Could we see Nikita Kucherov sit out games with the Lightning?

Nikita Kucherov has scored four goals and accumulated 18 points in 13 games during the 2026-27 NHL regular season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Reports indicate Kucherov, nearing the final year of his eight-year, $76-million contract, has requested a trade from the team. The Lightning organization may consider sitting out games if Kucherov demands a trade and refuses to play.