Nikita Kucherov is currently the best player in the NHL
The Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov is on an absolute tear right now and probably isn’t getting the media attention he deserves. Let’s change that.
No level of media attention will amount to a deserving level for Nikita Kucherov. The Lightning forward is the best player on the NHL’s best team and he’s playing at a level above and beyond 99 percent of the league.
At the midpoint of this NHL season, Kucherov has 69 points (nice). “Kuch” currently has 20 goals and 49 assists. It isn’t far-fetched to say he’ll score 40 goals and at this point, realistically, it probably isn’t a stretch to say he can double his assists as well.
Cue the Ivan Drago training montage (minus the steroids). This man looks like he was built in a Russian hockey lab, designed for nothing but greatness. Like Drago, Kuch also never cracks a smile.
Here are some facts about Nikita Kucherov currently:
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) January 4, 2019
• He's now on a 12-game point streak
• This is his seventh-straight multi-point game
• This goal is his 400th career @nhl point
• He leads the league in scoring with 67 points#Klutcherov | #TBLvsLAK pic.twitter.com/Ls1460e3aN
The last time a player reached 138 points was in 1995-96 when Mario Lemieux hit 161. In today’s NHL, these kinds of numbers are unheard of. While Gretzky’s record of 212 is untouchable for the rest of time, what Kucherov is doing in the 2018-19 season is nothing short of incredible.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are currently first in the league with 66 points,12 more than the Leafs, who are in second place. They boast a ridiculous league-leading +55 goal differential, 21 more than the Leafs, who are the only other team above the +30 goal mark. At this point, it looks like we might as well just hand the Lightning the Stanley Cup in June.
On December 1 Mikko Rantanen was eight points ahead of Nikita Kucherov in the scoring race.
— Adam Gretz (@AGretz) January 4, 2019
Rantanen has an excellent 19 points in 15 games since then.
Kucherov, at this moment, is now seven points *ahead* of Rantanen in the scoring race.
The Russian winger has led the charge for the Bolts through the first 41 games this season. In his last 10 games, he’s compiled 25 points (8 goals, 17 assists). The way he’s been playing, his insane 1.68 points per game average seems somewhat sustainable. Even if he drops a little, it’s going to be difficult for anyone else to pry the Hart or Art Ross Trophies from Kuch’s hands at this point.
Related Story. Bruins play like champions at Notre Dame field, win Winter Classic. light
At the moment, Nikita Kucherov is the NHL’s best player and it isn’t even close. Though most non-Lightning fans would love to see Tampa Bay dial it down a notch, it doesn’t look like they are going to slow down any time soon. Sit back and enjoy the show.