Agent Dan Milstein just spoke about Andrei Vasilevskiy's future, and the Lightning goalie's target is a big one.
It comes as the Lightning host Chicago tonight, with the first period under way as this goes up. Tampa Bay has spent the week answering questions about Nikita Kucherov, and now the other pillar of the roster is part of the conversation.
Daily Faceoff passed along Milstein's words on the goalie's long-term plan, with the agent saying the goal is to play 1000 games for Tampa Bay.
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That is a long runway. Vasilevskiy sits at 609 regular-season games, all in the NHL and, per the post, with the Lightning in mind. Reaching 1000 would mean 391 more.
He is 32, drafted 19th overall by Tampa Bay in 2012, and he has played 11 games so far this season. No injury is listed for him.
The timing matters. Reporting from earlier this week said the Lightning told other teams Kucherov is not available at the deadline, so the organization is trying to lock down its core message.
What a 1000-game goal means for Tampa Bay
Milstein's comment is about commitment, not a contract announcement. Nothing in the post says a new deal is close, and Vasilevskiy has not signed an extension. His current contract runs through 2027-28, so the question is coming.
Compare that with Kucherov, whose situation is far messier. His deal ends after this season and no extension has been signed, which is why the reported contract ask tied to Kaprizov became such a story.
Both players are tied to a Tampa Bay team that sits 9-3-2 and fourth in the Atlantic Division. The Lightning are 7-0-0 at home, which is the reason tonight's game against Chicago is a good one to hold serve.
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | DIFF | |
| 1. Boston Bruins | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 23 | +20 |
| 2. Montreal Canadiens | 15 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 21 | +5 |
| 3. Ottawa Senators | 17 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 21 | +2 |
| 4. Tampa Bay Lightning | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 20 | +7 |
| 5. Florida Panthers | 16 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 20 | +5 |
| 6. Toronto Maple Leafs | 17 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 18 | +6 |
| 7. Buffalo Sabres | 15 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 17 | -7 |
| 8. Detroit Red Wings | 16 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 17 | -2 |
Here is the opinion: a goalie saying out loud that he wants to finish his career in one city is the kind of public statement a team should grab with both hands. If Tampa Bay lets this drag, it hands Vasilevskiy's side leverage it does not need to give.
Kucherov's file is the louder one, but this one has a clearer finish line. The Lightning visit Minnesota on Saturday, and how Tampa Bay handles these two contracts will shape the rest of the season.
Should the Lightning extend Andrei Vasilevskiy before dealing with Nikita Kucherov?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
Lightning made their final decision with Nikita Kucherov
