The NHL on TNT crew chat about Nikita Kucherov emerging himself in the hart convo, if he gets enough respect – and Hank even goes as far to say he’s a better all-around player than Ovi 😳
Subscribe to B/R Open Ice on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@br_openice/sub_confirmation=1
Follow B/R Open Ice on X: https://x.com/BR_OpenIce
Follow B/R Open Ice on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/br_openice/
33 Comments
Kuch's first goal came on his first shot attempt against a mr hank lundqvist
I am a Lightning fan and Kucherov's stats (while amazing) are actually lower than they could be. I watch the vast majority of the Lightning games. There are so many times when Kuch puts the puck on a teammate's stick right in front of the goal but they can't finish and put it on net. They were so surprised that he was actually able to put the puck where it needed to be that they weren't ready for the feed. This is not to bad mouth his teammates as I love what each one of these guys contributes to the team, but if you aren't actively engaged into the "I have to be ready 100% of the time" mindset when Kucherov is on the ice, then at some point you'll find yourself in a high-danger scoring chance when one did not seem possible just a second or two previously.
Kuch is not a better goal scorer, but he is a better all around player. Nobody makes his team better than Kucherov
It's great that he doesn't have that much coverage. He is like a gourmet dish. Not everyone will understand. Only true hockey fans understand his genius and his impact.
It's totally on the NHL journalists. They're so quick to sing the (well deserved) praises of McDavid and MacKinnon, but ignores or undersells Kuch. Everyone in Tampa and every NHL player knows he's right up there and in a number of ways better than Mac and McDavid but because the Journalists and local commentators in other markets don't acknowledge him in the same way he doesn't get the recognition with the broader audience.
Мне понравились слова тренера Тампы, что когда шайба у Кучерова, то время останавливается. Но когда команда сильно зависима от одного игрока, то соперникам просто надо выключить игрока из игры и это принесет им победу. Именно поэтому Тампе тяжело играть в плей-офф. Кучерову не дают принимать шайбу спокойно, идет жесткий прессинг на него.
Yes. Crazy how media has been glazing Nate and Connor when Kuch has been doing the same thing for years.
Nikita Kucherov has 1 5v5 goal in his last 41 playoff games. He has not had an OT winner in the playoffs since 2015, despite his team playing in like 28 OT games since then. In the last 2 games of his team's finals appearances, he has 1g/2a/3pts +1 in 8 games. In potential Cup clinchers, he has 0g/2a/2pts with no plus minus in 4 games.
He is a choker. A small timey shrinking violet system gamer getting by on easy stats in easy situations at easy times in an easy league. When things get less and less easy, he gets less and less impactful. Part of why he has no Smythe.
I honestly think it's the way he skates and moves in general on the ice, his mannerisms – so smooth and almost nonchalant, that it looks like he's not even trying – looks like he doesn't even care or as if he's just feeding the pigeons from a park bench!! So people don't jump up and down in response because it looks like he's not trying hard enough. While other players are frantically flapping their wings around the rink, he just glides like an eagle. It's his calmness and stillness of mind that makes his game so great!! McDavid and MacKinnon are amazing, insanely fast and technical skaters, but Kuch is a just a different cerebral animal and he sees where the game and the puck is going before it unfolds
always said he was the best player in the leauge
Best winger of all time!
I don’t get it lol. He’s easily been the best player the last 2 seasons. Got snubbed from the hart trophy both years. Broadcasts like this talk about how amazing he is and then mackinnon scores 1 goal and everyone jizzez their pants and forgets kucherov exists. It’s hilarious. Dude should be the face of the league. Should be on video game covers, espn loading screens, those cringy YouTube videos the nhl posts of players doing stupid social media trends but he’s completely forgotten about every year while having the most points in the league 😂
The problem with Kucherov is his attitude in general.
He has I'm a huge prick, and I'm better than you in general, written all over his face most the time.
By the way Olympic hockey without Kucherov Kaprizov Panarin Vasilevsky and Russia is not a tournament of Best against Best 😢
He or his agents should explore opportunities in other NHL teams. If Tampa Bay doesn't pay him enough credit, then somebody else will
C'mon. Seriously? 1) He's not Canadian. 2) He's not comfortable with the media. 3) He doesn't play in a traditional hockey market. Kucherov is so good, he's overcoming all of that and now getting noticed. I'm a Lightning season ticket holder, and I'm lucky to watch him a lot. It's amazing to see just how many of his "bad passes" as they're described are really just his teammates not being where they're supposed to be. And it's almost funny to watch him come off the ice for a shift and be angry – with himself or just angry in general – because there wasn't a score. He expects to score or assist on every single shift. I'm personally convinced that "not losing" is more important to him than winning, if that makes sense.
3 players with 40+ Goal 100+ assist season Gretzky, Lemieux, Kucherov
3 players with btb 30 point playoffs 99,66,86
3 wingers have 2- 75 assist seasons Jagr, LeFluer Kucherov only one has 3 Kucherov
Islander fan, Kuch is incredible as good as anyone! Really fun to watch! Best is the shirtless press conference after the Cup and some liquid refreshments!
I'm not saying Kuch is better than McDavid, but if I were building a team with salary cap restrictions, I would take Kucherov and leave McDavid out.
Hart Trophy.
Kuch is my fav player
Kuch could had +20 points if he had healthy Points and left Stamkos in his line. Also had injured Heddy. Now Raddish is replaced Hed. Bjork and Cirelli are 😂
Yes! Not a lightning fan.
underrated – hands are as smooth or smoother than Kane and maybe, maybe as elusive as Datsuyk
I read some comments here about Kucherov being underrated. Let's assume one simple thing. I'm not insisting, just a guess. Perhaps they're doing this because he's Russian?
Finally someone says it.
Kucherov is historically a top 10 offensive player of all time
No idea why people think Ovi is on the same level as Kuch or Crosby,,,,compared to those two he is one dimensional. He basically stands on his spot and fires an endless array of slappers and one timers and thats about all he does other than once or twice a game dolling out a big hit. If you fire that many shots in a game you will rack up the points, and he can play the entire 2 minutes of a power play because he aint doin much out there. I think Crosby is the best all around player and Kuch is the better offensive player..he's magic.
He's TOP 1 in total points and points per game for the last 3 seasons with almost 1,7 ppg.
Ppl keep saying he's somewhere top-5 or top-4
That's funny
Hank will always have the story of how he gave Nikita Kucherov his first NHL goal lol
Of course they do. Canadians hate hockey Czar.
He definitely should be in the hall of fame one day.
Куч могуч!