Nikita Kucherov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nikita Kucherov |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Kucherov with the Tampa Bay Lightning in January 2014
|
|||
| Born | 17 June 1993 Maykop, Russia |
||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | ||
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb) | ||
| Position | Right wing | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
Tampa Bay Lightning CSKA Moscow |
||
| National 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 player. He plays as a right winger and is an alternate captain for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League (NHL). Many people consider Kucherov to be one of the best players in the world.
He has won several major awards, including the Hart Memorial Trophy (for the league's most valuable player) and the Art Ross Trophy (for the league's top scorer) in 2019. He also won the Ted Lindsay Award in 2019 and 2025, which is given to the best player as voted by other NHL players. Kucherov won the Art Ross Trophy again in 2024 and 2025. He was also a finalist for the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award multiple times. In 2017, he was almost the league's top goal scorer, finishing as runner-up for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy.
Kucherov helped the Lightning win the Stanley Cup twice, in 2020 and 2021. He was the top scorer in the playoffs both times. He holds the record for the most points by a Russian-born player in one season (144 points). He also holds many Lightning team records for playoff points, goals, and assists.
Contents
Playing Career Highlights
Starting in Junior Hockey
Kucherov began his hockey journey with Krasnaya Armiya in Russia's MHL in 2009. He played three seasons there. During this time, he also started playing professionally in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for CSKA Moscow.
In 2011, the Tampa Bay Lightning picked him 58th overall in the NHL Draft. To get ready for playing in North America, Kucherov joined the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He signed his first NHL contract with the Lightning in September 2012.
Joining the Tampa Bay Lightning (2013–Present)
Early Years and "The Triplets" Line (2013–2015)
Nikita Kucherov made his NHL debut on 25 November 2013, against the New York Rangers. He scored a goal on his very first shot, during his first time on the ice! He was only the seventh player in Lightning history to score in their first NHL game.
In his second season (2014–15), Kucherov had a fantastic year. He played on a special line with Tyler Johnson and Ondřej Palát. Fans and coaches called them "The Triplets" because they played so well together. On 28 October 2014, he scored his first career hat trick (three goals in one game). He played all 82 games that season, scoring 29 goals and 36 assists for 65 points. He also had a +38 rating, which was the best in the NHL that year and a Lightning team record.
The Triplets line was very strong in the 2015 playoffs. Kucherov scored his first playoff goal against Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens. He also scored two overtime game-winning goals in those playoffs, joining Martin St. Louis as the only Lightning players to do so in a single playoff year. The Lightning made it all the way to the 2015 Stanley Cup Finals, but they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks. Kucherov finished the playoffs with 10 goals and 12 assists.
Becoming a Star and Winning Stanley Cups (2015–2022)
In the 2015–16 season, Kucherov led the Lightning with 66 points. He scored 30 goals, which was a new personal best for him. He also had 19 games where he scored more than one point. In the 2016 playoffs, he led the team in goals and points, helping them reach the Eastern Conference Finals.
On 11 October 2016, Kucherov signed a new three-year contract with the Lightning. He reached his 100th career assist in December 2016. In January 2017, he was chosen to play in the NHL All-Star Game. He scored his second career hat trick in February 2017, and his third hat trick less than a month later! On 18 March, he scored his 100th NHL goal.
Kucherov finished the 2016–17 season with 40 goals and 45 assists for 85 points. His 40 goals tied him for second in the league. He was named an NHL Second Team All-Star for his great performance.
In the 2017–18 season, Kucherov started strong, scoring a goal in his first seven games. This was a rare achievement, as only a few players in the last 30 years had done it. He also had a point in his first 11 games, tying a Lightning record. He was selected for the 2018 NHL All-Star Game. Kucherov had an amazing season, reaching 100 points for the first time in his career (39 goals, 61 assists). In the 2018 playoffs, he set a new team record for most points in a single series. The Lightning made it to the Eastern Conference Finals but lost to the Washington Capitals.
On 10 July 2018, Kucherov signed a long eight-year contract with the Lightning. In December 2018, he set new team records for most assists (21) and points (30) in a single month. He was chosen for his third straight All-Star Game in January 2019. On 18 February, he had a five-point night, setting a new Lightning record for assists in a single season (70).
On 9 March, Kucherov broke the Lightning's single-season points record with his 109th point. He finished the 2018–19 season with an incredible 128 points (41 goals, 87 assists) in all 82 games. This was the most points ever by a Russian-born player in one NHL season. He won the Art Ross Trophy as the league's top scorer and the Hart Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player. He also won the Ted Lindsay Award, voted by his fellow players.
In the 2020 playoffs, Kucherov continued to shine. He set a new Lightning record for most points in playoff history (70). He also had a five-point game against the New York Islanders, setting a new team record for points in a single playoff game. Kucherov led the league in points (34) and assists (27) during the 2020 playoffs. The Lightning went on to win the Stanley Cup by defeating the Dallas Stars.
For the 2020–21 season, Kucherov had hip surgery and missed all 56 regular season games. However, he returned for the 2021 playoffs and led the league in scoring again with 32 points (8 goals, 24 assists). The Lightning won the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row! After the win, Kucherov was very excited during interviews, celebrating his team's big victory and praising teammate Andrei Vasilevskiy.
In the 2021–22 season, Kucherov had a groin injury and missed 32 games. He returned in January 2022 and scored his fourth career hat trick. He finished the season with 69 points in 47 games. In the 2022 Stanley Cup Finals, he recorded his 100th playoff assist. The Lightning made it to the finals again but lost to the Colorado Avalanche. Kucherov finished the 2022 playoffs with 27 points, leading his team.
Continued Success and 100-Assist Season (2022–Present)
Kucherov was named an alternate captain for the 2022–23 season. On 13 December 2022, he recorded his 400th career assist. He finished the 2022–23 season with 113 points (30 goals, 83 assists) in all 82 games.
On 27 December 2023, Kucherov scored his 300th NHL goal. On 18 January 2024, he recorded his 500th NHL assist. A few days later, on 23 January, he scored his fifth career hat trick. On 17 April, Kucherov reached 100 assists in the 2023–24 season! He became the first winger and only the fifth player in NHL history to achieve 100 assists in a single season. He ended the season with a career-high 144 points (44 goals, 100 assists) in 81 games, earning him his second Art Ross Trophy. He was also chosen for the 2023–24 NHL First All-Star Team by a unanimous vote.
In the 2024–25 season, Kucherov recorded his 600th career assist. He finished the season with 121 points (37 goals, 84 assists), earning his third Art Ross Trophy. This made him only the ninth player in NHL history to win the award at least three times. He was also a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy and won the Ted Lindsay Award again.
International Play
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Representing Russia |
||
| Men's ice hockey | ||
| World Championships | ||
| Bronze | 2017 Germany/France | |
| Bronze | 2019 Slovakia | |
| World Junior Championships | ||
| Silver | 2012 Canada | |
| Bronze | 2013 Ufa | |
| World U18 Championships | ||
| Bronze | 2011 Germany | |
Kucherov has played for the Russian national junior team in several tournaments. He won a silver medal at the 2012 World Junior Championships and a bronze medal in 2013.
In 2016, he joined the Russian national team for the first time at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He also played in the 2017 and 2019 World Championships, where Russia won bronze medals both times.
Personal Life
Nikita Kucherov was born in Maykop, a city in southern Russia. His family moved to Moscow when he was young. His mother worked at a hockey rink, which is how he first started playing the sport.
Kucherov is married to Anastasiya, and they have a son. His father, Igor, is a Colonel in the Russian Army.
Career Statistics
Regular Season and Playoffs
Bold indicates led league
| 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 | 65 | 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 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 80 | 39 | 61 | 100 | 42 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 10 | ||
| 2018–19 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 82 | 41 | 87 | 128 | 62 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 19 | ||
| 2019–20 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 68 | 33 | 52 | 85 | 38 | 25 | 7 | 27 | 34 | 22 | ||
| 2020–21 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | — | — | — | — | — | 23 | 8 | 24 | 32 | 14 | ||
| 2021–22 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 47 | 25 | 44 | 69 | 22 | 23 | 8 | 19 | 27 | 14 | ||
| 2022–23 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 82 | 30 | 83 | 113 | 36 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 11 | ||
| 2023–24 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 81 | 44 | 100 | 144 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25 | Tampa Bay Lightning | NHL | 78 | 37 | 84 | 121 | 45 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | ||
| KHL totals | 27 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| NHL totals | 803 | 357 | 637 | 994 | 386 | 152 | 53 | 118 | 171 | 116 | ||||
International Play Statistics
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Russia | IH18 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2011 | Russia | U18 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 6 | |
| 2012 | Russia | WJC | 7 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2013 | Russia | WJC | 7 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 4 | |
| 2016 | Russia | WCH | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2017 | Russia | WC | 10 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 8 | |
| 2019 | Russia | WC | 10 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 4 | |
| Junior totals | 25 | 19 | 19 | 38 | 14 | |||
| Senior totals | 24 | 15 | 19 | 34 | 12 | |||
Awards and Honours
| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| MHL | ||
| All-Star Game | 2011 | |
| NHL | ||
| NHL All-Star Game | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024 | |
| NHL First All-Star Team | 2018, 2019, 2024, 2025 | |
| NHL Second All-Star Team | 2017, 2020 | |
| Art Ross Trophy | 2019, 2024, 2025 | |
| Ted Lindsay Award | 2019, 2025 | |
| Hart Memorial Trophy | 2019 | |
| Stanley Cup Champion | 2020, 2021 | |
| International | ||
| World U18 Championship First Team All-Star | 2011 | |
| Kharlamov Trophy | 2019 | |
Records
NHL Records
- Most assists in a single season by a winger in NHL history – 100 (2023–24)
- Most points in a single season by a Russian-born player – 144 (2023–24)
Tampa Bay Lightning Team Records
- Most playoff points – 167
- Most playoff goals – 53
- Most playoff assists – 114
- Most points in a single season – 144 (2023–24)
- Most assists in a single season – 100 (2023–24)
- Most points in a single playoff season – 34 (2019–20)
- Most assists in a single playoff season – 27 (2019–20)
- Most points in a single calendar month by a Tampa Bay Lightning player – 30 (2018–19)
- Most assists in a single calendar month by a Tampa Bay Lightning player – 21 (2018–19)
- Most consecutive games with a point to start a season by a Tampa Bay Lightning player – 11 (2017–18)
- Most consecutive games with a goal to start a season by a Tampa Bay Lightning player – 7 (2017–18)
