The Tampa Bay Lightning are ready to get to work, but there still seem to be some things they need to get done. One of those things happens to be an extension for Nikita Kucherov before he comes a unrestricted free agent next season, but as of now, it doesn't look like there is any movement.

Kucherov was recently asked about his contract situation, but he's taking the approach of controlling the controllables.

“My mind is trying to help the team this year. I control what I can control, and I'll do my best what I can on the ice, and that's what I'm focusing on right now,” Kucherov said.

As far as his agent, he doesn't even want to talk about the contract, according to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun.

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“Kucherov’s agent Dan Milstein once again politely declined comment this morning. A stance he has maintained for months. Won’t comment on Kucherov’s contract situation,” LeBrun wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

It's hard to make sense of the Lightning not extending a player of Kucherov's caliber, especially with them being a team that could possibly make a run in the playoffs for years to come.

General manager Julien BriseBois let it be known just weeks ago that they were in talks with Kucherov, but it doesn't sound too pressing for him to get something done.

“We’ve had chats,” BriseBois said via NHL.com. “Just because there wasn't a pressing deadline to accomplish something versus these free agents–if you don't sign them today, they're gone. These trade opportunities, if you don't pursue them, they disappear–that kind of took precedent the last few weeks. We'll circle back to his representative, and when we have something to announce, we'll make an announcement.”