Nikita Kucherov told reporters in Tampa on Monday that there have only been two conversations with Lightning management about a possible contract extension since he became eligible to sign on July 1.
“I think, it was never about the money for me,” he told a scrum in the Lightning’s dressing room after practice. “It was more poor communication and respect.
“Over the last four months, there have only been two conversations and (GM) Julien (BriseBois) made it clear I’m free to walk on July 1.”
Kucherov informed the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday that he was not re-signing with the team and has asked for a trade - just days after he became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
“For now, I’m part of this team,” Kucherov added. “I’ll do anything I can to help my teammates win.”
Asked if there were any way he would still be with the Lightning after this season, Kucherov answered flatly: “I made my (trade) request.”
BriseBois said in a statement Friday night that the team “unequivocally” has “no intention of trading Nikita.”
The Lightning lost 5-4 in a shootout to the Nashville Predators on Saturday in their first game with the situation hanging over the team. On Tuesday, Tampa Bay will host the Detroit Red Wings, who have suspended forward Dylan Larkin for refusing to play as he waits for his trade request to be honoured.
“We love Kuch to death,” forward Brandon Hagel told the Lightning team website on Monday. “We know he has our back, so it’s one of those things where, as a fan, I think you should appreciate what he’s done for the city, what he’s done for this organization. What he’s done for myself personally, he’s a really good friend of mine.
“In here the focus is playing, and that’s his focus as well. And that other stuff will take care of itself. He didn’t quit on us. He doesn’t give up on us. It’s just the reality of hockey and reality of those types of situations. That will get dealt with, and we’re going to deal with it over here and he’s on page with us.”
Kucherov is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, the last of an eight-year, $76 million contract signed in 2018 before he helped Tampa Bay win the Stanley Cup twice, led the NHL in scoring three times and was voted the recipient of the Hart Trophy in 2018-19 and 2025-26.
Kucherov’s 1,139 points in 891 regular-season games since debuting in 2013 are third most among all players over that time behind only Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon. His 177 in the playoffs are the most during that span.
The 33-year-old Russian winger became the franchise’s career points leader last weekend, passing former captain Steven Stamkos. Kucherov has four goals and 14 assists for 18 points through 13 games.
BriseBois told reporters in mid-September that the goal was to get Kucherov signed to a new deal that keeps him around for years to come as part of a perennial contende, and added that he and agent Dan Milstein would keep the lines of communication open to that end.
“I have every reason to believe that he’s going to remain an elite player well into his 30s,” BriseBois said at the time. “That’s been the mindset throughout these contract negotiations. Both parties, I know, would have preferred to have a deal today to be able to put that behind us. We haven’t been able to do that.”
Kucherov’s anticipated departure makes him the latest high-profile star to ask for a trade in recent months, after Brady Tkachuk went from Ottawa to Florida, Connor Hellebuyck from Winnipeg to New Jersey and Dylan Larkin remains in limbo with Detroit. The others had more time left on their current contracts than Kucherov, whose uncertainty threatens to upend what has been one of the most successful runs in the league since the salary cap era began in 2005.
The Lightning have made the playoffs 12 times in 13 seasons and reached the final four times with Kucherov and Victor Hedman at the center of their core, with Stamkos, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, center Brayden Point and others cycling in and out. They also have been knocked out in the first round each of the past four years.