Andrei Vasilevskiy’s future in Tampa Bay doesn’t appear to be part of the same drama that has swirled around Nikita Kucherov.
With Lightning fans already rattled by the news that Kucherov requested a trade, Vasilevskiy’s agent, Dan Milstein, moved to calm any speculation that the goaltender might want out as well. Speaking on Wednesday’s episode of DFO Insider with Jeff Marek and David Pagnotta, Milstein said the 32-year-old wants to stay with the Lightning and finish his career there.
“Andrei is extremely happy. He just, like Nikita Kucherov pre the summer, wishes to finish his career as a Tampa Bay Lightning player,” Milstein stated.
“And the goal is to play 1,000 games for the Tampa Bay lightning. And I hope, and I can only hope because it’s obviously not (only) up to us, that Andrei Vasilevskiy finishes his Hall of Fame career with one team.”
That comparison to Kucherov’s mindset before this past offseason may not have been the most comforting one for Tampa Bay supporters, but Milstein made clear that Vasilevskiy’s situation stands on its own. The tension between Kucherov and the organization, he said, does not spill over into his relationship with the team on Vasilevskiy’s behalf.
“Sometimes you fight with the person (GM) and then five seconds later, you pick up the phone and you talk about a different client,” Milstein said.
Vasilevskiy has logged 11 starts this season, going 7-3-1 with a .879 save percentage and a 2.91 goals-against average. The resume behind those numbers is already loaded: selected 19th overall by Tampa Bay in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, he’s now in his 13th season with the club and has won two Stanley Cups, two Vezina Trophies, and the 2021 Conn Smythe Trophy.
He is currently in the seventh season of an eight-year, $76 million contract with the Lightning.
In Other News...
Kucherov Just Turned Tampa Bays Biggest Contract Fight Into Something Bigger
Nikita Kucherov has pushed Tampa Bay into a familiar but uncomfortable place, with a contract standoff now spilling into a trade request. The Lightning stars situation is not framed around money as much as it is about how the relationship has functioned behind the scenes, and that makes it feel bigger than a simple negotiation over dollars and years.
For Tampa Bay, the immediate message from both the general manager and coach has been clear: there is no intention to move him. Still, the gap between what Kucherov is seeking and what the Lightning have put on the table has turned this into one of the teams defining storylines, with most around the league expecting him to stay for now before the long-term question comes back into focus later. [Read more 🡒]
Lightning Just Put Vasilevskiys Long-Term Future Under A Brighter Spotlight
Nikita Kucherovs contract situation has already put the Lightning in a tricky spot, and it is now casting a wider shadow over the rest of the roster. With one star already headed toward a potentially messy offseason, Tampa Bay has another major name whose future is suddenly worth watching a little more closely than usual.
Andrei Vasilevskiys camp has made clear he is happy in Tampa Bay, even as his agent noted negotiations can always alter the picture. The Lightning still have one of the leagues premier goalies in place, but with a strong free-agent market ahead, the club may need to navigate another high-stakes conversation if it wants to keep its core intact for the long haul. [Read more 🡒]
Lightning Suddenly Face A Kucherov Exit Scenario Fans Never Expected
Nikita Kucherovs future has become one of those rare Lightning storylines that would have sounded far-fetched not long ago. NHL analyst James Mirtle raised the possibility of the Toronto Maple Leafs chasing the Tampa Bay star if he reaches free agency, a scenario that would instantly reshape the conversation around one of the leagues most important players and one of the Lightnings most recognizable faces.
The idea is still more theory than plan, but it underscores how complicated this situation has become. Mirtle pointed out that Toronto could at least explore the fit, even if the financial hurdles and roster limits would make a move difficult to pull off. For Tampa Bay, the bigger issue is simply that a player central to everything the franchise has built is now at the center of a very real exit discussion. [Read more 🡒]