Nikita Kurcherov at the Staples Center on November 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed forward Nikita Kucherov to an 8-year contract extension worth an annual average of $9.5 million. The deal locks up Kucherov through the 2026-27 season.

Kucherov scored 39 goals along with 100 points in the 2017-18 season. He also recorded a +15 rating, eight power play goals, and seven game-winning goals.

The 25-year-old earned $11,017,500 in his first five seasons from contracts with the Tampa Bay Lightning.