TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed right wing Nikita Kucherov to an eight-year contract.
Kucherov, 25, will make an average of $9.5 million per year, the team announced.
The new contract keeps him through the 2026-2027 season. It also makes Kucherov the team's highest-paid player ahead of center Steven Stamkos, who makes about $8.5 million per year through the 2023-2024 season.
"I'm truly grateful to sign this contract extension to keep me in Tampa for the next eight seasons today," Kucherov said in a news release. "I'd like to thank the Lightning organization and all of the fans for the support since making the Bay Area my home."
Kucherov recorded 39 goals and 100 points in 2017-18, along with a plus-15 rating, eight power play goals and seven game-winning goals. He ranked third in the NHL for points, sixth for assists and tied for ninth for goals.
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