Nikita Kucherov | |
---|---|
Born | Maykop, Russia | 17 June 1993,
Height Weight |
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 178 lb (81 kg; 12 st 10 lb) |
Position | Right Wing |
Shoots | Left |
NHL team F. teams |
Tampa Bay Lightning CSKA Moscow |
Ntl. team | Russia |
NHL Draft | 58th overall, 2011 Tampa Bay Lightning |
Playing career | 2011–present |
Nikita Igorevich Kucherov (Russian: Никита Игоревич Кучеров; born 17 June 1993) is a Russian professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Playing career[]
Juniors[]
Kucherov originally played professionally in his native Russia, for CSKA Moscow, of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). In the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, he was selected 58th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning. In an attempt to transition to the North American style, Kucherov played major junior hockey with Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
Tampa Bay Lightning[]
During the 2013–14 season, on 25 November 2013, with his first shot, on his first shift, against Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers, Kucherov became the seventh player in Lightning history to score a goal in his NHL debut.[1] On 28 October 2014, he recorded his first career hat trick against Mike Smith of the Arizona Coyotes.[2]
During the 2014–15 NHL season, Kucherov had a breakout season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kucherov posted 29 goals, 36 assists, and 65 points. Kucherov also tied for the NHL lead in plus-minus with Max Pacioretty at a +38 rating. The +38 rating also set the Lightning single season franchise record for +/- rating.[3] On 20 May 2015, Kucherov joined Martin St. Louis as the only players in Lightning history to record two game winning goals in overtime in a single playoff year, having scored a winner that evening against the New York Rangers; he had scored one in Game 1 of the prior round against the Montreal Canadiens.[4]
On 11 October 2016, the Lightning re-signed Kucherov to a three-year contract worth an average of $4.766 million per season. Last season, Kucherov led the team in points (66) and was second in assists (36) and goals (30). Kucherov also set a career high in goals, points, power-play goals (9) and game-winning goals (4). He also ranked second on the team in shots (209) and power-play goals, while also leading the team with 19 multi-point games. He also skated in 17 Stanley Cup playoff games with the Lightning last season, scoring 11 goals and 19 points to go along with a plus-13 rating. He led the team during the playoffs in goals and points. He also finished second for goals and sixth for points in playoff scoring.[5]
On 10 January 2017, Kucherov was named to the 2017 NHL All-Star game as a member of the Atlantic Division team.[6] On 12 January 2017, Kucherov scored his 85th goal in a Lightning uniform, which moved him past Rob Zamuner (84) for 10th most goals in franchise history.[7] On 21 February 2017, Kucherov recorded his 200th career NHL point.[8] On 27 February 2017, Kucherov recorded his 2nd career hat trick, which was the 10th natural hat trick in Lightning history. It was also the first ever in team history to have all three goals scored via the power play.[9][10] Kucherov's hat trick propelled him past Ryan Malone (92) for 9th most goals in Lightning history.[11] On 11 March 2017, Kucherov recorded his 99th career goal in a Lightning uniform. This moved him past Chris Gratton (98) for 8th most goals all-time in franchise history.[12] On March 18, 2017, Kucherov recorded his 100th career NHL goal.[13] On March 23, 2017, Kucherov also recorded his second hat trick in less than a month apart from his first in the 2016-2017 season.[14] This also became his third hat trick in his NHL career. On March 27, 2017, Kucherov had two assists which set a Lightning record for points in a single month with 22.[15] On April 7, 2017, Kucherov scored his 40th goal of the season, setting a new career high.[16] With his 40th goal, Kucherov joined Steven Stamkos, Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, and Brian Bradley as the only players in Lightning history with 40-goal seasons.[17] Additionally, Kucherov joined Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Ilya Kovalchuk, Pavel Bure, and Alexander Mogilny as the only Russian-born players with a 40-goal season at age 23 or younger.[18]
International play[]
Medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Competitor for Russia | ||
Men's ice hockey | ||
World Championships | ||
Bronze | 2017 Germany/France | |
World Junior Championships | ||
Bronze | 2013 Ufa | |
Silver | 2012 Canada |
On 2 March 2016, the Russian Ice Hockey Federation named Kucherov to its roster for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Kucherov was joined by Lightning teammates Nikita Nesterov, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Andrei Vasilevskiy. The tournament took place from 17 Sep to 1 October 2016, in Toronto.[19]
On April 9, 2017, the Russian Ice Hockey Federation named Kucherov to its roster for the 2017 World Ice Hockey Championships. Kucherov was joined by teammates Andrei Vasilevskiy and Vladislav Namestnikov.[20] On May 21, 2017, Kucherov helped Russia capture a bronze medal when they defeated Finland in the bronze medal game.[21]
Career statistics[]
Regular season and playoffs[]
Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
2009–10 | Krasnaya Armiya | MHL | 53 | 29 | 25 | 54 | 40 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
2010–11 | Krasnaya Armiya | MHL | 47 | 27 | 31 | 58 | 81 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 16 | ||
2010–11 | CSKA Moscow | KHL | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2011–12 | Krasnaya Armiya | MHL | 23 | 24 | 19 | 43 | 40 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | ||
2011–12 | CSKA Moscow | KHL | 18 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2012–13 | Quebec Remparts | QMJHL | 6 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2012–13 | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies | QMJHL | 27 | 26 | 27 | 53 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 10 | ||
2013–14 | Syracuse Crunch | AHL | 17 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2013–14 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 52 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
2014–15 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 82 | 29 | 36 | 64 | 37 | 26 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 14 | ||
2015–16 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 77 | 30 | 36 | 66 | 30 | 17 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 8 | ||
2016–17 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 74 | 40 | 45 | 85 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
KHL totals | 27 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
NHL totals | 285 | 108 | 126 | 234 | 119 | 45 | 22 | 20 | 42 | 22 |
International[]
Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Russia | WJC18 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 6 | ||
2012 | Russia | WJC | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | ||
2013 | Russia | WJC | 7 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 4 | ||
2016 | Russia | WCH | 4th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
2017 | Russia | WC | 10 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 8 | ||
Junior totals | 21 | 18 | 18 | 36 | 12 | ||||
Senior totals | 14 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 8 |
Awards and honors[]
Award | Year | |
---|---|---|
MHL | ||
All-Star Game | 2011 | |
NHL | ||
Bud Light Trophy (+ 38) | 2015 | |
All-Star Game | 2017 | [22] |
International | ||
U18 – First Team All-Star | 2011 | [23] |
References[]
- ↑ Kucherov provides early debut goal. TBO.com (2013-11-25). Retrieved on 2013-11-25.
- ↑ Kucherov hat trick leads Lightning past Coyotes. NHL.com (2014-10-25). Retrieved on 2014-10-29.
- ↑ Tampa Bay, Lightning (19 June 2015). Infographic: Highlighting the Bolts Record-Breaking 2014-15 Season. Tampa Bay Lightning. Retrieved on 15 July 2015.
- ↑ Burns, Bryan (20 April 2015). Nikita Kucherov's overtime winner gives Bolts 6-5 win in Game 3. Tampa Bay Lightning Beat Writer. Retrieved on 21 May 2015.
- ↑ Tampa Bay, Lightning (11 October 2016). Lightning re-sign Nikita Kucherov to 3-year contract. Tampa Bay Lightning.com. Retrieved on 11 October 2016.
- ↑ Smith, Joe (10 January 2017). Victor Hedman, Nikita Kucherov make All-Star team. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved on 10 January 2017.
- ↑ Long, Corey (12 January 2017). Ben Bishop wins return to Lightning. NHL.com. Retrieved on 13 January 2017.
- ↑ @TBLightning (21 February 2017). Kucherov records 200th career NHL point.
- ↑ @BBurnsNHL (27 February 2017). Kucherov records 10th natural hat trick in TBL history, and first to be all on the power play.
- ↑ Scanlon, Dick (27 February 2017). Kucherov's hat trick helps Lightning turn back Senators 5-1. Yahoo Sports: NHL. Retrieved on 27 February 2017.
- ↑ @BBurnsNHL (27 February 2017). Kucherov passes Malone for 9th in goals in Lightning history.
- ↑ Long, Corey (11 March 2017). Lightning hand Panthers fifth straight loss. NHL.com. Retrieved on 12 March 2017.
- ↑ @TBLightning (27 February 2017). Kucherov scores 100th career NHL goal.
- ↑ Best of NHL: Nikita Kucherov Hat Trick Lifts Lightning over Bruins. CSN (March 24, 2017).
- ↑ Gourde scores in OT, Lightning beat Blackhawks 5-4. ESPN (March 27, 2017).
- ↑ Farrell, Sean (7 April 2017). Lightning stay alive in wild-card race. NHL.com. Retrieved on 7 April 2017.
- ↑ @StatsCentre (7 April 2017). Kucherov joins Stamkos, Lecavalier, St. Louis, Bradley as only players to score 40-goals in a single season in Lightning history.
- ↑ @StatsCentre (7 April 2017). Kucherov joins Ovechkin, Malkin, Kovalchuk, Bure, and Mogilny as the only Russian-born players with a 40-goal season at 23 or younger.
- ↑ Peters, Chris (2 March 2016). World Cup of Hockey: Ovechkin, Malkin lead NHL-only Russia roster. CBSSports.com. Retrieved on 2 March 2016.
- ↑ Nikita Kucherov and Andrei Vasilevskiy have been called up to the Russian national team. Russia men's national ice hockey team (April 9, 2017).
- ↑ Gretz, Adam (21 May 2017). Russia tops Finland to take Bronze at World Championships. NBCSports.com. Retrieved on 22 May 2017.
- ↑ Smith, Joe (10 January 2017). Victor Hedman, Nikita Kucherov make All-Star team. Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved on 10 January 2017.
- ↑ Prospects report from World U18's. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (2011-04-10). Retrieved on 2011-04-10.