Nikita Kucherov has told the Tampa Bay Lightning he will not re-sign and wants a trade, with Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman first reporting the request Friday. The 33-year-old is in the final year of an eight-year, $76 million contract at a $9.5 million cap hit and becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1. Per The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, he sought a six-year extension in the range of $20 million a season.
Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois answered hours later in a team statement:
“We are aware of the media reports regarding the future of Nikita Kucherov with the Lightning. We unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita.”
ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that Kucherov holds a modified no-trade clause with a 10-team approved list and has his eyes on playing with another of the league’s top superstars, which trims the field before assets even matter.
Top 6 Nikita Kucherov landing spots after reported trade request from Tampa Bay Lightning
There are only a handful of NHL teams that fit Kucherov’s requirement of a superstar-calibre player already playing for the franchise. Here are the six likely Nikita Kucherov trade destinations:
#6. Colorado Avalanche
Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are exactly the star power Kaplan described, but Colorado has no first-round picks over the next three years and a thin farm system. Any package would start with a roster player like Martin Necas, which would only be a starting point for what the Lightning may want in return.
#5. Edmonton Oilers
Nikita Kucherov on Connor McDavid‘s right side, with Leon Draisaitl behind him, is the dream. Would a first-rounder plus Vasily Podkolzin and Matt Savoie or ex-Bolt Isaac Howard probably get the deal done? Jake Walman’s no-move clause makes clearing money hard. Great fit but probably one of the weakest offers.
#4. Boston Bruins
David Pastrnak is the star, and the Bruins have rebuilt their pick stock and prospect pool since the 2025 sell-off. Pastrnak plays the same right wing, though, and Boston’s real hole is at center. The Lightning also will not hand its franchise scorer to a division rival without a premium on top – such as Hagens or Minten if not both.
#3. Toronto Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews has 10 goals in 15 games, and Nikita Kucherov knows Darren Raddysh’s shooting lanes from Raddysh’s 2025-26 breakout season. The Leafs have prime young assets like Ben Danford and Easton Cowan, plus picks. A third team would likely have to be involved to manage the contracts.
#2. San Jose Sharks
Macklin Celebrini posted 115 points in his second season and was a Ted Lindsay finalist, and he has the kind of pull that gets a winger like Kucherov interested. The Sharks also have the cap room and a young core in Will Smith, Michael Misa and Sam Dickinson that Tampa Bay would actually want. The timeline cuts the other way, and the Sharks would likely have to move one or more of their big contracts to fit the money.
#1. Minnesota Wild
Fellow Russian Kirill Kaprizov would be Nikita Kucherov’s draw to the Minnesota Wild, and Quinn Hughes is a second superstar, for now. Minnesota chased a forward all fall, most recently Dylan Larkin, and still owns all of its future first-round picks, the currency Tampa Bay needs. The prospect pool is thinner after the Hughes trade and Hughes is on an expiring deal, but this could be an all-in season for Bill Guerin and the Minnesota hockey club.
Outside these six hockey clubs, none of them has a certified NHL superstar, so Nikita Kucherov may have to be slightly flexible on his demands, if he wants to move out of Tampa.
The 33-year-old star is expected to keep playing while the Lightning work through the request, starting Saturday in Nashville. At 8-3-1 and third in the Atlantic, Tampa Bay can wait for an offer it likes.
Edited by Srihari Anand
