- Nikita Kucherov says his trade request was about disrespect, not money
- He says he and Julien BriseBois spoke only twice in four months
- Read below for the video of Kucherov’s comments and where the contract talks stood
Nikita Kucherov says money had nothing to do with his trade request.
The Lightning superstar met with reporters Monday and was asked why he told the team he won’t re-sign. He pointed to how the organization handled him, not the number on the contract.
“It was never about the money for me, more about the poor communication and respect,” Kucherov said. “In the last four months, we only have had two conversations. Julien, in the end, made it clear: I’m free to walk on July 1st.”
Watch Kucherov explain it in his own words, via Tampa Bay Times reporter Eduardo A. Encina:
That runs against the contract chatter from the weekend. Elliotte Friedman reported that Kucherov wanted a contract in the Kirill Kaprizov range at around $17 million a year, while BriseBois was reportedly unwilling to go past $15 million.
Kevin Weekes added Sunday that the first offer was only around $13 million, and that Tampa Bay moved to $15 million after the Leo Carlsson offer sheet and Cale Makar’s deal reset the market:
Kucherov is in the last year of an eight-year, $76 million deal that carries a $9.5 million cap hit. He has 18 points in 13 games this season after putting up 130 points in 76 games last year.
He is also still planning to play. Kucherov has not threatened to sit out, unlike Dylan Larkin in Detroit. He had three assists in Friday’s game in Nashville, which came right after he told his teammates on the plane.
The Lightning have not budged either. Julien BriseBois said the team has no intention of trading Kucherov, even as Friedman has reported he would consider the Maple Leafs or Canadiens. His contract includes a 10-team trade list.
Kucherov says he will keep playing for Tampa Bay for now, with the March 1 trade deadline as the next date that matters.
