A Friday night bombshell just dropped in the NHL.
According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, the Tampa Bay Lightning star has informed his teammates and other members of the organization that he won't be re-signing with the team when his contract expires at the end of the season, and he has asked to be traded.
Friedman added that the reasons for Kucherov's decision are unclear at this time.
According to The Athletic's Chris Johnston, the winger was seeking a six-year deal with an average annual value in the range of $20 million.
According to PuckPedia, Kucherov has a modified no-trade clause with a 10-team list of approved destinations. No teams have been formally revealed at this time.
The reigning Hart Trophy winner is in the final season of an eight-year, $76-million contract ($9.5 million per season).
On Oct. 24, Kucherov surpassed Steven Stamkos as the team's all-time leading scorer, currently sitting at 1,139 points in 891 games.
The Lightning are currently third in the Atlantic Division with an 8-3-1 record.
The 33-year-old was selected in the second round, 58th overall, of the 2011 NHL draft and is in the midst of his 14th season with the team. He has recorded over 100 points in six of those seasons, posting 120-plus in the past three years.
Kucherov is one of the most decorated players in the game. The Russian winger has won two Hart trophies as league MVP, three Art Ross trophies as the scoring leader, along with back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2019-20 and 2020-21.