Andrei Vasilevskiy's agent sends clear message about his future amid Kucherov drama

Andrei Vasilevskiy wants to finish his career in Tampa Bay, and his agent says the situation around Nikita Kucherov has nothing to do with that.

Dan Milstein, who represents both players, joined Jeff Marek on The Fourth Period to explain where the goalie stands.

The number that stands out is 1,000.

Milstein said Vasilevskiy's goal is to reach that many games with the Lightning, which says plenty about how he sees his future.

He's 32, he just won his second Vezina Trophy, and he clearly isn't looking for an exit.

That matters because Kucherov's relationship with the Lightning has turned into one of the biggest stories in the league.

Trade chatter keeps growing, with several clubs getting mentioned as possible landing spots.

Still, Milstein stressed that each player's situation is handled on its own, so one doesn't pull the other along.

It's hard not to connect a few dots here.

Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois let Steven Stamkos leave, and Kucherov's future with the club now looks shaky.

Vasilevskiy being happy today doesn't guarantee smooth contract talks down the road.

And that road isn't endless. His deal carries a $9.5 million cap hit and runs through the 2027-28 season, so a new contract conversation is coming for the front office sooner than people might think.

For now, the message from Vasilevskiy's camp is simple.

He's happy, he wants to stay, and the Kucherov saga hasn't shifted his thinking.

Lightning fans will take that, especially with the Kucherov noise getting louder every week.

A franchise goalie who wants to be there is a rare bit of certainty right now.

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