Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov breaks silence on trade request: ‘Never about the money’

Nikita Kucherov dropped a bombshell Friday night, informing his Tampa Bay Lightning teammates on the plane to Nashville that he didn’t plan to re-sign with the only NHL team he’s ever known . No. 86 met with the media Monday afternoon and revealed why he requested a trade away from the organization. “It was never about the money for me, more about the poor communication and respect,” the Russian superstar said, per Bolts reporter Eduardo A. Encina. “In the last four months, we only have had two conversations.