IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Oct 30, 2026 11:19 PM
Nikita Kucherov’s bombshell exit demand sent shockwaves through Tampa Bay, sparking immediate speculation that New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche will move aggressively to land the elite playmaker.
On Friday night, news broke that Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov has told his club that he will not be re-signing and wants to be dealt.
Kucherov, who is in the final season of an eight-year deal worth $9.5 million annually, has a 10-team modiified no-trade clause.
Former Tampa Bay Lightning assistant general manager Mathieu Darche is in his second season as general manager of the New York Islanders, and his team is in dire need of an elite superstar to complement 2025-26 Calder Trophy-winning defenseman Matthew Schaefer.
As of now, we don't know what Tampa's ask is for Kucherov, but there's no question that Darche will be inquiring.
Kucherov and Darche were part of the Lightning teams that knocked off the Islanders in back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals in 2020 and 2021, before hoisting the Stanley Cup on each of those occasions.
In 12 games this season, Kucherov has four goals and 11 assists.
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