Nikita Kucherov's trade request stunned the NHL but new details on Tampa Bay's offer and his perceived value has turned this into a personal struggle.
Friday night was the day before Halloween but the Tampa Bay Lightning got the scare of a lifetime as it was announced that star forward Nikita Kucherov had requested a trade and though he'll continue to play with the team - he wants out.
Tampa Bay GM Julien BriseBois is insistent that they are not going to trade him, and right now Kucherov and the Lightning are focused on playing while they sort this out. It could drag on for a bit, but unlike his contemporaries, won't forgo salary.
Speaking of salary, that is one of the key factors into why Kucherov had requested a trade, as it was revealed that the forward was offered a four-year, $60M deal from the Lightning.
Kucherov wants double what Tampa Bay feels he's worth
That amount would be typically a very lucrative deal but for a player who has over 1,100 points in 840 games and one of the greatest wingers of the modern era who has won it all - he is looking for a pay raise.
In fact, he's looking for double what the Lightning are offering:
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According to TSN's Chris Johnston, Kucherov was seeking a $20M per year deal, which given his production and resume is a well-deserved raise from his $9.5M per year deal he's currently receiving.
Loyalty certainly has a price, and while you can't fault the Lightning for trying to get a discount on Kucherov given he's been such a key part - this isn't the first time they have dealt with this issue.
Kucherov's contract demands bring back a difficult time for the Lightning
The Lightning for some reason tend to have a ceiling on their top players in regards to what they are going to pay them, and have already ran one former star out of town.
Steven Stamkos was as loyal and dedicated to the Lightning as could be, was a franchise leader for years, and one of the best players in the world. But when it came time to pay him, suddenly the Lightning had reservations. That presents an image of stingy owners who are unwilling to invest in their stars when it matters most.
Tampa has some insanely good deals on their roster like Brandon Hagel ($6.5M), Victor Hedman ($8M) and Anthony Cirelli ($6.25M) but taking a look at their contract page...no one makes over $10M a year.
If the Lightning are afraid of pushing that limit with Kucherov and want to ease themselves in, then offering $15M per year makes sense.
It's just too bad that's nowhere near what he's worth, and he decided to take his future into his own hands.
Do you think Nikita Kucherov is worth $20M per season on his next contract?
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Nikita Kucherov's 10-team trade list appears to include the Maple Leafs