Nikita Kucherov is heading into the final season of his contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning without an extension in place, and Chris Johnston has put a number on why.
The window for an eight-year deal closed on September 15 when the old collective bargaining agreement expired, capping any extension at seven years from here. Kucherov is currently playing on a $9.5 million cap hit, a figure that has looked increasingly like a bargain as the salary cap has climbed.
Nikita Kucherov’s contract
Speaking on his show, Johnston said the ask from Kucherov’s side is nowhere near that neighborhood anymore.
“I heard some pretty big numbers that he was looking for, something like 20 million dollar range on like a six year deal,” Johnston said.
It’s worth treating that figure with some care. Johnston framed it as what he has heard Kucherov’s camp is after rather than a formal demand that has been tabled. Even so, the context makes it plausible rather than outlandish. Cale Makar‘s $20.4 million average annual value, signed with Colorado this offseason, is the largest cap hit anyone has ever agreed to, and $20 million would land within $400,000 of it.
The case for paying it isn’t complicated. Kucherov put up 130 points in 76 games last season and won his second Hart Trophy, and he has now cleared 100 points in four consecutive years. He sits 14 points behind Steven Stamkos for the franchise scoring record, having spent his entire career in Tampa since 2013 and won two Stanley Cups along the way.
Tampa’s problem
The complication is age and arithmetic. Kucherov turns 34 next June, months before any new deal would begin, and six more years would carry him to 40. Johnston pointed out that committing at that age carries a different kind of risk, and that Tampa has never shied away from an uncomfortable decision.
“We know Tampa’s not afraid to make hard decisions. They drew it right down to the wire with Steven Stamkos. They tried to keep him. Ultimately, left him as a free agent,” Johnston said.
There’s also a roster-building problem. Tampa Bay has a little under $30 million in cap space for next season according to PuckPedia, with as many as eight spots to fill. Handing two-thirds of that to one forward leaves general manager Julien BriseBois squeezed everywhere else.
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BriseBois addressed the situation at media day on Wednesday and made clear the delay isn’t for lack of effort.
“Throughout these contract negotiations, both parties I know would prefer to have a deal today to put that behind us,” BriseBois said. “I’m still in touch with his agent to keep the lines of communication open, with the goal being to get Nikita signed to a contract that will keep him in Tampa many years to come.”
Kucherov himself has been considerably less interested in the topic.
“What’s in my mind? My mind is trying to help the team this year. I control what I can control, and I’ll do my best with what I can on the ice, and that’s what I’m focusing on right now, and not much more I can say,” he said.
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