Nikita Kucherov's agent reveals whether he'll play for the Lightning while he awaits a trade

Nikita Kucherov is not going anywhere on the ice, at least not yet.

His agent, Dan Milstein, confirmed the Tampa Bay Lightning superstar will play Saturday against the Nashville Predators and keep suiting up while his situation gets sorted out.

Milstein said playing hockey is what Kucherov loves to do, and that he will be the one dealing with the business side from here.

The update came through Pierre LeBrun and matches earlier word that he would stay in the lineup.

This all blew up Friday night.

Kucherov reportedly told the Lightning he won't re-sign and asked to be traded during a meeting with GM Julien BriseBois and Milstein, then shared the news with his teammates on the flight to Nashville.

Tampa pushed back fast, with BriseBois saying the team has no intention of moving him.

Kucherov is 33 and in the final year of an eight-year, $76 million deal that carries a $9.5 million cap hit.

He has a modified no-trade clause, which lets him submit a list of 10 teams he would approve.

Extension talks reportedly stayed far apart, and that gap led to Friday's meeting.

He isn't slowing down either. He's the reigning Hart Trophy winner after piling up 130 points last season, and he has four goals and 15 points through 12 games this year.

The Lightning now have a real problem.

Say no to a trade and they risk losing a franchise player for nothing next summer.

Say yes and they have to move one of the best scorers in the world.

For now, Kucherov stays in the lineup and Milstein works the phones.

Watch which teams land on his list, because that is where this gets interesting.

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Three Canadian teams among five reportedly out of Nikita Kucherov trade race