Nikita Kucherov's trade demand may trace back to $20M ask

Nikita Kucherov wants out of Tampa Bay, and a contract ask reported in September may explain why the Lightning are bracing for a trade.

The reigning Hart Trophy winner's request landed Friday, and according to HockeyFeed he is now almost certain to be moved in the very near future. The Lightning dropped a 5-4 shootout decision in Nashville earlier today, a game that suddenly feels like a side note.

What's missing is the why. Kucherov has only ever played for one franchise, he's its all-time leading scorer, and he has won multiple Stanley Cups there. HockeyFeed's Jonathan Larivee notes there's been no new reporting on his motivation.

But there is an older nugget. Back in September, Chris Johnston said on his podcast, "I heard some pretty big numbers that he was looking for, something like $20 million dollar range on like a six-year deal."

Compare that with the books. Kucherov's current cap hit is $9,500,000, the deal expires after this season, and no extension has been signed. That's a gap Tampa Bay would have had to bridge in a hurry.

Age is the sticking point. Larivee points out that Kucherov is 33, while Cale Makar, who sits in that $20 million range, is 28. A six-year term would carry Kucherov to 39, and Larivee suspects the Lightning were dubious about that.

Why a $20 million ask complicates any Kucherov trade

The same math follows him out the door. Larivee writes that any team acquiring Kucherov should expect a hefty payday demand wherever he lands.

Paying that for six years to a player who would finish the deal at 39 is a bad idea, full stop, and the Lightning may have reached that conclusion first. A buyer who wants him will have to decide whether the contract is part of the trade or a problem for later.

Nothing about his play explains a divorce. Before today's game, Kucherov had 4 goals and 11 assists in 12 games, and he owns 1138 points over 891 career regular-season games.

The market is already busy with big names. Chris Johnston has also been tracking Dylan Larkin's possible trade destinations, and a Kucherov availability changes who has the cap space and the appetite to shop.

Tampa Bay's next game is Tuesday, November 3 against the Red Wings. Whether Kucherov is still in the lineup, and what the Lightning want back, is the question hanging over that date.

Also read on Markerzone.com:
Canadiens land Kucherov in a five-asset mock trade