Pierre LeBrun reveals major new details about Nikita Kucherov's trade situation

Nikita Kucherov has asked the Lightning for a trade, Pierre LeBrun reports, a bombshell that lands one day after a 6-4 win over Winnipeg.

Last night, Kucherov finished with an assist, three shots on goal and 16:13 of ice time. Today, according to LeBrun, he and his agent Dan Milstein wrapped up a meeting with GM Julien Brisebois within the last half hour.

LeBrun described Kucherov as the Hart Trophy winner and credited @FriedgeHNIC with breaking the news first. Our earlier coverage of Nikita Kucherov's reported refusal to re-sign now reads as the opening act.

Nothing in his play suggests a player halfway out the door. He has 15 points in 12 games this season, built on 4 goals and 11 assists.

Over his NHL career he has 1138 points in 891 games, including 404 goals. Tampa drafted him 58th overall in 2011, and he is 33 now.

The standings make this harder to swallow for the Lightning. They sit 8-3-1, third in the Atlantic Division, and they are 6-0-0 at home against 2-3-1 on the road.

New Nikita Kucherov trade details emerge as Pierre LeBrun explains his contract clause

LeBrun noted that Kucherov told his teammates on the plane.

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This is a contract story as much as a hockey one. Kucherov's $9,500,000 cap hit runs through 2026-27, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent at expiry, and no extension has been signed. Our report on Kucherov's trade request and the restriction attached to it explains why every interested team has to read the fine print.

Here's where Tampa should be stubborn. A team that is 8-3-1 with a winger producing at this rate has no reason to take a rushed package, and Brisebois should treat a mid-October deadline like it doesn't exist.

Coach Jon Cooper has a room that now knows everything. The Lightning are at Nashville on Saturday, their first game since the request became public.

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