Nikita Kucherov 'Committed' to Lightning After Trade Request, Jon Cooper Says

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper says he's confident Nikita Kucherov "wants to be a part of this team for this season" despite his trade request, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.

"He is committed to be with the group that loves him and the group he loves," Cooper said ahead of the Lightning's Saturday road game against the Nashville Predators, per Encina.

Cooper added he expects nothing to change either in his coaching of Kucherov's play going forward, per Encina.

"Jon Cooper will coach the team the way Jon Cooper has always coached the team and Kuch is going to play like the superstar he is and the way he has for a decade and a half and that is how it is going to continue," Cooper said, per Encina. "All the rest of it is outside noise and, for Kuch internally, what happens after our season is over, that's Kuch's right and he has earned that right for whatever happens.

"For us, it's probably made the team stronger."

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported Friday Kucherov had requested a trade after telling the Lightning he would not re-sign with the team this offseason.

General manager Julien BriseBois responded with a statement in which he said the Lightning "unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita."

Kucherov's agent Dan Milstein confirmed Saturday his client would continue playing for the Lightning despite his trade request, per TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

"Of course. He loves playing hockey," Milstein said about whether Kucherov would continue playing, per LeBrun. "He will play while I will take care of the business side going forward."

The news comes after Connor Hellebuyck refused to attend Winnipeg Jets training camp and Dylan Larkin sat out regular-season action with the Detroit Red Wings following their own trade requests earlier this year.

Kucherov told his teammates about his trade request during their Friday flight to Nashville, according to LeBrun.

He started out his first game since the request by assisting on each of the Lightning's first three goals against the Predators.

Kucherov is playing this season on an expiring contract with a $9.5 million cap hit. He can authorize trades to 10 teams as part of the deal, per PuckPedia.

ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported "Kucherov has his eyes set on playing with another one of the league's top superstars and has a few players/teams in mind."

The Lightning drafted Kucherov in 2013 shortly after the organization hired Cooper as head coach.

Kucherov developed into one of the NHL's top forwards before leading the franchise to consecutive Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. He has claimed three Art Ross Trophies and two Hart Trophies as a member of the franchise.

The winger earned his most recent MVP honor after leading the Lightning to a ninth straight playoff berth with 130 points in 76 games last season.

Kucherov, who has 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in his first 12 games of the season, passed Steven Stamkos as the Lightning's all-time points leader less than a week prior to his trade request.

Stamkos, another core member of the Lightning's back-to-back Cup runs, departed Tampa Bay when he signed with the Predators ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

The Lightning are heading into Saturday in fourth place in the Atlantic after an 8-3-1 start to the season. It sounds like as of now BriseBois and Cooper intend to push for a final playoff run with Kucherov this spring, even if it comes at the cost of the winger following Stamkos' lead by leaving in free agency this offseason.