Kucherov declares trade request to Lightning regarding poor communication and respect

Nikita Kucherov explained Monday why he told the Tampa Bay Lightning he wouldn’t re-sign and asked them for a trade.

“For me, it was never about the money,” he said. “It was more of a miscommunication and a lack of respect. In the last four months, we only had two conversations, and (general manager Julien BriseBois) finally clarified that I was free to walk on July 1.”

The 33-year-old forward is in the final season of an eight-year contract worth $76 million (average annual value $9.5 million) that he signed on July 10, 2018. He has been eligible to sign a new contract since July 1 and can become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Kucherov, a second-round pick (58th) in the 2011 NHL Draft, won the Stanley Cup twice (2020, 2021), the Hart Trophy twice as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player (2019, 2026) and the Art Ross Trophy three times as the League’s top scorer (2019, 2024 and 2025) with the Lightning.

He became Tampa Bay’s all-time leading scorer on October 24, passing Steven Stamkos (1,137 points) with an assist in a 5–4 overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth. He has 1,142 points (405 goals, 737 assists) in 892 games with the Lightning, including 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) in 13 games this season.

When asked what the Lightning meant to him, he said: “Everything. I got drafted here, I played for… This is my 14th year. (I’ve won) a few championships and I’ve met a lot of great people. Everything. My kids are growing up here. I’ll be forever grateful to this organization.”

Kucherov confirmed he told his teammates he was requesting a trade.

“I was the one who heard it first,” he said. “These guys are my family and that will never change.”

BriseBois released a statement Friday saying the Lightning “unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita.”

The Lightning (8-3-2), who hold the Eastern Conference’s first wild card for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, will host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; DSN, The Spot).

“For now, I am part of this team and I will do everything I can to help my teammates win,” Kucherov said.

When asked if he saw a way to stay with the Lightning, Kucherov replied: “I’m applying, and yes…” His voice trailed off.

“Sometimes when contracts come up, it’s a completely different situation that has nothing to do with the team,” forward Brandon Hagel said. “The focus is on the game, and that’s his focus too, and the other things will take care of themselves.
“He didn’t give up on us. He didn’t give up on us. That’s just the reality of hockey and the reality of these types of situations, and it will be fixed.”