Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov has been on fire since trade request

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Nikita Kucherovwants out of the Tampa Bay Lightning, but he still can’t stop going all out for his team.

Reports surfaced last Friday that the 33-year-old Kucherov had already asked the Lightning to move him. In the two games since, the two-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner has done nothing on the ice but rack up points.

Against the Nashville Predators on Saturday on the road, Kucherov had a hand in three of his team’s goals, as he recorded a trio of assists, albeit in a 5-4 shootout loss to Steven Stamkos and company.

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The Bolts returned to action on Tuesday, and Kucherov was clearly still feeling it, adding two more assists to his total in the 2026-27 NHL season. This time around, his effort did not go for naught, with the Lightning defeating the Detroit Red Wings, 4-2.

Kucherov is in a contract year, which means he is on track to become a free agent next summer. However, he also clarified that his trade request is less about money and more about the perceived disrespect he feels from Tampa Bay over its “poor communication.”

It remains to be seen how this saga between Kucherov and the Lightning will conclude, but what seems to be clear is that he is not shortchanging the only team he’s played for so far in his NHL career when it comes to his effort and production on the ice.

Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov has been on

Kucherov and the Lightning improved to 9-3-2 after the win against Detroit. Up next for them is a date with the visiting Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.

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