As they jockey for position in the Erik Karlsson derby, the Tampa Bay Lightning didn't hesitate to lock up one of their own star players until 2027.
Right wing Nikita Kucherov signed an eight-year extension that kicks in for the 2019-20 season, with an average annual salary of $9.5 million against the salary cap. Kucherov would have been a restricted free agent next summer. He has one more year on his current contract, carrying a $4,766,667 cap hit.
"I'm truly grateful to sign this contract extension to keep me in Tampa for the next eight seasons today," Kucherov said in a statement.