting. Johnston noted that the Lightning “drew it right down to the wire with Steven Stamkos,” tried to keep him, and “ultimately, left him as a free agent.” His point was simple: this front office has shown it is willing to make hard choices.
Johnston also said he “can’t really imagine him moving on from Tampa, big picture, to be honest.” In his view, Kucherov is still the guy for the organization, and both sides know how valuable he is.
But if the talks don’t land on an extension, the market could get wild. Johnston said that if Kucherov reached free agency, “100%” he could get $20 million from a team on July 1. He added that, in that scenario, Kucherov would be adding a player “just for the cap space.”
Johnston also pointed to the broader league landscape, saying there simply aren’t enough elite players to go around. He mentioned Seattle as a team that has already swung big in pursuit of top-end talent, including attempts to land Artemi Panarin and Jason Robertson.
For Johnston, the takeaway is clear: if Kucherov ever hit the open market, “I think he’s gonna get a massive deal.” But he also said he does not believe Kucherov truly wants that path, and he does not think Tampa Bay does either.
The reason the Lightning remain such a fascinating part of this story, Johnston said, is Julian BriseBois. He described the general manager as someone who does not operate with emotion and “sticks to his plan.” Johnston tied that directly to the Stamkos situation, saying that if the team was willing to walk away from a franchise player who helped bring them two Stanley Cups, it is probably willing to walk away from anyone.
For now, Johnston said there is still time for both sides to find common ground. If they don’t, he added, “there’s a pot of gold waiting for Nikita Kucherov on July 1st.”
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