Steve Yzerman has proven to be a force in the Tampa Bay Lightning front office.
Whether it be retaining franchise cornerstones Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman at a discounted rate, or straightening out the Jonathan Drouin saga, the general manager is on a roll.
As successful as Yzerman has been keeping the Lightning intact, one major requirement remains incomplete: a contract extension for Nikita Kucherov.
Yzerman is confident the two sides will reach a deal, as discussions remain ongoing.
"We continue to communicate with his representation," Yzerman said, according to Joe Smith of The Tampa Bay Times. "And we expect to have him under contract to start the season.
"Every negotiation is different and some take longer than others," Yzerman added. "Sometimes they get done when they get done. You can't force it."
Like nearly every circumstance Yzerman's dealt with in the past year, Kucherov's situation is a delicate one. Tampa Bay has just over $6.5 million in cap space and also needs to find a contract for restricted free-agent blueliner Nikita Nesterov.
Kucherov, just 23 years old, earned $700,000 in salary last season, and is coming off a career-high 30 goals and 66 points, followed up by a sensational playoff performance for the second year in a row.
All told, he's due for a substantial raise, but if recent history is any indicator, Yzerman's even-keeled approach at getting deals done will pay dividends for both parties.
