The Kucherov trade request came on Friday, 30 October. Nikita Kucherov told the Tampa Bay Lightning he will not re-sign when his contract ends after this season and asked to be traded. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported it first, according to NHL.com, and TSN’s Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun and ESPN’s Emily Kaplan also reported it.
Tampa Bay answered the same night. General manager Julien BriseBois said in a statement: “We unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita.”
For Canadian fans, the question is where he could go. Friedman said on Sportsnet’s Saturday Headlines on 31 October that if Tampa Bay decided to trade him, Toronto and Montréal are two of many teams Kucherov would consider, as long as either could put together a package the Lightning liked. He added that he could not find out which teams are on Kucherov’s approved list.
| Nikita Kucherov | |
|---|---|
| Age and position | 33, right wing |
| Contract | Eight years, US$76M, signed 10 July 2018 |
| Average annual value | US$9.5M |
| Contract ends | After the 2026-27 season (unrestricted free agent in 2027) |
| Trade protection | Modified no-trade clause: he submits a list of 10 teams |
| This season | 4 goals and 18 points in 13 games |
| Last season | 44 goals and 130 points in 76 games; Hart Trophy |
| Career | 405 goals and 1,142 points in 892 games, all with Tampa Bay |
| Lightning record | 8-3-2, fourth in the Atlantic Division |
Why Kucherov asked for a trade
It comes down to his next contract. Kucherov has been eligible to sign an extension since 1 July, according to NHL.com, and ESPN’s Kaplan reported that the two sides were far apart, with Kucherov expected to look for a much bigger raise as the salary cap rises. Kaplan also reported that he wants to play alongside another of the league’s top stars.
He told management in a meeting on Friday and told his teammates on the team plane to Nashville, TSN reported. His agent, Dan Milstein, said Kucherov will keep playing while he handles the business side.
Will the Lightning trade Kucherov?
Not if BriseBois has his way. Coach Jon Cooper said before Saturday’s game in Nashville that Kucherov is fully part of the team, NHL.com reported, and Kucherov had three assists that afternoon in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Predators. The Lightning are 8-3-2, fourth in the Atlantic Division.
The catch is the calendar. His contract ends after this season, so if Tampa Bay keeps him and he leaves as a free agent next summer, the club gets nothing back. His list narrows any deal: the modified no-trade clause lets him name 10 teams he would accept, according to CapWages.
Could Kucherov join the Maple Leafs or Canadiens?
Friedman’s report is the only one so far to name Canadian clubs, and it came with conditions: Tampa Bay has to decide to trade him first, and Toronto or Montréal would need an offer the Lightning want. Both play in the Atlantic Division with Tampa Bay, so either deal would send him to a division rival. Any team would also need room for a US$9.5M cap hit.
Montréal has recent history with him. The Canadiens knocked the Lightning out of the 2026 playoffs in seven games in the first round, and they are 9-3-2 this season, second in the Atlantic. Toronto is 8-6-2, sixth in the division. Our Maple Leafs and Canadiens pages have both clubs’ schedules.
Canadian fans will see him soon either way. The Lightning play in Winnipeg on Sunday, 8 November, in Montréal on 2 December and in Toronto on 19 December.
Kucherov’s career in numbers
Kucherov has played his whole NHL career in Tampa Bay since the Lightning drafted him 58th overall in 2011. On 24 October, against Utah, he passed Steven Stamkos (1,137 points) as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
He has won the Hart Trophy twice (2019 and 2026), the Art Ross Trophy three times (2019, 2024 and 2025), the Ted Lindsay Award twice and the Stanley Cup twice (2020 and 2021). He has topped 100 points in each of the last four seasons, according to the NHL.
| Season | Games | Goals | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 82 | 30 | 113 |
| 2023-24 | 81 | 44 | 144 |
| 2024-25 | 78 | 37 | 121 |
| 2025-26 | 76 | 44 | 130 |
| 2026-27 (so far) | 13 | 4 | 18 |
The third star to ask out
Kucherov is the third high-profile player to ask for a trade in recent months. Winnipeg traded Connor Hellebuyck to New Jersey on 23 October, and our Hellebuyck trade story covers that deal. Detroit’s Dylan Larkin is still waiting: TSN’s Chris Johnston reported on 22 October that none of the 10 teams on his approved list is in Canada. Our weekly NHL trade rumours board tracks both requests.
For bettors, Tampa Bay’s Stanley Cup price and Kucherov’s place in the Hart Trophy market are the ones to watch. Our Stanley Cup odds page and Hart Trophy odds track both. Odds may change. 19+ (18+ in AB/MB/QC). Please play responsibly.
Kucherov trade FAQs
Yes. He told the Tampa Bay Lightning on 30 October 2026 that he will not re-sign and wants a trade. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported it first, and TSN and ESPN also reported it.
General manager Julien BriseBois said the team has no intention of trading him. His contract ends after this season.
An eight-year, US$76 million deal signed in July 2018, with an average annual value of US$9.5 million. It ends after the 2026-27 season.
Yes, a modified no-trade clause. He submits a list of 10 teams he would accept a trade to, according to CapWages.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on 31 October that Toronto and Montreal are two of many teams he would consider if Tampa Bay traded him and liked an offer. The teams on his list have not been reported.
In 2027, when his contract ends, unless he signs a new deal first.
19+ (18+ in AB/MB/QC) | Please play responsibly | Statistics from the NHL | Contract figures from CapWages, in US dollars | ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600 (ON); your province’s helpline is on our gambling awareness page.