Nikita Kucherov
Kucherov is still Tampa Bay's top-line right wing and first power-play option, but his reported trade request and expiring contract put a question mark over where he plays the rest of the season.
Role
Daily Faceoff's Lightning page (fetched; last updated Oct 31) has Guentzel, Point and Kucherov as the top line. Its first power-play unit is Guentzel, Point, Kucherov, Hagel and D'Astous. Hagel, Cirelli and Holmberg are a separate line on that page, and Cirelli and Holmberg work the second unit. SI's Nov 1 game preview had the same top line against Nashville and called Kucherov the engine of that line. In the one game log I could find, from Oct 15 against Seattle, he also played some shifts with Cirelli and Hagel, so Cooper has shuffled the lines at times. Frozen Pool lists 21:52 of ice time per game over 7 games, but that table is not dated, so treat it with caution. His 2026-27 production through 12 games was 4 goals and 15 points, per Daily Faceoff and TSN. I did not find who competes for his spot; no one is reported as pushing him off the top unit.
He is the reigning MVP and still produces. He has 4 goals and 11 assists through 12 games (SI) and became the franchise's all-time points leader. His agent confirmed he will keep playing, and The Athletic's LeBrun reports he will play while awaiting a possible trade. Cooper has publicly praised his commitment. He is also paired with Point and Guentzel on the top line and the first power-play unit. If he were traded, the reported destinations (Toronto and Montreal, per Friedman) would presumably keep him in a top-line role, though that is not confirmed.
Kucherov asked for a trade on Oct 30 and has said he won't re-sign, per Friedman, TSN and The Athletic. GM BriseBois says the team "unequivocally" has no intention of trading him. Friedman reports that changing Kucherov's mind may be hard, and that contract-talk pace was a major factor. A midseason trade could change his linemates and power-play role. A clubhouse distraction, or an eventual sit-out as Dylan Larkin has done, is possible but has not been reported for Kucherov. His modified no-trade clause, with a 10-team list, limits where he can go. Last season's line was 13 GP, 4 G, 14 A, 18 PTS, 5 PPP and 35 SOG, so his games played were limited.
Where analysts split
The disagreement is whether he finishes the season in Tampa. The club says it will not trade him, while Friedman's reporting and the trade request point toward a move at the deadline or July 1. That decides whether the Guentzel-Point line and first power-play unit remain his through the 84-game season.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
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