Nikita Kucherov requested a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday. On Monday he confirmed it himself, saying Julien BriseBois had made it clear the Lightning will not be re-signing him and that he is free to walk as a free agent on July 1, 2027, when his eight-year, $76 million deal expires.
Insider Pierre LeBrun looked at multiple teams, and why they may be a fit for Nikita Kucherov in free agency, in his column for The Athletic. LeBrun named only two Canadian NHL franchises.
“Toronto Maple Leafs: There’s no question they have interest. The idea of Kucherov playing with Auston Matthews and Milstein client Kirill Marchenko could be appealing on all fronts.”
Marchenko, a Milstein client, signed a six-year, $75 million extension in Toronto after September’s trade from Columbus.
“Montreal Canadiens: Coach Martin St. Louis’ relationship with Kucherov cannot be ignored. And the Canadiens are a rising contender in a market that would appeal to Kucherov. They would probably enter the derby if invited.”
Current Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis was Kucherov’s teammate in Tampa Bay in 2013-14.
But LeBrun added that the Maple Leafs and Canadiens are suitors for Nikita Kucherov more so in free agency rather than via trade, as the Lightning may not want to trade Nikita Kucherov to division rivals in-season.
The NHL trade deadline is March 1, 2027, and after that both Canadian clubs get their shot on July 1 when the floodgates of 2027 NHL free agency open.
Nikita Kucherov throws Lightning GM Julien BriseBois under the bus with revelations about contract negotiations
Nikita Kucherov does not do many interviews. Monday’s scrum lasted a few minutes, but he was unusually open about how the talks broke down, and he did not spare Lightning GM Julien BriseBois.
When asked why he had requested a trade from the only team he has ever played for in the NHL, Kucherov said:
“It was never about the money for me. More about poor communication and respect. Over the last four months, we have only had two conversations and Julien, in the end, made it clear that I’m free to walk on July 1.”
According to league sources cited by The Athletic, the Tampa Bay Lightning’s last offer was six years at $15 million per season and Kucherov’s camp countered at six years and $20 million. Asked if he could see himself in Tampa Bay next season, he said he had made his request.
Julien BriseBois has been here before. In 2024 he let Steven Stamkos, the franchise’s career goals leader, reach free agency rather than meet his price. Stamkos signed a four-year, $32 million deal with the Nashville Predators on July 1. BriseBois said then there were “limits” to what the Lightning could allocate in cap space to one player.
Edited by Srihari Anand
