Nikita Kucherov's salary demands have put the Lightning in a terrible position

Insider Chris Johnston said on his podcast that the Hart Trophy winner is seeking a massive raise, describing the number he heard as "something like a $ 20 million range on like a six-year deal."

That figure would more than double the $9.5 million cap hit Kucherov carries this season. It would also land just shy of Cale Makar's $20.4 million, the richest cap hit ever signed.

Tampa Bay has a little under $30 million in cap space for next season and as many as eight roster spots to fill. Giving two-thirds of that room to one forward would leave general manager Julien BriseBois with very little flexibility.

Kucherov has earned the conversation. He piled up 130 points in 76 games last season and has reached at least 113 in each of the past four years.

The debate is not about what he is worth today. It is about what he will be worth in 2031, when a deal like this would still be on the books.

Kucherov is 33 and will be 34 when the next contract kicks in. A six-year term would carry him to nearly 40, an age when even elite scorers usually see their production fade.

If that decline arrives early, Tampa Bay would be paying a superstar salary for a player who no longer performs like one, and the cap hit does not shrink along with the points.

The new CBA also caps contract length at seven years, so a six-year ask sits close to the maximum.

BriseBois has said he wants a deal that keeps Kucherov in Tampa for many years, while Kucherov says he is focused on helping the team win this season.

With one year left on his current contract, the clock is ticking, and the Lightning must decide how much of their future they are willing to pay for.

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