Extension Coming For Lightning's Nikita Kucherov
Per Lightning GM Julien BriseBois, re-signing reigning NHL MVP Nikita Kucherov remains a top priority, and the intention of both sides is to keep the superstar winger in Tampa Bay long-term.
"I'll reiterate that we would like Nikita to stay here, he would like to stay here," BriseBois told reporters.
Why It Hasn't Happened Yet
Kucherov became eligible to sign an extension on July 1, the first day teams could extend players entering the final year of their contracts.
Rather than announce a deal, the Lightning spent that day signing John Carlson, Ilya Mikheyev, and others while chasing trades, pushing the Kucherov conversation to the side.
BriseBois made clear the delay was about urgency.
"We've had chats," BriseBois said of re-upping Kucherov. "Just because there wasn't a pressing deadline to accomplish something versus these free agents, if you don't sign them today, they're gone."
The Lightning have been in contact with Kucherov's agent, Dan Milstein, and the framework is that the extension will get done, just without the same time pressure as free agents who could walk out the door.
The Complicated Math
Figuring out the number is the hard part.
Kucherov is playing on the eight-year, $76 million deal he signed in 2018 that carries a $9.5 million cap hit, a bargain by today's standards, and he is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-27 season.
At 33, he is coming off a season in which he won the Hart Trophy as league MVP and finished third in NHL scoring with 100 points, and he put up 130 points the year before.
His production has been historically rare for his age, which makes finding a comparable contract nearly impossible.
The term will likely be shorter than his current deal given his age, but as players like Brad Marchand in Florida have shown, elite players well into their 30s can still command significant length, and Kucherov will almost certainly receive a substantial raise from his current number.
A Legacy Play
There is a strong belief Kucherov will prioritize staying in Tampa Bay.
Analysts have suggested he will take a number that isn't absurd to remain with the only franchise he has ever known, further solidifying a legacy that already includes two Stanley Cups, two Art Ross Trophies, and a Hart Trophy.
