Photo credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Nikita Kucherov has revealed the real reason behind his dominance with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Kucherov has been producing at an elite pace since the start of the regular season, and he has built a strong case for the Hart Trophy (MVP), despite a tougher game against the Montreal Canadiens last night.
Many fans wonder how the star player manages to maintain such an offensive pace, especially since he does not seem to have the physical attributes of a Connor McDavid or a Nathan MacKinnon, for example!
His former teammate Pat Maroon recently praised his exceptional work ethic on a podcast.
Maroon said that Kucherov gives himself only two short weeks of rest during the summer.
After that, Kuch immediately goes back to training to prepare rigorously for the next campaign.
Kucherov candidly admitted that he is not the fastest player on his team, let alone the fastest player in the league.
The forward also acknowledged that his shot and physical tools are not necessarily exceptional.
Is Nikita Kucherov the smartest player in the league?
To make up for this lack of natural athletic qualities, the Tampa Bay Lightning forward uses his brain.
Kucherov spends an incredible amount of time studying video clips of every opponent, including, of course, division rivals like the Montreal Canadiens.
Memorizing the specific weaknesses of other players gives him a major strategic advantage during a game.
While some players go out to bars, the star forward analyzes his rivals’ shifts. Knowing exactly where to place the puck to make a defenseman uncomfortable becomes a clear advantage.
Anticipating the opponent’s mistakes also allows him to recover the puck with great ease. That meticulous preparation explains his impressive point total again this year.
The scoring-title race with Connor McDavid is grabbing fans’ attention, and it should stay compelling until the very end.
Right now, Kucherov trails McDavid by just four points, 125 to 121.
Recently missing a few games because of a virus will not slow down his big ambitions to finish at the top.
The final battle for the prestigious Art Ross Trophy is indeed shaping up to be exciting right until the very end of the schedule.
Hard work always ends up paying off in high-level professional sports, and Kucherov is proving that.
See an excerpt of the exact quote here:
“I don’t have the speed of the best players in the league.
I don’t have an incredible shot. I don’t have crazy dekes. I don’t have the ability to be the best in the league in any of those areas. It’s not natural for me. I can’t jump 45 inches.
At best, I jump about 25 inches. I had to use my brain. That guy who is constantly in the gym, I know he’s going to lose the puck.
I’m going to chase him down and I know I’m going to take the puck away from him.
I know every defenseman in the league, their strengths, and the places and situations where they are uncomfortable.
I can place the puck in a spot where they are vulnerable and attack them there. I’m going to attack their weak points. For me, I had to learn all of that. I had to watch all the clips.
Maybe some players go out for drinks after games, but I watch all of my opponents’ shifts.”
– Nikita Kucherov
That’s really interesting!
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Nikita Kucherov reveals the secret behind his dominance with the Tampa Bay Lightning
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