The Lightning should try to extend Nikita Kucherov before the season is here.
Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov is entering the final season of his contract. With this, he is a pending unrestricted free agent heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
With this, it is absolutely apparent that the Lightning have a big move to make with the veteran winger. The Bolts must work hard to sign Kucherov to a contract extension as soon as possible.
Kucherov has consistently been one of the NHL's best players for several seasons now, and he only made that clearer by winning his second-career Hart Memorial Trophy. With that and the Lightning looking to keep their Stanley Cup window open, signing Kucherov to a contract extension is essential for them.
Given how much success Kucherov has had over the years, it is clear that he is due for a raise from his current $9.5 million cap hit. This is especially so with the salary cap in the NHL going up significantly since his current deal kicked in during the 2019-20 season.
Although Kucherov just turned 33 in June, he is showing no signs of slowing down. In 76 games last season for the Bolts, he posted 44 goals, 86 assists, and 130 points. With numbers like these, extending Kucherov is truly a no-brainer would Tampa Bay.
