Nikita Kucherov hit 100 points in the National hockey league. Right now, the Tampa Bay Lightning forward is the best among the Russians.
«Am I included in the top 100 best hockey players in modern NHL history? That's cool, but I can't be on this list. I don't belong in this ranking. I don't have the speed of Connor McDavid, I don't have the Auston Matthews shot, I don't have those bright qualities that people talk about. My hockey intelligence? not so interesting,» Nikita Kucherov was modest in an interview with The Athletic in honor of one of the publication's materials dedicated to the rating of the NHL99 portal.
By that time, the Tampa forward was already leading in points in the current regular season among Russians and was arguing with McDavid for the first line in the list of assistants. But the incredible Canadian, who had already gained a crazy move, noticeably improved and rushed to the lead in all respects. However, this did not fundamentally affect Kucherov. Nikita continued to score well in almost every game and set a new all-time Lightning home streak record of 24 consecutive games. The high-profile anniversary of Kucherov was just a matter of time. And today this moment has come.
The match against the New Jersey Devils was the 71st for the Russian of the season. It was during this period of time that Kucherov scored his hundredth point in the championship. Nikita is the first among all Russian league players who managed to reach this peak. He is only the third of all hockey players in the current regular season with a hundred points. Before him, only insatiable friends from the Edmonton Oilers, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, celebrated such an anniversary.
For Kucherov, this season was already the third in his career in the NHL, in which he scored 100 points or more. Thus, the Russian improved the Lightning record, because Nikita remains the only player in the history of the club who managed to spend more than one season with the coveted hundred. Kucherov also entered the top six current NHL hockey players in terms of the number of such productive “regulars”. The company is impressive: Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby (both have six seasons with 100 points or more), Leon Draisaitl and Alexander Ovechkin (both have four seasons), Evgeni Malkin and Nikita Kucherov (both have three seasons).
Kucherov is only 29 years old, his potential is constantly growing. Right now, Nikita is objectively the best Russian hockey player, if we take into account only outfield players. Although Kooch himself does not agree with this, he possesses the necessary qualities: he has an excellent and well-placed throw (both wrist and vantimer), as well as excellent command of the art of passing. And speed … In this, Kucherov is hardly inferior to the same McDavid, because the Russian has an incredibly high speed of thinking. Nikita is very smart. He not only sees the site perfectly, but also has in his head several options for solving one problem at the same time. Kucherov will always find an opportunity for a pass, a target for a pass, and a moment for an accurate shot. He knows perfectly well where he wants to deliver the puck and that he will send it exactly to the right place. And most importantly, Kucherov, as many hockey players and experts noted, made himself, and this is expensive.
In confirmation of this conclusion, Nikita's goal, which allowed him to reach the mark of 100 points. The Russian found himself in an unusual position on the court, but after the transfer from Stephen Stamkos, he found the perfect moment for a cannon shot to “flash” the New Jersey goalkeeper.
But this is only a championship. It's scary to imagine in what form Kucherov and his Tampa will come to the playoffs, where the Lightning has turned into the most terrible monster in recent years. And in the Lightning championship, I really don’t play at full strength. For John Cooper's team, in fact, everything has already been decided, and the opponent in the first round of the playoffs is almost certain. With the greatest degree of probability, they will again become “Toronto”. And since it’s unlikely that something will change fundamentally for Tampa, then there’s no point in straining once again.
That’s why today’s defeat in the match with the Devils (2:5) with a hat-trick by Jesper Bratt should not be taken seriously.