The Quinn Hughes and Nikita Kucherov contract situations are still sitting in the same place, even as other big-name stories around the league keep grabbing the spotlight.
That’s especially notable because both players were widely expected to have extensions wrapped up by now. For Kucherov and the Tampa Bay Lightning, that assumption came with a familiar backdrop: GM Julien BriseBois has usually gotten business done on July 1.
But the market has shifted, and he has seen how things can change after watching what happened with Steve Stamkos a few seasons ago. The result, at least for now, is a different kind of standoff.
Hughes, meanwhile, has made it clear he wants to move on his own schedule. He has told the media he will do things on his time, and he remains in a wait-and-see mode while continuing to impact the lineup in Minnesota. GM Bill Guerin had hoped the deal would be finished by now, but there’s no sign of panic yet.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet discussed both situations during an appearance on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio with Scott Laughlin and Gord Stellick. Asked what movement he was seeing on Hughes in Minnesota and Kucherov in Tampa Bay, Friedman said:
Scott Laughlin: “Anything moving as far as you can get a sense of with regards to Quinn Hughes with Minnesota and Nikita Kucherov with what I would assume would be an expected extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning.”
Elliotte Friedman: “In Hughes’ case, I just think that I think it’s all on him as, well, when he’s ready. Minnesota has let it be known that they’re willing to write a big check at basically whatever term Hughes wanted.
Right now, he just hasn’t done it. And I think Hughes, it’s basically in his court.
Like, when are you ready?
As for Kucherov, Friedman said that one is tougher to sort out. The issue, he explained, appears tied to how much the landscape has changed post-Leo Carlsson.
According to Friedman, there was likely a number in place before that, and then the picture shifted. The Lightning, he said, are still searching for the right number after that change.
Should there be concern? At this point, the answer seems to be no.
The expectation is still that when these extensions get done, the money will be significant. The wrinkle is that they may not be the long-term deals many people first imagined.
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Lightning Tease A New Look Fans Will Be Arguing About Soon
The Lightning are lining up a fresh round of offseason talking points, and the one likely to get the biggest reaction is the new Hometown Remix jersey they plan to unveil soon. The club has been teasing the look with a coded message about being anchored in the bay, a hint that should have fans already picking apart what the design might borrow from Tampa Bays identity and how far the team is willing to push the alternate-uniform concept.
There is plenty else going on around the organization, too, with Bolts Rewards set to launch through a new partnership with Uptop and prospect Sam O'Reilly continuing to build momentum after scoring his second career goal for the Syracuse Crunch. On the roster front, the Lightning have also been mentioned as a possible trade destination for Dylan Larkin, adding another layer of intrigue as they juggle branding, business and the possibility of a major hockey move. [Read more 🡒]