Player Discussion: Nikita Kucherov - Part 3

[Chelis Chili]

KUCHEROV SHINES AND BECOMES NHL’S FIRST 100-POINT PERFORMER IN 2023-24

Nikita Kucherov (1-3—4) factored on all four Lightning goals to open up a six-point cushion on Nathan MacKinnon in the Art Ross Trophy race and became the first player to reach the 100-point mark this season (38-64—102 in 59 GP). The Tampa Bay forward joined Sidney Crosby (6), Connor McDavid (6), Alex Ovechkin (4) and Leon Draisaitl (4) as the fifth active player with at least four career 100-point campaigns.

* Kucherov is the NHL’s first player to 100 points (outright or tied) for the second time in his career following 2018-19. Only eight other players in NHL history have achieved the feat multiple times: Wayne Gretzky (9), Mario Lemieux (6), Phil Esposito (6), McDavid (5), Jaromir Jagr (4), Guy Lafleur (3), Crosby (2) and Evgeni Malkin (2).

* The Lightning forward, who bested his own franchise record for games to 100 points in a season, became the eighth different player since 1992-93 to reach the 100-point mark in a single season in 59 or fewer contests; McDavid (53 GP in 2020-21 & 56 GP in 2022-23) is the only other active player to achieve the feat.

* Kucherov – in search of becoming the 16th player in NHL history to win multiple Art Ross Trophies – posted his fifth four-point game of the season with each performance coming as the visitor. The 2023-24 campaign is the second in his career in which Kucherov has recorded five road outings with four-plus points (also 5 in 2018-19). Only four other players in NHL history have also achieved the feat multiple times: Gretzky (7x), Lemieux (4x), Steve Yzerman (2) and Peter Stastny (2x).

sauce: https://media.nhl.com/public/news/17765

 

[T REX]

his game is just so cerebral...he ain't the fastest or the biggest but he is playing 4D chess out there

his talent is upstairs

I think his game will age well...jmho

 

[Rschmitz]

his game is just so cerebral...he ain't the fastest or the biggest but he is playing 4D chess out there

his talent is upstairs

I think his game will age well...jmho

Jagr

 

[DFC]

Jagr

I think this might be the best comparison. Not stylistically because Jagr was huge and used his size a lot.

I feel like Kucherov will be criminally underrated historically. I mean, that assists by a winger stat is insane. Those are all time legends on that list, and he's there THREE TIMES.

 

[Rschmitz]

I think this might be the best comparison. Not stylistically because Jagr was huge and used his size a lot.

I feel like Kucherov will be criminally underrated historically. I mean, that assists by a winger stat is insane. Those are all time legends on that list, and he's there THREE TIMES.

I almost said Oates, but honestly Oates can't hold Kucherov's jockstrap and Oates is a center.

Kucherov is so unique, no comparable.

 

[DFC]

I almost said Oates, but honestly Oates can't hold Kucherov's jockstrap and Oates is a center.

Kucherov is so unique, no comparable.

Kuch is in a different tier than Oates. I think he's in the Jagr tier. Not quite top-of-the-top, but only one down. I think McDavid is in that Gretzky/Lemieux tier. It's hard to argue Kucherov is more than one tier lower than McDavid.

 

[Rschmitz]

Always fun to read pre-draft scouting reports

Jagr

Kucherov

 

[StammerHammer]

The Kucherov summary has aged well.

 

[DFC]

Always fun to read pre-draft scouting reports

Jagr

View attachment 825740


Kucherov

View attachment 825742

In some ways, that might be the most accurate scouting report of Kucherov there was. While it doesn't really say just how GOOD he would be, it touches on a lot of things that most reports from the time didn't. Everyone thought he'd be a good goal-scorer.

 

[T REX]

Always fun to read pre-draft scouting reports

Jagr

View attachment 825740


Kucherov

View attachment 825742

Great read. Thank you.

 

[LightningStorm]

his game is just so cerebral...he ain't the fastest or the biggest but he is playing 4D chess out there

his talent is upstairs

I think his game will age well...jmho

He has a sense of the correct speed and pace to play at unlike anyone I've seen. And can create out of any pace. It's been a joy to see this amazing sense combined with how talented he is at both passing and shooting the puck.

 

[Zwui21]

Only "complaint" about last night: we need Kuch to get back at potting 3+ points per night, really want him to prove the whole league wrong by winning the Hart and Art Ross.

Let's get it Kuuuch

 

[EmptyNetAssassin]

Only "complaint" about last night: we need Kuch to get back at potting 3+ points per night, really want him to prove the whole league wrong by winning the Hart and Art Ross.

Let's get it Kuuuch

Kuch outsmarted everyone and was busy playing mind games wearing a raddysh jersey. Kuch knew the defense needed a confidence boost.

 

[JoVel]

Since Kucherov surpassed Lecavalier's 108 points, he now holds the first, second and third highest point totals in a season in Lightning history.

 

[EmptyNetAssassin]

Since Kucherov surpassed Lecavalier's 108 points, he now holds the first, second and third highest point totals in a season in Lightning history.

So he is the Goat of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

 

[These Are The Days]

So he is the Goat of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It's probably not disputable either. He'll probably set his career high in points this year as long as the rest of the team is up for giving 100% effort the rest of the season.

 

[EmptyNetAssassin]

It's probably not disputable either. He'll probably set his career high in points this year as long as the rest of the team is up for giving 100% effort the rest of the season.

I mean he has been giving 100% while most of the guys aren't. Duclair brought some life and energy to the line up. Jeannot was supposed to do it. Maybe he does it whenever he gets off the IR.

 

[These Are The Days]

I mean he has been giving 100% while most of the guys aren't. Duclair brought some life and energy to the line up. Jeannot was supposed to do it. Maybe he does it whenever he gets off the IR.

Yeah, Kucherov never isn't on. It's rare that he isn't. I actually didn't realize we had so many games left. He *MIGHT* have an outside shot at 150 points if he has a few more big nights like last night. To do that as a winger is bonkers

 

[JoVel]

Kucherov is easily the best in franchise history at this point to me.

 

[EmptyNetAssassin]

Kucherov is easily the best in franchise history at this point to me.

IF Kucherov isn't our best franchise player then we can chant with his number one BS! I was so lucky to randomly win his puck from the lightning foundation his rookie year. I have my franchise lighnting Puck collection with him, Vinny, MSL, Hedman, and Stamkos. I am debating to get a Pointer or Hagel puck.

 

[These Are The Days]

Kucherov is easily the best in franchise history at this point to me.

He will be a top 3 wing of all time at the rate he's going. Mentioned in the same breath as Jagr and Ovechkin and more renowned than the likes of Robatille and Kurri

 

[DFC]

Kucherov is easily the best in franchise history at this point to me.

Agreed. I think there's a strong case for Hedman, but Kucherov's longevity is likely to separate him from everybody else. IMO he passed MSL in the cup years.

 

[These Are The Days]

Agreed. I think there's a strong case for Hedman, but Kucherov's longevity is likely to separate him from everybody else. IMO he passed MSL in the cup years.

It comes down to how you define the legacy. One guy has an outside shot of a top 20 all time and the other won't be surpassed in Lightning excellence and consistency until you find the reincarnation of Ray Bourque or Nik Lindstrom or years and years of prime Pronger

 

[Tampa22]

Kucherov is easily the best in franchise history at this point to me.

I really love St. Louis, he was a great competitor, even more than Kucherov in my point of view, but I agree with you here, Kucherov now get my vote for the best of the franchise. He played with better teammates and with a more solid team structure but he's the best.

 

[DFC]

It comes down to how you define the legacy. One guy has an outside shot of a top 20 all time and the other won't be surpassed in Lightning excellence and consistency until you find the reincarnation of Ray Bourque or Nik Lindstrom or years and years of prime Pronger

If Hedman had kept up his 2020ish form for a long, long time, he could have climbed pretty high in the all time ranks, IMO. He had like 3 years where he was unquestionably the best defenseman, maybe 4?

Kucherov's consistency is just kind of unreal though. Like, an "off" year for him is about 100 points these days. So I can see the argument for Hedman, but to me it seems like the odds are good that in 10 years, Kucherov is gonna separate himself.

I just think we are in a great, great era for players. The only player who's clearly better than Kucherov is arguably a Gretzky-tier player. I think when it's all said and done Kucherov will be viewed somewhere around Jagr's level. Maybe a bit below, but the same tier. To me, he's above the Sakics, Forsbergs, Yzermans, etc. That's not something I say lightly.