When did you find out Kucherov was the real deal?

[zeykshade]

I have to call BS to the people suggesting they knew he was the real deal when he played U18 or when he played in the Q. U18 for example, yeah, put up great numbers, but does anyone really look at that for guys his age? Or even his year in the Q....at the same age he was playing the Q, Crosby was winning the scoring title in the NHL. Guys his age don't play U18, generally, not the star players anyway. I think Gavin is playing this year is he? But that's still a guy a year before his draft year, Kucherov was there the year of his draft year. Crosby only played there 2 years before his draft year.

In terms of the highlighted part, I didn't watch the Q that year, but was he really alone on that team? He had 53pts in 27 games, but Andrighetto had 98pts in 53 games and Dea had 85pts in 68 games. I didn't check Dea, but in the same 27 games that Kucherov played there and scored 53pts, Andrighetto had 57pts. Not at all suggesting Kucherov wasn't the best player, maybe he was, maybe he wasn't....didn't see any of them play then, but he certainly wasn't alone.

No one can say that Kucherov was going to be the real deal in the NHL at that point, but it's certainly realistic to claim that there was "something" different that made him pop at that point.

Kucherov was traded to a team as an import speaking no/very little English and scored 53 points in those 27 games. Comparing him to Andrighetto is decidedly silly. Their experiences aren't remotely similar. If anything, it speaks even more in Kucherov's favor.

 

[Theodore450]

When I met his junior line mates and they told me smokes darts

 

[Toby91ca]

No one can say that Kucherov was going to be the real deal in the NHL at that point, but it's certainly realistic to claim that there was "something" different that made him pop at that point.

Kucherov was traded to a team as an import speaking no/very little English and scored 53 points in those 27 games. Comparing him to Andrighetto is decidedly silly. Their experiences aren't remotely similar. If anything, it speaks even more in Kucherov's favor.

But the actual question was "when did you find out Kucherov was the real deal?"

I explicitly noted in my comment that I wasn't comparing the players in terms of whether one is better vs. the other, I simply suggested that saying it's too bad he was on a team with no support while being outscored by teammates seemed like a strange thing to say.

 

[zeykshade]

But the actual question was "when did you find out Kucherov was the real deal?"

I explicitly noted in my comment that I wasn't comparing the players in terms of whether one is better vs. the other, I simply suggested that saying it's too bad he was on a team with no support while being outscored by teammates seemed like a strange thing to say.

Then that's a pretty good indication that Kucherov had the nuts. Kid, traded to a team where he knows no one and speaks no English, challenges the leading scorer on the team. That's pretty "real deal".

Agree on the U18 comments. That's enough to get folks to notice him, but that's not nearly enough to judge "real deal" imo. It's a cumulative thing though. 6 points to send his former coach packing in the QMJHL playoffs was just another eyebrow raiser.

Guy just kept stacking bricks at every level and meeting/exceeding expectations.

 

[Erika]

I have to call BS to the people suggesting they knew he was the real deal when he played U18 or when he played in the Q. U18 for example, yeah, put up great numbers, but does anyone really look at that for guys his age? Or even his year in the Q....at the same age he was playing the Q, Crosby was winning the scoring title in the NHL. Guys his age don't play U18, generally, not the star players anyway. I think Gavin is playing this year is he? But that's still a guy a year before his draft year, Kucherov was there the year of his draft year. Crosby only played there 2 years before his draft year.

In terms of the highlighted part, I didn't watch the Q that year, but was he really alone on that team? He had 53pts in 27 games, but Andrighetto had 98pts in 53 games and Dea had 85pts in 68 games. I didn't check Dea, but in the same 27 games that Kucherov played there and scored 53pts, Andrighetto had 57pts. Not at all suggesting Kucherov wasn't the best player, maybe he was, maybe he wasn't....didn't see any of them play then, but he certainly wasn't alone.

Then you shouldn't comment on that... Yes he was better than Andrighetto by a wide margin. Sven was the only good player on that Huskies team aside from Kucherov.

Also, Andrighetto was viewed as a very good junior player in the prospects community, but when Kucherov arrived, it was clear as water that Kucherov was a few levels above him.

The rest of that team were overagers and scrubs and other kids without any pro hockey futures.

 

[Xerloris]

Just now in this thread, thanks for letting me know

 

[landy]

Forgot about him for 48 hours. Thanks for a new thread..

 

[mel13666]

I have to call BS to the people suggesting they knew he was the real deal when he played U18 or when he played in the Q. U18 for example, yeah, put up great numbers, but does anyone really look at that for guys his age? Or even his year in the Q....at the same age he was playing the Q, Crosby was winning the scoring title in the NHL. Guys his age don't play U18, generally, not the star players anyway. I think Gavin is playing this year is he? But that's still a guy a year before his draft year, Kucherov was there the year of his draft year. Crosby only played there 2 years before his draft year.

In terms of the highlighted part, I didn't watch the Q that year, but was he really alone on that team? He had 53pts in 27 games, but Andrighetto had 98pts in 53 games and Dea had 85pts in 68 games. I didn't check Dea, but in the same 27 games that Kucherov played there and scored 53pts, Andrighetto had 57pts. Not at all suggesting Kucherov wasn't the best player, maybe he was, maybe he wasn't....didn't see any of them play then, but he certainly wasn't alone.

But based on this logic, Bedard still doesn't represent anything as a hockey player. Since his result in U18 was only 14 points, when Canada was destroying everyone. And 7 points in an unsuccessful one.
And he became the first number because he was just another hyped-up golden Canadian boy. The same Celebrini showed more in his first year than Bedard in 2.
By the way, the first number of the 2012 draft, Yakupov, played in that Kucherov team, and he scored only 13.
Players with such results in youth hockey are not selected in the second round, and are not forced to fight their way through the 4th line like Kucherov, playing 10 minutes. And then they blame him for not scoring enough points in his first seasons. If Bedard had played 10 to 14 minutes in his two seasons, I doubt he would have even scored 40 points.

Also, Kucherov's records were held for a long time in the MHL, which confirms that this was not a one-off incident.

 

[Toby91ca]

Then you shouldn't comment on that... Yes he was better than Andrighetto by a wide margin. Sven was the only good player on that Huskies team aside from Kucherov.

Also, Andrighetto was viewed as a very good junior player in the prospects community, but when Kucherov arrived, it was clear as water that Kucherov was a few levels above him.

The rest of that team were overagers and scrubs and other kids without any pro hockey futures.

Like I said, I WAS NOT commenting on who was better or not, but when someone says the guy didn't have anyone to play with when his teammate (at the same age) was scoring 57pts in 27 games while Kucherov was scoring 53pts in 27 games......something doesn't quite add up to that comment being accurate.

 

[Pierre Larouche]

That's true, in my dreams.

Kucherov has this reputation as a very smart player. He's primarily a playmaker, but he can definitely shoot too. Keeps the goaltender and defense guessing.

Stamkos? What a player. Nothing but good things to say about him.

Point? Don't know well enough from watching to comment on, but glad he plays for Canada as a good goal scorer.

St. Louis and Lecavalier? I'm not positive, but even Calgary should have won.

OMFG. Spare us.

 

[ultra63]

OMFG. Spare us.

When I saw this at the rink

Nikita Kucherov scored his first NHL goal on his first shot, in his first shift, during his first NHL game. This occurred on November 25, 2013, against the New York Rangers. He scored a goal against Henrik Lundqvist, who was the Rangers' goalie at the time. This was his first NHL game, and he scored on his very first shot and shift.

 

[Mr Nogatco]

I don’t consider him the real deal. his team can’t win unless there’s no one in the stands or they stack their roster with an extra $18M worth of players

 

[atlanticobserver]

When I saw this at the rink

Nikita Kucherov scored his first NHL goal on his first shot, in his first shift, during his first NHL game. This occurred on November 25, 2013, against the New York Rangers. He scored a goal against Henrik Lundqvist, who was the Rangers' goalie at the time. This was his first NHL game, and he scored on his very first shot and shift.

I thought that was Dmitri Kucherov!

 

[Hippasus]

OMFG. Spare us.

I don't see the big deal. I have nothing against Kucherov. I'm actually interested in him as a player. I was just lightheartedly ribbing him when I made that All-Star Skills competition comment earlier. I will also admit that I don't watch Tampa Bay much, and certainly not this season. So enlighten me, please.

 

[The Macho King]

When Kuch was new in the league (first couple of seasons), some reporter asked him if he wanted to be as good as Stamkos.

He said he wanted to be the best player in the league. Dude had massive balls from day one.

 

[Miro4Norris]

2008-09 When he lighted it up in Belye Medvedi Moskva. Scoring almost 2 points per game

I immediately noticed his unreal Hockey IQ and smooth hands.

Did I win?

 

[Turin]

Who's that?

 

[olli]

New he was really good from when I first saw him in Tampa on the triplets line but I didn’t think he had the potential to be as good as he’s turned out to be until 2016-17 when he carried the lighting on his back in the 2nd half despite all of the injuries they had.