Nikita Kucherov

Russian ice hockey right winger who won back-to-back Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay Lightning and became the first player to lead playoffs in scoring twice.

Nikita Kucherov was born in Maykop, Russia in 1993. Tampa Bay Lightning selected him 58th overall in the 2011 NHL Draft — a remarkable value selection given his subsequent production. His career has produced 365 goals and 647 assists for 1,012 career points. He won two Stanley Cup championships with Tampa Bay (2020, 2021). He won the Hart Trophy as MVP and the Art Ross Trophy as scoring champion in 2019 after recording 128 points — the most in a single season since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2021. He won Olympic gold with Russia in 2018. He is the cornerstone of the Tampa Bay Lightning dynasty that won consecutive championships in 2020 and 2021. His combination of offensive creativity — he generates scoring opportunities through deception, patience and remarkable passing accuracy — with consistent production at the highest level makes him the most complete right wing in the contemporary game. Kucherov led the final 2026 NHL Awards Watch for the Hart Trophy after another prolific season among the league's scoring leaders in 2025-26.

Kucherov is an elite playmaker with exceptional vision and passing ability, capable of threading passes through the smallest gaps. His quick release and accurate shot make him a constant scoring threat, while his hockey intelligence allows him to find open ice and create opportunities for teammates.

Kucherov established himself as one of the most dominant offensive players of his generation and helped elevate the Tampa Bay Lightning into a championship franchise.

• Stanley Cup 2x (2020,2021)
• Hart Trophy (2019)
• Art Ross Trophy (2019)
• Conn Smythe Trophy (2021)
• Olympic Gold Medal (Russia 2018)

Team Career

Team	Period	GP	Goals
Tampa Bay Lightning	2013–2024	739	297
CSKA Moscow	2011–2013	—	—
Russia	—	67	30