Lightning’s Cooper says Kucherov still fully committed to team despite trade request
Cooper spoke to the media ahead of Tampa Bay’s game against the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
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Cooper spoke to the media ahead of Tampa Bay’s game against the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
Nikita Kucherov stunned the NHL world when he requested a trade and told the Tampa Bay Lightning he wouldn't be signing an extension with them on Friday.
Reigning Hart and Ted Lindsay winner Nikita Kucherov tells the Tampa Bay Lightning he won’t re‑sign and requests a trade, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The 33‑year‑old Russian winger, who has 4 goals and 18 points in 13 games this season and a career total of 405 goals and 1,142 points, is expected to command a hefty contract and has a 10‑team trade list. Lightning GM Julien Brisebois says the team has no plans to move him. The report arrives alongside trade‑request news for Connor Hellebuyck and Dylan Larkin, and a note that the Anaheim Ducks placed defenseman Nick Jensen on waivers.
One week after becoming the Lightning’s all‑time leading scorer, Nikita Kucherov tells teammates and Tampa Bay management he will not re‑sign and wants a trade, according to Sportsnet, USA Today and TSN. The 33‑year‑old, in the final year of his eight‑year, $76 million contract, has a modified no‑trade clause covering ten preferred teams. Tampa general manager Julien BriseBois says the team “unequivocally” will not trade him, and coach Jon Cooper affirms Kucherov remains fully in the lineup. The dispute unfolds as Kucherov heads toward unrestricted free agency next summer.
ClutchPoints releases its first 2027 NHL Mock Draft, led by Vancouver picking defense phenom Landon DuPont out of Michigan as the likely No. 1. Chicago selects KHL star Nazar Privalov at #2, while Philadelphia, Winnipeg, and Los Angeles fill centre needs with Milan Sundstrom, Jonah Neuenschwander and Brock England respectively. The mock reflects growing unrest on the ice—Larkin’s refusal to play for Detroit and Kucherov’s trade request—so teams are eyeing future cores. Picks continue with Dima Zhilkin (Anaheim), Alexis Joseph (Columbus) and Carter Meyer (Pittsburgh) rounding out a talent‑rich draft class.
The Tampa Bay Lightning fall 5-4 to the Nashville Predators in a Sept. 28 shootout after a dramatic third‑period tie. Former Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, now wearing Nashville’s mustard‑yellow jersey, nets his first goal for the Predators to force overtime, but Nashville prevails in the shootout.
It sent shockwaves through the NHL as Nikita Kucherov told the Tampa Bay Lightning he was not extending with the club and wanted a trade.
It sent shockwaves through the NHL as Nikita Kucherov told the Tampa Bay Lightning he was not extending with the club and wanted a trade.
Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper says he's confident Nikita Kucherov "wants to be a part of this team for this season" despite his trade request, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.
We're used to trade drama at this point in an already wild NHL season, but the biggest bombshell yet dropped Friday: Nikita Kucherov informed the Lightning that he will not re-sign and would like to be traded.
Nikita Kucherov shocks the Tampa Bay Lightning by requesting a trade after 13 seasons and 1,139 points, seeking a six‑year, $20 million‑per‑year extension that wasn’t met. While his departure seems unlikely for a struggling Philadelphia Flyers squad, the article argues a trade could benefit rookie winger Mat Matvei Michkov. Leading the Flyers with nine goals and tied for second in league power‑play goals, Michkov shares Kucherov’s Russian heritage, high‑skill winger style and “F‑U” mentality. A mentorship from the future Hall of Famer could accelerate Michkov’s development and even set up a future national‑team pairing, making the hypothetical Kucherov‑Michkov combo a tantalizing prospect for Philadelphia fans.
Nikita Kucherov tells the Tampa Bay Lightning he won’t extend his contract and has asked for a trade, prompting GM Julien BriseBois to declare the team will not move the star. Agent Dan Milstein confirms Kucherov will keep playing while negotiations continue, noting the 33‑year‑old’s 10‑team no‑trade list and his desire for a six‑year, $20 M AAV deal. The move comes as Kucherov, who just passed Steven Stamkos for the franchise points record and posted a 130‑point season, remains under his final year of a $76 M, eight‑year pact. The Lightning face the Nashville Predators on Oct. 31, 2026.
On October 31, the On the Forecheck community launches a Game Day Thread for the Nashville Predators' Halloween showdown against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 1 p.m. Central. Fans are invited to join the live discussion, share the link, and debate whether the matchup will bring tricks or treats, while welcoming new members to the forum.
Nikita Kucherov shocked the NHL by requesting a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning, but unlike Connor Hellebuyck and Dylan Larkin, he is doing his team a solid by doing so.
Elliotte Friedman drops a bombshell that Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov, the former Hart Trophy winner, wants out before his contract expires, but the Lightning say they won’t trade him despite acknowledging the request. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Flyers are still hunting a center and eyeing defensive upgrades, with rumors linking them to two trade‑available defensemen and updates pending on injured forwards Travis Konecny and Owen Tippett. The daily also notes San Jose’s interest in defense prospect Simon Edvinsson, New Jersey’s 5-2 win over Vegas, and Boston’s surprising player surges.
Nikita Kucherov has turned down the Tampa Bay Lightning's four‑year, $15 million AAV extension—$5.8 million below the league max—after requesting a trade. The 33‑year‑old Hart Trophy winner, entering the final year of his eight‑year, $9.5 million AAV deal, reportedly seeks a six‑year contract worth about $20 million per season, citing recent big extensions to Cale Makar and Macklin Celebrini. Despite his trade demand, agent Dan Milstein confirms Kucherov will suit up for the Lightning against the Nashville Predators on Oct. 31, 2026, while negotiations continue.
The Blackhawks enter Halloween with a 4-9-0 slate and a 0-5 road stretch, hoping to snap the streak against the Boston Bruins, who sit 5-1 at home after a two‑game skid. Chicago’s offense has sputtered, with Connor Bedard seeing just two goals in five games and Anton Frondell’s ice time dwindling, prompting GM Kyle Davidson to explore trade options for wingers and defensemen. Meanwhile, prospects Xavier Villeneuve and Samu Alalauri each netted their first NCAA goals. In the AHL, the Rockford IceHogs fell 6‑3 to Manitoba, surrendering four shorthanded goals, while Gavin Hayes leads the club with six goals. On the league level, Nikita Kucherov requests a trade from Tampa Bay, and Connor Hellebuyck remains unbeaten with his new team.
Nikita Kucherov shocks the NHL by submitting a trade request to the Tampa Bay Lightning, sparking a frenzy of speculation across the league. General manager Julien BriseBois says the Lightning aren’t ready to move the reigning Hart Trophy winner, but any deal could reshape the Atlantic Division. The blog outlines why Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton, and even the Utah Mammoth are top targets, noting the Leafs would need to sacrifice premium assets and secure a four‑year extension to lure him. Montreal’s strong agent ties and the possibility of a Quinn Hughes swap are highlighted, while the Lightning reportedly offered $15 million per year—Kucherov may be seeking $20 million-plus. The piece weighs how a Kucherov move could end Tampa’s decade‑long run and fuel a rival’s championship push.
Coach Mike Sullivan drops 21‑year‑old Gabe Perreault to the Rangers’ third line with Noah Laba and Will Cuylle to make room for struggling Pavel Dorofeyev on the top line alongside Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière. Perreault, who has one point in his last seven games but seven points in 14 overall, is expected to boost the lower‑line offense with his playmaking and high hockey IQ. The move will be tested Sunday when New York hosts the Edmonton Oilers. The article also notes Nikita Kucherov’s trade request from Tampa Bay, adding a league‑wide shock to the mix.
Tampa Bay Lightning learns that MVP forward Nikita Kucherov has rejected a contract extension and wants a trade. The article lists five teams from his approved list that could land him: Carolina Hurricanes (offering cap space and a young forward), Los Angeles Kings (ready to match his salary and pair him with Artemi Panarin), Chicago Blackhawks (eager for a top‑line winger), Washington Capitals (looking to replace Ovechkin with a one‑timer specialist), and San Jose Sharks (willing to add Michael Misa and other pieces). Each destination’s trade assets and fit are detailed.
The Colorado Avalanche face a defensive blow as veteran Josh Manson (42) is sidelined long‑term, while backup plans involve recalling Gavin Brindley amid Logan O’Connor’s uncertain status. A bombshell from Elliotte Friedman reveals Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov, the reigning MVP, has asked to be traded, sparking league‑wide speculation before his July 1 free‑agency deadline. Meanwhile, the Detroit Red Wings are entertaining offers for defenseman Simon Edvinsson, with the San Jose Sharks reportedly making sizable bids. The roundup also notes the Lightning’s denial of any trade, the Penguins’ shaky start, and other NHL team updates.
The Boston Bruins host the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 31 for a holiday matinee, entering the game at 9-4-1 after back‑to‑back losses and a sluggish offense. Coach Marco Sturm praises rookie defenseman Will Borgen, who posts a league‑tied +14 rating, 39 hits and 16 blocked shots in 14 games. Across the NHL, lightning‑fast news breaks: Nikita Kucherov tells Tampa Bay he won’t re‑sign and is seeking a trade, despite the Lightning’s refusal to move him. Meanwhile, the Flyers and Sharks join the Bruins on the list of teams courting defenseman Simon Edvinsson. The CAS overturns the IIHF ban on Russia, sparking further international debate.
No traction on a Owen Tippett for Frank Nazar trade. Flyers looking for defense, Senators looking for scoring and the Kraken-Vince Dunn talking.
Tampa Bay Lightning GM Julien BriseBois publicly rejects trade rumors about star winger Nikita Kucherov, declaring the team will not move the franchise forward. Kucherov, in the final year of his eight‑year, $76 million deal, reportedly wants a big raise and has a modified no‑trade clause allowing him to name ten teams. While negotiations remain stalled, he intends to play for the Lightning as they face Nashville. The 33‑year‑old, a two‑time Hart Trophy winner and three‑time Art Ross champion, leads the franchise in points (1,139) and contributed 44 goals and 130 points last season.
In today’s NHL rumours, we start off with a massive Friday news drop, where it was reported that Nikita Kucherov will not be re-signing with the Tampa Bay Lightning and…