Nikita Kucherov (AKA Kuch) was born on June 17, 1993, in Maykop, Russia. The 5-foot-11 and 183 pound right winger has had a Hall of Fame career thus far, but is not close to being done or showing signs of slowing down. He has spent his entire NHL career with the Tampa Bay Lightning, being named as an assistant captain prior to the 2022-23 season. Kuch has been discussed as one of the best players to put on the Lightning uniform, and is highly regarded as one of the best playmaking wingers in the league. Holding records such as the most assists in a single season by a winger in NHL history and most points by a Russian-born player in a single season just shows how great of a player he is.
His grind barely stops. Once a season is done, it is not long before you see Kucherov back on the ice working on the basics to prepare for the next season. Though he comes off as a very introverted person, not being seen often in the Lighting’s Youtube show “Recharge,” Kucherov does get seen teaching younger players skills he was taught and learned to get to where he is today. His love for the sport and hate for losing makes him a better player.
Career Leading Up to the NHL
Kucherov spent the majority of his junior career in Russia playing for Krasnaya Armiya Moskva in the Molodyozhnaya Hokkeinaya Liga (MHL). At 17- and 18 years old, Kucherov had a couple of stints playing professional hockey in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for CSKA Moskow. He later made the trek to North America to play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the Quebec Remparts and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. He represented Russia three separate times – once at the 2011 U18 World Junior Championships and twice at the U20 World Junior Championships. Getting his name on NHL scout’s radar, Kucherov was selected as the 58th pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Lightning. Kucherov got his start with the Lightning’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. No one could have predicted he would earn a call-up to the Lightning after just 17 games in their farm system, but he did.
Playing Well Above His Draft Position
While the Lightning knew who they were drafting and how good he was, they did not realize just how good he would turn out to be. His first 52 games in a Lightning sweater went how one would expect it to go – lots of nerves and gripping the stick too tight. However, on his first shot and first shift, Kucherov made his mark just 2 minutes and 12 seconds into the game, collecting his first NHL goal against the New York Rangers to open the scoring. Kuch did see action in two games during the Stanley Cup Playoffs that year, collecting his first playoff goal and point.
Over the course of his 11-year career, Kucherov has only gotten better. In four of his last seven seasons, Kucherov has recorded 100 points or more, with the 2023-24 season being his best when he collected 144 points. The skill Kucherov has shown over the years still leaves many Lightning and hockey fans in shock. His vision is immaculate, and his silky-smooth hands are even better. He can turn a play from absolutely nothing into something beautiful. He is able to make a play that is so difficult, but makes it look so easy and effortless.
Awards, Accomplishments, & Team Rank
Having been with the Lightning for how long he has been, his name inches closer and closer to taking over top spots for stats in Lightning history. His franchise ranks look like this:
- Games played (725) ranks sixth
- Goals (320) ranks fourth
- Assists (553) ranks fourth
- Points (873) ranks fourth
- Powerplay goals (88) ranks fifth
- Hat-Tricks (5) ranks fourth
- 2+ Assist Games (131) ranks first
- 3+ Assist Games (43) ranks first
- 4+ Assist Games (5) ranks first
- 2+ Goal Games (46) ranks third
- 3+ Goal Games (5) ranks fourth
- 2+ Point Games (245) ranks third
- 3+ Point Games (90) ranks second
- 4+ Point Games (29) ranks first
- 5+ Point Games (6) ranks first
Kucherov is a very decorated player when it comes to awards, whether it be individual or team awards.
- 2010-11 Most Points by a U18 player in the KHL
- 2010-11 MHL All-Star Game participant
- 2011 MHL Champion
- 2011 U18 WJC Best Forward
- 2011 U18 WJC Bronze Medalist
- 2011 U18 WJC Most Goals (11)
- 2011 U18 WJC Most Points (21)
- 2012 U20 WJC Silver Medalist
- 2013 U20 Bronze Medalist
- 2013-14 AHL Rookie of the Month (October)
- 2014-15 NHL Best Plus/Minus (+38)
- 2016-17 NHL All-Star Game Participant
- 2016-17 NHL Second All-Star Team
- 2017 World Championship Bronze Medalist
- 2017 World Championship Most Goals (7)
- 2017-18 NHL All-Star Game Participant
- 2017-18 NHL All-Star Team
- 2018-19 NHL All-Star Game Participant
- 2018-19 NHL First All-Star Team
- 2018-19 NHL Most Assists (87)
- 2018-19 Art Ross Trophy Winner (128 points)
- 2018-19 Hart Trophy Winner
- 2018-19 Ted Lindsey Award Winner
- 2018-19 Russian Player of the Year
- 2019 World Championship Best Forward
- 2019 World Championship Bronze Medalist
- 2020 NHL Playoff Most Assists (27)
- 2020 NHL Playoff Most Points (34)
- 2019-20 NHL Second All-Star Team
- 2020 Stanley Cup Champion
- 2021 NHL Playoffs Most Assists (24)
- 2021 NHL Playoffs Most Points (32)
- 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Champion
- 2022-23 NHL All-Star Game Participant
- 2023-24 NHL All-Star Game Participant
- 2023-24 NHL First All-Star Team
- 2023-24 NHL Most Assists (100)
- 2023-24 Art Ross Trophy Winner (144 points)
- 2023-24 Hart Trophy Finalist
