Nikita Kucherov tells Lightning he won't re-sign and asks for a trade, AP source says

Reigning NHL MVP Nikita Kucherov informed the Tampa Bay Lightning he is not re-signing with the team and has asked for a trade, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because talks are considered private. A message sent to the Lightning seeking comment on the stunning development was not immediately returned. Sportsnet was first to report the news.Kucherov is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, the last of an eight-year, $76 million contract signed in 2018 before he helped Tampa Bay win the Stanley Cup twice, led the NHL in scoring three times and was voted the recipient of the Hart Trophy in 2018-19 and 2025-26.“Nikita is a historically great player,” general manager Julien BriseBois said at his training camp-opening news conference last month. “He’s not just one of the best players in the world right now — maybe the best player in the world right now. He is one of the best pla