A couple of awkward situations have already arisen between superstars and their respective teams. Connor Hellebuyck was eventually traded after refusing to play for the Winnipeg Jets. The Dylan Larkin situation remains unsettled, as he refuses to play games with the Red Wings anymore.
Now, another superstar, a superstar is on the same level as players like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, has demanded a trade.
Nikita Kucherov wants out of Tampa
Kucherov has six seasons with 100 points or more. In 2025-26, he scored 44 goals and added 86 assists, finishing with 130 points and winning the Hart Memorial Trophy (the most valuable player in the NHL).
The 33-year-old is a free agent after this season and wasn't on the same page as the Tampa Bay Lightning in contract negotiations. Finally, on Friday night, Kucherov demanded a trade out of Tampa Bay. The Lightning, interestingly, stated that they have no intention of trading him.
Lightning general manager Julien Brisebois said in a statement, "We are aware of the media reports regarding the future of Nikita Kucherov with the Lightning. We unequivocally have no intention of trading Nikita." This is interesting given how the Larkin and Hellebuyck situations have gone.
Could Kucherov demand a trade and refuse to play? Perhaps. But at the very least, the soon-to-be free agent clearly won't sign in Tampa after the season ends. For the Utah Mammoth, this situation could be very intriguing.
That's because Kucherov can be afforded in either a trade or a signing for Utah.
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