--- title: "Nikita Kucherov requests a trade from the Lightning before Saturday's game against the Predators" description: "The reigning league MVP told his teammates on the team plane that he wants out of Tampa Bay, and his contract expires after this season." url: https://sports.skoop.news/sources-nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-from-lightning-esp--10-30/ published: 2026-10-31T07:55:44.621193-04:00 modified: 2026-10-31T07:55:44.621209-04:00 section: "Sports" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["nikita kucherov", "Tampa Bay", "Art Ross Trophy", "Tampa Bay Lightning", "Atlantic Division", "Elliotte Friedman", "Hart Trophy", "ESPN", "NHL", "MVP"] hashtags: ["#TampaBay", "#ArtRossTrophy", "#TampaBayLightning", "#sports", "#sportshighlights"] image: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Tampa_Bay_Buccaneers_Uniforms_2023.png/1280px-Tampa_Bay_Buccaneers_Uniforms_2023.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail --- # Nikita Kucherov requests a trade from the Lightning before Saturday's game against the Predators > The reigning league MVP told his teammates on the team plane that he wants out of Tampa Bay, and his contract expires after this season. Published 2026-10-31 · Updated 2026-10-31 · Sports, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - Nikita Kucherov, the reigning Hart Trophy winner as league MVP, has requested a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to sources who told ESPN on Friday night. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) - According to Elliotte Friedman's Friday report, Kucherov has told his teammates and the Lightning organization that he does not intend to sign another contract with Tampa Bay. [[2]](https://detroitsportsnation.com/nikita-kucherov-requests-trade-tampa-bay-lightning-2026/ddrysdale/nhl/10/30/2026/503821/) - Kucherov, 33, is playing the final season of an eight-year, $76 million contract he signed in July 2018. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) [[2]](https://detroitsportsnation.com/nikita-kucherov-requests-trade-tampa-bay-lightning-2026/ddrysdale/nhl/10/30/2026/503821/) ## The trade request Nikita Kucherov, the reigning Hart Trophy winner as league MVP, has requested a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning, according to sources who told ESPN on Friday night. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) That report confirmed an earlier one, and it matters to Lightning fans and to any team that could land him. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) Kucherov informed his teammates of his decision on the team plane on Friday, as the club prepared to play the Nashville Predators on Saturday. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) ## What the reports say According to Elliotte Friedman's Friday report, Kucherov has told his teammates and the Lightning organization that he does not intend to sign another contract with Tampa Bay. [[2]](https://detroitsportsnation.com/nikita-kucherov-requests-trade-tampa-bay-lightning-2026/ddrysdale/nhl/10/30/2026/503821/) Friedman, of Sportsnet, reported that Kucherov will not re-sign and wants to be traded, and that he has not made clear his reasons. [[3]](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25527379-new-nhl-trade-rumors-reveal-nikita-kucherovs-stance-lightning-future-amid-contract-year) Negotiations between Tampa Bay and Kucherov's camp remained far apart. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) A Friday meeting followed, and in it Kucherov said he wanted to play elsewhere. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) Sources also told ESPN that Kucherov has his sights set on playing with one of the NHL's other top superstars. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) ## The contract Kucherov, 33, is playing the final season of an eight-year, $76 million contract he signed in July 2018. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) [[2]](https://detroitsportsnation.com/nikita-kucherov-requests-trade-tampa-bay-lightning-2026/ddrysdale/nhl/10/30/2026/503821/) The deal carries an annual salary-cap hit of $9.5 million, and he is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2026-27 season. [[2]](https://detroitsportsnation.com/nikita-kucherov-requests-trade-tampa-bay-lightning-2026/ddrysdale/nhl/10/30/2026/503821/) He is due for a raise that could be more than double that $9.5 million average annual value. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) Kucherov also has a modified no-trade clause. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) It lets him submit a list of 10 approved teams for Tampa Bay to negotiate with. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) ## A sudden turn in Tampa As recently as September, Tampa Bay appeared confident that Kucherov would remain with the organization. [[2]](https://detroitsportsnation.com/nikita-kucherov-requests-trade-tampa-bay-lightning-2026/ddrysdale/nhl/10/30/2026/503821/) Kucherov recently surpassed longtime teammate Steven Stamkos to become the franchise's all-time leading scorer. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) He has won two Stanley Cups with the Lightning, in 2020 and 2021, and he is a three-time Art Ross Trophy winner. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) ## The Lightning this season Tampa Bay is third in the Atlantic Division at 8-3-1 and has won its first six home games. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) Kucherov has four goals and 15 points through 12 games this season. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) ## What it means for you If you follow the Lightning, Kucherov has told the organization that he does not intend to sign another contract with Tampa Bay. [[2]](https://detroitsportsnation.com/nikita-kucherov-requests-trade-tampa-bay-lightning-2026/ddrysdale/nhl/10/30/2026/503821/) His current deal runs through this season, and the club plays the Predators on Saturday. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) [[2]](https://detroitsportsnation.com/nikita-kucherov-requests-trade-tampa-bay-lightning-2026/ddrysdale/nhl/10/30/2026/503821/) If you follow another team, watch the 10-team list his modified no-trade clause lets him submit, since Tampa Bay can negotiate only with those approved teams. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) Sources told ESPN he wants to play with one of the NHL's other top superstars. [[1]](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) ## Sources 1. [Sources: Nikita Kucherov, 33, requests trade from Lightning - ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/50331644/nikita-kucherov-33-requests-trade-lightning) — ESPN 2. [NHL Superstar Nikita Kucherov Drops Bombshell on Tampa Bay Lightning](https://detroitsportsnation.com/nikita-kucherov-requests-trade-tampa-bay-lightning-2026/ddrysdale/nhl/10/30/2026/503821/) — detroitsportsnation.com 3. [New NHL Trade Rumors Reveal Nikita Kucherov's Stance on Lightning Future Amid Contract Year](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25527379-new-nhl-trade-rumors-reveal-nikita-kucherovs-stance-lightning-future-amid-contract-year) — bleacherreport.com Image: Photo: DaRealConMan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tampa_Bay_Buccaneers_Uniforms_2023.png) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/