The Tampa Bay Lightning suddenly find themselves staring at the possibility of losing Nikita Kucherov, their biggest star, after reports surfaced that he has asked to be traded.
According to multiple sources, including Elliotte Friedman, Kucherov has informed both his teammates and the organization that he will not re-sign with Tampa Bay and would like to be moved. That same message was echoed in Pierre LeBrun’s report, which said: “Nikita Kucherov and his agent Dan Milstein just wrapped up a meeting within the last half hour with Tampa GM Julien BriseBois advising that the Hart Trophy winner is asking for a trade. Kucherov told his teammates on the plane.”
The reasons for the decision have not been made clear. Kucherov is the reigning MVP and is in the final season of an eight-year, $76-million contract. He is earning $9.5 million this season and has a 10-team trade list, though it’s not known which clubs might land on that short list.
Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois and Kucherov’s agent, Dan Milstein, both declined to comment.
The development comes as a major shock. Kucherov’s long-term future in Tampa had seemed all but settled, and this turn has now thrown his next move into question. Whether anything gets resolved before the trade deadline or when free agency opens on July 1 remains unclear, but the message from Kucherov is simple: he is unhappy and wants out.
Tampa Bay is currently third in the Atlantic Division with an 8-3-1 record.
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