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Player Discussion: Nikita Kucherov - Part 3

LightningStrikes

LightningStrikes

Champa Bay Lightning
Nov 24, 2009
26,573
10,517
I think his play style should age pretty well. It’s not about physicality, skating, explosiveness, his shot or stick handling. It’s all about vision and reading and predicting the play, understanding where all the moving parts are gonna be and what the opposition is (not) expecting, doing the unpredictable while (almost) standing still. Have a mobile linemate enter the zone and hand the puck to Kuch and good things will happen.
 
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DFC

DFC

Registered User
Sep 26, 2013
47,896
24,220
NB
StutzlingAway said:
I just wanted to come here and say that Kucherov might be the most underappreciated Superstar that this league has ever seen. As a Sens fan, I tune into Lightning games often and he is head and shoulders above his peers night in and night out. His overall talent and skillset is only second to a few over the past 20 years. How do you guys view his career and longevity in a few years as he enters his mid 30s? I think he can be effective into his late 30s due to his style of play.
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Yeah. One of the things that separates Kucherov is how OFTEN he's the most dangerous player on the ice. I guess that only fully comes through when you understand what makes him dangerous. Like if you're judging him by attacking the net or stick handling though 3 guys, you don't get it yet. He's just so, so unpredictable to defenses and goalies.

As for longevity, I think most of us are convinced he will age well. Honestly I'm not sure he isn't still improving. His game is so cerebral, so not based in physical skills. Experience seems to be making him better.
 
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StutzlingAway

StutzlingAway

Registered User
Feb 28, 2017
500
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DFC said:
Yeah. One of the things that separates Kucherov is how OFTEN he's the most dangerous player on the ice. I guess that only fully comes through when you understand what makes him dangerous. Like if you're judging him by attacking the net or stick handling though 3 guys, you don't get it yet. He's just so, so unpredictable to defenses and goalies.

As for longevity, I think most of us are convinced he will age well. Honestly I'm not sure he isn't still improving. His game is so cerebral, so not based in physical skills. Experience seems to be making him better.
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I agree with that. He reminds me of Lionel Messi in soccer. Reads the game so well even as he slows down he's so lethal. Then the part where they rarely ever make a bad pass or read is surreal.
 
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olli

olli

Least biased user
Dec 2, 2016
3,785
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With McDavid off too another slow start and now out for a few weeks we could very well see a Kuch vs MacKinnon art ross race and hart race again
 
JFedol

JFedol

Registered User
May 25, 2023
143
171
Calgary, Alberta
That Guentzel goal with the unbelievable assist by Kuch was insane. Its plays like that that me wonder how Kuch would've fared out as a centre if he ever made that transition. I think we would've been way more dominant at our peaks with a hypothetical Kuch centre with the same production.

He's still the GOAT though
 
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JFedol

JFedol

Registered User
May 25, 2023
143
171
Calgary, Alberta
Once again hoping he has a CRAZY game soon to retake the lead in scoring. McDavid is out for some considerable action and now's the time to regain the lead. Also hoping that he racks up assists sooner than later, I will always still stand by that 125 assist prediction.

Overall though, Mackinnon could go apeshit but Kaprizov, Makar and Reinhart are medicore contenders for the Ross lmao GTFOH.
 
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EmptyNetAssassin

EmptyNetAssassin

Registered User
Dec 16, 2011
4,037
2,543
FL
The main board locked my thread because they can make up bs to spin Mackinnon was the mvp last year or the better plyaer. HE is worse defensiely and offensively than kucherov. Makar and him are the definition of soft. They cant carry a team on their own and disappear against equal or better talent. Kucherov on the other hand steps up and carries the team.
 
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JFedol

JFedol

Registered User
May 25, 2023
143
171
Calgary, Alberta
Also, this tenure without Point could lowkey add more legacy points (as if he wasn't already good in that department) if he produces and manages to win games IMO. Kuch obviously has the 2017 season with Stamko's injury, and has had Palat, Johnson and JT Brown centre him at some point and be productive. But at the end of thay day, It just all but reinforces that he's elite with or w/o an elite centreman
 
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