Player Discussion: Nikita Kucherov - Part 3

[olli]

I'm not for trading him especially at his cap hit but his play was absolute dog shit this run. Workouts are nice but it seems he's stuck in regular season mode all year. Spinning turnovers in elimination games? Did he drive the net once this series? Young Kuch was a playoff dawg, now he's Joe Thornton.

I’m sure he will be working on the stuff he needs to this summer to be better in the playoffs

 

[olli]

 

[Stammertime91]

Kuch: "dont go to the gym, work on your skill"

Yzerman watching in Detroit: "fatass"

 

[Zwui21]

His demeanor feels different than any other media interview I saw from Kuch, ever.
Seems like he's opening up a bit to it, being more vocal and thoughtful in his answer.

Loved his response about his workouts. 1 more thing on a list of 100 that makes me say that trading away this guy is not even to consider.
Hopefully Cirelli, Gage, Geekie, Lilleberg and others join him starting next week to work on their skills.
Imagine we find this working with Kuch is the recipe for guys to get a huge boost offensively lmao

 

[olli]

His demeanor feels different than any other media interview I saw from Kuch, ever.
Seems like he's opening up a bit to it, being more vocal and thoughtful in his answer.

Loved his response about his workouts. 1 more thing on a list of 100 that makes me say that trading away this guy is not even to consider.
Hopefully Cirelli, Gage, Geekie, Lilleberg and others join him starting next week to work on their skills.
Imagine we find this working with Kuch is the recipe for guys to get a huge boost offensively lmao

Yeah this is definitely the most open I’ve seen him with the media apart from after winning the cup

 

[Coopers Gum]

His demeanor feels different than any other media interview I saw from Kuch, ever.

Uhhh

 

[LightningStrikes]

He wants the Hart and knows he has to give proper interviews for it.

I guess it’s more that he’s more mature now. After all he’s one of our veterans now and wearing an A on his jersey.

 

[Stammertime91]

I know the uncontested decision was to give Hedman the captaincy, but I do wonder how it would change his game and the teams response if he was captain. Interesting to think about.

And it doesn't sound like Kucherov has any interest in leaving any time soon, either. Nor would Brisebois even sniff consideration of trading him.

 

[DFC]

I know the uncontested decision was to give Hedman the captaincy, but I do wonder how it would change his game and the teams response if he was captain. Interesting to think about.

And it doesn't sound like Kucherov has any interest in leaving any time soon, either. Nor would Brisebois even sniff consideration of trading him.

At this point Kucherov is the best player in franchise history, still in his prime. The only way a trade is feasible is if he wants out.

 

[Sky04]

Guys nobody is dumb enough to trade Kucherov now, when his contract is about to expire though you have to make a decision, especially if we're not in a position to win. It would be moronic to let him walk for nothing, he would fetch a huge haul even as a rental. Kuch has been taking discount contracts his whole career, let NY or something pay him 13M as a 34 year old.

 

[Stammertime91]

Guys nobody is dumb enough to trade Kucherov now, when his contract is about to expire though you have to make a decision, especially if we're not in a position to win. It would be moronic to let him walk for nothing, he would fetch a huge haul even as a rental. Kuch has been taking discount contracts his whole career, let NY or something pay him 13M as a 34 year old.

If he's still hitting +100 points when he's 34, I dont know how you'd not resign him given the likelihood of a substantial increase in the cap, too. He would be a "lifer" likely because of production. That or like someone else said, he'd have to ask to leave to chase a cup before we decline to offer him a new contract.

 

[Sky04]

If he's still hitting +100 points when he's 34, I dont know how you'd not resign him given the likelihood of a substantial increase in the cap, too. He would be a "lifer" likely because of production. That or like someone else said, he'd have to ask to leave to chase a cup before we decline to offer him a new contract.

The point is you can't let him walk for nothing, that'd be a huge blow.

 

[StaySalty]

Kuch had a rough series for sure, we know he's better than what he displayed having said that whole team is capable. I'm not against continuing the retool and getting some aggressive fore checking forwards and some help on the blue line. Kuch is beyond my all-time favorite player, if he gets traded anytime soon I'll probably stop watching. Having said that I don't think he's going anywhere.

 

[DFC]

Kuch had a rough series for sure, we know he's better than what he displayed having said that whole team is capable. I'm not against continuing the retool and getting some aggressive fore checking forwards and some help on the blue line. Kuch is beyond my all-time favorite player, if he gets traded anytime soon I'll probably stop watching. Having said that I don't think he's going anywhere.

He's not.

I think Florida is going to shut down every star they play against again.

 

[StaySalty]

He's not.

I think Florida is going to shut down every star they play against again.

I hope not I want to see them Yahoo's knocked out they better not win back-to-back.

 

[OffBy1]

Last year Kuch was robbed for the Hart trophy. I know it's based on their regular season performances, but after comparing McKinnon's playoff performance this year to Kuch's , it's getting harder for me to argue who's more valuable to their team.

 

[Sky04]

He's not.

I think Florida is going to shut down every star they play against again.

I doubt it, the Florida defense was a shell of itself this year it was Forsling (who was a lot better last year) holding it together. Matthews and Marner are going to be a lot more effective than Kucherov was this series. Kucherov and everyone in general just sucked.

 

[Stammertime91]

I doubt it, the Florida defense was a shell of itself this year it was Forsling (who was a lot better last year) holding it together. Matthews and Marner are going to be a lot more effective than Kucherov was this series. Kucherov and everyone in general just sucked.

Brayden Button Hook doesn't do any favors for Kuch when he comes in cruising for the inevitable twirly bird drop pass.

I wouldn't play Kucherov and Point together next season. Let Point rediscover his game and see if he can generate offense without the most lifted playmaker feeding him shots.

 

[DFC]

Brayden Button Hook doesn't do any favors for Kuch when he comes in cruising for the inevitable twirly bird drop pass.

I wouldn't play Kucherov and Point together next season. Let Point rediscover his game and see if he can generate offense without the most lifted playmaker feeding him shots.

Point can also go back to being a 30-30 shutdown C. This is where some pure offense Cs look enticing.

 

[LTIR Trickery]

If he's still hitting +100 points when he's 34, I dont know how you'd not resign him given the likelihood of a substantial increase in the cap, too. He would be a "lifer" likely because of production. That or like someone else said, he'd have to ask to leave to chase a cup before we decline to offer him a new contract.

It isn't as if he is a pretty good forward that you might be able to replicate in FA, he is basically better than all but one guy...? Two guys...? In the entire league. I bet even his "downslope" years are still 80+ points.

 

[DFC]

It isn't as if he is a pretty good forward that you might be able to replicate in FA, he is basically better than all but one guy...? Two guys...? In the entire league. I bet even his "downslope" years are still 80+ points.

If you had to bet on one guy to produce as he ages, this is the guy. His skillset just doest depend on much that deteriorates with age. It's mostly about quick decisions and being mentally ahead of the play.

I'd bet on his decline following a similar path as Gretzky's. In that the goal-scoring might dry up, but the playmaking will be there until the end.

 

[Zwui21]

Kuch has to be a Bolt till he retires. He truly is a gem.
3 months of Kuch training for Gage and Geekie, and they'll be 60 points players next season lol

 

[Stammertime91]

God, we should've never let go of Pat. Say what you want about speed, but the guy would've hugged someone to death in a fight or hit them if they messed with us. Made everybody have a little extra aggression.

To have gotten rid of him for nothing was such a disgrace. In hindsight, he meant a lot to the team in ways we didn't see.

 

[DFC]

God, we should've never let go of Pat. Say what you want about speed, but the guy would've hugged someone to death in a fight or hit them if they messed with us. Made everybody have a little extra aggression.

To have gotten rid of him for nothing was such a disgrace. In hindsight, he meant a lot to the team in ways we didn't see.

Yeah, it was like losing our teeth. Wasn't about fighting so much as the attitude. The team played like losing didn't even cross their minds.

 

[LightningStrikes]

Yep, letting Maroon (and Perry) walk was bad for the locker room in hindsight. With them our “nobody can mess with us” attitude left and we became toothless.