Tampa Bay Lightning Resign Nikita Nesterov To A One-Year Contract
The Tampa Bay Lightning have come to terms with defenseman Nikita Nesterov on a one-year contract extension worth approximately $725,000.
The second to last of the Tampa Bay Lightning‘s Restricted Free Agents has been re-signed to a one-year deal worth $725,000. Nikita Nesterov was a solid defensive presence for the Lightning last season and was the last piece to the Bolts blueline that still needed a new contract.
As we mentioned, Nikita Nesterov was the second to last RFA that the Lightning still needed to sign before the season starts. The final remaining player is also named Nikita but wears an 86 on his uniform instead of an 89.
Like many of his teammates before him, Nesterov was incredibly happy to be a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup moving forward into the 2016-17 season. Nesterov both announced and expressed his excitement over the new contract on his Instagram page as shown below.
Nikita Kucherov, and whether or not the Lightning can afford to resign him, has been the talk of the entire NHL community since the end of last year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. This new contract for Nesterov leaves only $5 to $5.5 million left for the Lightning to offer Kucherov, who could rightly demand up to $6 million or per season or even more.
As the numerous contracts signed during the off-season have shown, hockey is more important to the many of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s players than money. Steven Stamkos started a trend of leaving a little on the table with his 8-year contract extension.
Players like Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman and forward Alex Killorn followed soon after. As most everyone here in the Bolts Nation knows by now, there is very little time left between now and the official start of the 2016-17 season.
This makes many people question whether or not Tampa Bay Lightning Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman will be able to secure a player like Nikita Kucherov before the start of the season.
Hopefully, Kucherov shares the opinion of his teammates and will be willing to do what it takes to remain in a Tampa Bay Lightning jersey for many seasons to come.
We’re happy to welcome Nikita Nesterov back to Tampa Bay, at least for another year. What are your thoughts on the contract extension for Nikita Nesterov and the Lightning’s chances of resigning Nikita Kucherov? As always, stay tuned to Bolts By The Bay for all things Lightning.
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