The Lightning have no plans to trade Nikita Kucherov, even after the winger asked out, GM Julien Brisebois says in a statement.
According to Gino Hard, Brisebois acknowledged the trade request and still made clear Tampa Bay has no intention of moving the reigning MVP. It lands Friday night, a day after the Lightning beat Winnipeg 6-4.
Kucherov played his part in that win with an assist, three shots on goal and 16:13 of ice time. He sits at 15 points through 12 games this season, 4 goals and 11 assists.
| GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | |
| 2026-27 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 15 | +2 |
| Career | 891 | 404 | 734 | 1138 | +202 |
The contract is the pressure point. His $9,500,000 cap hit expires after 2026-27, he is set to be a UFA, and no extension has been signed.
That timeline is why Pierre LeBrun's details on the Kucherov situation mattered so much. A 33-year-old with 1138 career points in 891 games does not hit the market often, and every contender knows it.
Brisebois can say no all he wants. A public statement saying you won't trade a star does not make the star want to stay.
The standings help his case. Tampa Bay is 8-3-1, eighth in the NHL and third in the Atlantic, with a +6 goal differential.
Why would a team playing like that sell its best offensive player a few weeks into the season?
Why Brisebois may hold the line all season
Gino Hard noted that Brisebois acknowledged Kucherov's trade request but insists the Lightning have no intention of trading him.
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Holding him is the right call for now, and it is the only call that keeps Jon Cooper's lineup intact. Selling a 15-point player to a rival would be a gift, not a rebuild.
But the Lightning also know what Kucherov telling them he won't re-sign means, according to Sportsnet. A rental on a contract year is a hard sell for a team trying to win now.
Tampa Bay plays at Nashville on Saturday, and the road has been the tougher place: 2-3-1, against a perfect 6-0-0 at home. The trade deadline is the date Brisebois will be asked about this again.
Should the Lightning keep Nikita Kucherov all season even if he refuses to re-sign?
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