The reigning Art Ross winner has two goals and an assist through the Lightning’s first four games, but owns a minus-8 rating as the team has gone just 1-2-1 to open the new campaign.
Kucherov led the NHL with 84 assists and 121 points in 2024-25, leading Tampa Bay back to the post-season for an eighth consecutive year.
With Kucherov out of the lineup, both Jack Finley and Curtis Douglas will take the ice in Detroit. The two had previously been swapping spots among Tampa Bay’s 12 forwards.