- Pierre LeBrun reports Nikita Kucherov wants at least $20 million a year over six years
- Kucherov won’t re-sign in Tampa even at that number, LeBrun says
- Read below for how the Lightning offers compare and what comes next
Nikita Kucherov still isn’t budging on Tampa Bay, even at the price he’s asking.
The Athletic insider Pierre LeBrun reported Monday that Kucherov is looking for a six-year deal worth at least $20 million per season, and that he won’t sign it with the Lightning. League sources told LeBrun the 33-year-old feels so disrespected that it’s too late for a deal.
Here’s LeBrun’s Athletic piece on how big Kucherov’s market could be:
The $20 million figure is a jump from the weekend chatter. LeBrun said Kucherov was probably willing to take less before this summer, when Cale Makar, Macklin Celebrini and Leo Carlsson all signed monster contracts. Makar’s $20.4 million average annual value is the highest in NHL history, with Celebrini next at $18.8 million.
Once those deals landed, LeBrun said, there was no scenario where Kucherov takes less than $20 million over six years. That’s the number he’ll ask from other teams in a sign-and-trade or when free agency opens July 1.
Tampa Bay’s side of the numbers is well short of that. LeBrun said the Lightning offered four years at $15 million per season in the first week of July, then stretched it to six years in September without raising the money. Kevin Weekes had the first offer even lower, at around $13 million, as we covered earlier:
LeBrun left himself a small door. He said he learned a long time ago in this business to never say never, and that teammates could try to change Kucherov’s mind over time.
Kucherov made his own case Monday. He was asked why he wants out and said it was about the organization, not the paycheck. We broke that down here. Check out the answer from Tampa Bay Times reporter Eduardo A. Encina:
A $20 million ask and a stated lack of respect don’t exactly point the same direction, but LeBrun’s reporting puts both on the table. Kucherov said he and general manager Julien BriseBois spoke twice in four months, and BriseBois has said he has no intention of trading him.
Kucherov is in the last year of an eight-year deal that pays $9.5 million a season. He won the Hart Trophy last year with 44 goals and 130 points in 76 games, and has 18 points in 13 games so far. Whoever lands him will pay for it, and LeBrun’s reporting says teams are already lining up.
