Breaking: 30 goal scorer has informed his team he will not show up for camp.

It seems like these stories just keep on coming.

Joining the list of young superstars digging in their heels in contract negotiations will be Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov. According to a report from Joe Smith of the Tampa Bay Times, Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman has been informed by Kucherov or his management that the 23 year old will not attend training camp without a contract.

Kucherov is in the middle of an incredibly difficult negotiation for the Lightning, one where he commands a price tag that the Lightning almost certainly can't match without making a significant trade. The rumors for months have been that Ben Bishop was that man, with Bishop confirming that he was so close to being traded to Calgary at the draft that his agent had even had talks about an extension with the Flames.

That trade never materialized, and now the Lightning are left with a player who put up an incredibly impressive 66 points in 77 games during the regular season, who has been dominant in the last two Stanley Cup playoffs, and who refuses to play for their team until they pay him a contract they can't currently afford.

More to come.

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