Tampa Bay Lightning · Right wing · Shoots L
Nikita Kucherov
Age 33 · 5'11" · 172 lb · Born in Maykop, RUS
Cap hit
$9.5M
9.1% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
—
arrives with the trade tools
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
1
100.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
1
1.00 per game
TOI/GP
24:07
PP 9:38 · PK 0:00
xGF%
59.5
5v5, +2.5 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.31
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
-1
Blocks 1 · Hits 0
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 @ NYR · L 5-1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 24:07 | 9:38 | 0:00 | — | 80 | 4 | 1 | -1 | +0.31 |
| May 3 vs MTL · L 2-1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 20:16 | 1:57 | 0:00 | — | 71 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -0.15 |
| May 1 @ MTL · W 1-0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 22:50 | 5:10 | 0:00 | — | 78 | 4 | 1 | 0 | -1.30 |
| Apr 29 vs MTL · L 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 21:44 | 4:36 | 0:00 | — | 38 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -0.53 |
| Apr 26 @ MTL · W 3-2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 22:57 | 9:24 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | +1 | +0.81 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,110 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
94th percentile
83rd percentile
97th percentile
93rd percentile
93rd percentile
93rd percentile
97th percentile
94th percentile
80th percentile
95th percentile
98th percentile
92nd percentile
96th percentile
90th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleElite playmaking winger
Trait percentiles vs. NHL wingers · 2025-26
Kucherov is a pass-first creator operating at the highest level of playmaking skill, generating chances for others while maintaining strong volume and accuracy in his own shot. His game relies entirely on finesse and positioning, as he avoids physical engagement and struggles with transition speed and ball security.
- Shooting volume
- 94
- Playmaking
- 99
- Zone entries(est.)
- 28
- Forechecking
- 17
- Physicality
- 8
- Defensive impact
- 5
- Puck management
- 1
- Speed
- 68
Where he shoots from
Slot 27% · Mid-range 54% · Perimeter 18%(378 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- 99th percentile playmaking makes him a chance-creation machine
- 94th percentile shooting volume ensures consistent offensive threat
- 56.9% xG share shows dominant 5v5 control
Watch-outs
- 1st percentile puck management leads to turnovers and mistakes
- 17th percentile forechecking means limited penalty-killing value
- 8th percentile physicality shows zero net-front or grinding ability
Similar style: Brad Marchand (FLA), Jack Quinn (BUF)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 76 GP · goals above average
Season total +32.7 goals, or +0.43 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +3.4
- Even strength defense
- -0.3
- Power play
- +0.6
- Finishing
- +11.0
- Playmaking
- +16.5
- Penalties
- +1.5
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | TBL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 1 | 24:07 | — | +0.31 |
| 2025-26 | TBL | 76 | 44 | 86 | 130 | +43 | 231 | 20:20 | — | +0.43 |
| 2024-25 | TBL | 78 | 37 | 84 | 121 | +22 | 265 | 21:11 | — | +0.41 |
| 2023-24 | TBL | 81 | 44 | 100 | 144 | +8 | 306 | 21:40 | — | +0.41 |
| 2022-23 | TBL | 82 | 30 | 83 | 113 | -2 | 271 | 20:08 | — | +0.22 |
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Age curve
How players at his position age, and where his contract falls on that curve, arrives with the trade tools.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 22.4 mph
- 61st pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 138
- Hardest shot
- 92.1 mph
- 90th pct
- Distance
- 244.0 mi
- OZ time
- 45.7%
- 92nd pct
- DZ time
- 35.7%