Elliotte Friedman believes the $120 million commitment attached to Nikita Kucherov could stop teams that like the player from pursuing him at all. On the 32 Thoughts podcast the Sportsnet insider said one general manager described the reported ask as an ante rather than an opening bid with the Rinky Report account on X sharing the comments.
“I had one GM tell me that, based on that report of 6 x $20 million, whether it’s right or wrong in terms of what he actually wants, I do believe the report was correct this weekend. You know, now that if you want to get into this poker game, you’re anteing up. You have to be prepared to put up $120 million. So there’s a lot of organizations right now sitting there asking themselves: If this guy is available, are we willing to pay $120 million?”
The figure originated with The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, who reported that Nikita Kucherov sought a six-year extension around $20 million per season. The Lightning winger is in the final year of the eight-year, $76 million deal he signed in 2018, carrying a $9.5 million cap hit and a modified no-trade clause built around a 10 team list of approved destinations. He can reach unrestricted free agency on July 1.
General manager Julien BriseBois said in a statement Friday that the Lightning “unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita” hours after Friedman reported that Kucherov had told teammates and the organization he would not re-sign and had asked to be moved.
Friedman also suggested the $20 million figure may have taken shape as the negotiation stalled rather than being the number Kucherov brought to the table first.
“And I think the other thing is the 6 x 20. I think that became a thing the longer this took. Like at the beginning, I don’t think it was necessarily 6 x 20. But I think it got there because of the frustration with how long it was taking.”
That is Friedman’s reading of how the talks unfolded not a confirmed account of Kucherov’s thinking. Neither Nikita Kucherov nor agent Dan Milstein has explained how the number was reached; Milstein told The Athletic only that “Nikita has spoken to all the parties involved and there’s nothing else to add at this time.”
Why Nikita Kucherov’s $20 million cap hit complicates a trade
A trade would almost certainly require an extension since Nikita Kucherov is a pending free agent so any suitor would be buying six seasons of a player who turns 34 in June at a cap hit large enough to dictate the rest of its payroll. Friedman said plainly that the answer for some organizations will be no.
The ask also sits well above Tampa Bay’s own offers. Kevin Weekes reported that the Lightning opened around $13 million and moved to $15 million only after Leo Carlsson’s $18 million offer sheet and Cale Makar’s $20 million deal reset the market.
Nikita Kucherov has 18 points (four goals, 14 assists) in 13 games and the Lightning are 8-3-2 after Saturday’s 5-4 shootout loss at Nashville. Whether BriseBois moves him before the March trade deadline or holds his public position the $120 million question will set the market around him.
Edited by Sonali Verma
