'No intention' of trading Kucherov: Lightning GM responds to reports superstar wants out
By Rick Mayer
October 30, 2026 at 9:34 PM EDT
Nikita Kucherov, the NHL's MVP and Tampa Bay's all-time leading scorer, is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season. Multiple reports say he told the team he won't re-sign and asked for a trade.
Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said late Friday he has zero interest in dealing Nikita Kucherov, responding to multiple national reports that the superstar winger has told the team he won't re-sign and wants to be traded.
“We are aware of the media reports regarding the future of Nikita Kucherov with the Lightning,” BriseBois said in a statement. “We unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita.”
The Athletic reported that Kucherov and his agent, Dan Milstein, made the request during a meeting Friday with BriseBois. The outlet also said Kucherov told teammates of the request during the Lightning's flight to Nashville for Saturday's game against the Predators.
After BriseBois' statement, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun said he reached out to Milstein, who told him: `Nikita has spoken to all the parties involved and there's nothing else to add at this time.''
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman broke news earlier Friday.
ESPN's Emily Kaplan and The Associated Press also reported the request. All cited NHL sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the discussions are private.
https://x.com/TBLightning/status/2116343166089756795
Kucherov, the 2025-26 NHL Most Valuable Player, plans to keep playing for the Lightning until the situation is resolved, LeBrun reported, citing league sources.
Kucherov is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, when an eight-year, $76 million contract expires. Discussions during the offseason on an extension were unsuccessful, and BriseBois told reporters in mid-September the lines of communication with Milstein were open.
ALSO READ: Nikita Kucherov becomes the Lightning’s career points leader, passing Steven Stamkos
"Throughout these contract negotiations, both parties I know would prefer to have a deal today to put that behind us,” BriseBois said Sept. 16 on training camp media day.
Talks reportedly have not progressed. Kucherov has been seeking a six-year extension with an average annual value in the range of $20 million, the Athletic’s Chris Johnston reported.
Kucherov has a modified no-trade clause, which allows him to submit a 10-team list of approved teams for Tampa Bay to work with, ESPN’s Kaplan reported. Sources also told ESPN that Kucherov wants to go to a team with another NHL superstar.
The 33-year-old Russian has helped Tampa Bay win the Stanley Cup twice with two other appearances in the finals, led the NHL in scoring three times, and was voted the recipient of the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2018-19 and 2025-26.
His 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 points in the playoffs are the most during that span.
“Nikita is a historically great player,” BriseBois said at media day. “He’s not just one of the best players in the world right now — maybe the best player in the world right now. He is one of the best players ever. I have every reason to believe that he’s going to remain an elite player well into his 30s. That’s been the mindset throughout these contract negotiations."
ALSO READ: Lightning open their season with a familiar core and something left to prove
This season, Kucherov has four goals and 11 assists for 15 points through 12 games, second on the team behind Brandon Hagel. The Lightning go into the Nashville game in third place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 8-3-1.
https://x.com/PierreVLeBrun/status/2116345843552854524
Kucherov's request 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 defenseman Victor Hedman at the center of their core, with forward Steven Stamkos, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, center Brayden Point and others cycling in and out. They have also been knocked out in the first round each of the past four years.
“We are aware of the media reports regarding the future of Nikita Kucherov with the Lightning,” BriseBois said in a statement. “We unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita.”
The Athletic reported that Kucherov and his agent, Dan Milstein, made the request during a meeting Friday with BriseBois. The outlet also said Kucherov told teammates of the request during the Lightning's flight to Nashville for Saturday's game against the Predators.
After BriseBois' statement, The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun said he reached out to Milstein, who told him: `Nikita has spoken to all the parties involved and there's nothing else to add at this time.''
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman broke news earlier Friday.
ESPN's Emily Kaplan and The Associated Press also reported the request. All cited NHL sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the discussions are private.
https://x.com/TBLightning/status/2116343166089756795
Kucherov, the 2025-26 NHL Most Valuable Player, plans to keep playing for the Lightning until the situation is resolved, LeBrun reported, citing league sources.
Kucherov is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, when an eight-year, $76 million contract expires. Discussions during the offseason on an extension were unsuccessful, and BriseBois told reporters in mid-September the lines of communication with Milstein were open.
ALSO READ: Nikita Kucherov becomes the Lightning’s career points leader, passing Steven Stamkos
"Throughout these contract negotiations, both parties I know would prefer to have a deal today to put that behind us,” BriseBois said Sept. 16 on training camp media day.
Talks reportedly have not progressed. Kucherov has been seeking a six-year extension with an average annual value in the range of $20 million, the Athletic’s Chris Johnston reported.
Kucherov has a modified no-trade clause, which allows him to submit a 10-team list of approved teams for Tampa Bay to work with, ESPN’s Kaplan reported. Sources also told ESPN that Kucherov wants to go to a team with another NHL superstar.
The 33-year-old Russian has helped Tampa Bay win the Stanley Cup twice with two other appearances in the finals, led the NHL in scoring three times, and was voted the recipient of the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2018-19 and 2025-26.
His 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 points in the playoffs are the most during that span.
“Nikita is a historically great player,” BriseBois said at media day. “He’s not just one of the best players in the world right now — maybe the best player in the world right now. He is one of the best players ever. I have every reason to believe that he’s going to remain an elite player well into his 30s. That’s been the mindset throughout these contract negotiations."
ALSO READ: Lightning open their season with a familiar core and something left to prove
This season, Kucherov has four goals and 11 assists for 15 points through 12 games, second on the team behind Brandon Hagel. The Lightning go into the Nashville game in third place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 8-3-1.
https://x.com/PierreVLeBrun/status/2116345843552854524
Kucherov's request 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 defenseman Victor Hedman at the center of their core, with forward Steven Stamkos, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, center Brayden Point and others cycling in and out. They have also been knocked out in the first round each of the past four years.