Kucherov’s Contract: 'His Business,' Say Lightning Teammates
NHL.com presents the latest developments in the Nikita Kucherov trade saga.
News and Updates
- Super 16, Prospects, Trade Coverage, Player Safety, Situation Room, and 2026 NHL Draft - These sections offer more insights and analysis on the Kucherov situation.
Teammates Weigh In
After Kucherov's request for a trade became public, his teammates shared their thoughts:
"We obviously knew about it, so it wasn’t news to us when it came out,” said Lightning captain Victor Hedman. "It was a tough day."
"I think it was surprising to everyone... Once you get on the ice, there’s only so many things you can worry about,” added teammate John Carlson. “... I’m focused on what I can do on the ice."
Irony of the Game
The Tampa Bay Lightning faced the Nashville Predators on Saturday, a game that held some irony. Steven Stamkos, Kucherov's former teammate and the former Lightning captain, left Tampa Bay as a free agent after the 2023-24 season to join the Predators.
"There’s a lot of history between our teams, for sure,” Hedman noted.
General Manager's Statement
Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois was unequivocal in his statement, posted on the team's social media: "The Lightning ‘unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita.’"
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