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Photo of NHL player Nikita Kucherov

Tampa Bay Lightning Logo Nikita Kucherov

Position Right Wing Current Team Tampa Bay Lightning
Shoots Left Current Contract 8 years ($9.5M CapHit)
Height 6'0" Expires 2026-27
Weight (lbs) 173 Expiry Age (Jun 30) 34
Age (DOB) 32 (June 17, 1993) Expiry Status UFA
Drafted 2011, Round 2, Overall 58 (TBL)
Date Team Transaction
Jul 10, 2018 Tampa Bay Lightning Signed 8 years @ $9.500M AAV starting in 2019-20
Oct 11, 2016 Tampa Bay Lightning Signed 3 years @ $4.767M AAV starting in 2016-17
Sep 11, 2012 Tampa Bay Lightning Signed to an entry level contract.
Status History Coming Soon


URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20252026/nikita-kucherov-8476453.png



URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20242025/nikita-kucherov-8476453.png



URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20232024/nikita-kucherov-8476453.png

About Player Cards

Player cards present an infographic of a players performance using a series of Player Archetypes developed for Puckalytics.com and TheStanleyCap.com. The boxes in the rink image show the archetype ratings for the season specified in the card while the graphs to the right show the five-year trends for those archetypes.

Except for Faceoffs, the values shown are the players z-score (standard deviation from the mean) for the specific metric used to calculate the archetype values. When calculating z-scores forwards were compared to forwards and defensemen were compared to defensemen. Positive values indicate the player is above average and shaded in blue, while negative values indicate the player is below average and shaded in punk. The five year trend charts show a range of -4.0 to 4.0.

The value shown for Faceoffs is the faceoff winning percentage rather than their z-score with winning percentages below 50 in pink shades and above 50 in blue shades.

All archetypes are 5v5 except 5v4 TOI, 4v5 TOI, Skating (even strength) and Faceoffs (all situations). Archetypes use regular season data only.

Archetypes Summary
  • Sniper - Measures the to score above the expected goal rate.
  • Rebound - Measures the percent of a players shot attempts that come from rebounds (forwards only).
  • 5v4 TOI - Powerplay ice time, calculated as the percentage of his teams 5v4 ice time that the player was on the ice for.
  • Shooter - Measures whether a players points come from shots (goals or assists on rebounds from his shots).
  • Producer - Measures a players ability to produce goals and assists, adjusted for quality of teammates.
  • Playmaker - Measures whether a players points come from passes.
  • Drive - Measures a players ability to drive puck possession and generate shot attempts for his team.
  • Rush - Measures the percent of a players shot attempts that come from rush plays
  • Possession - An indicator of a players ability to improve his teams puck possession game.
  • Faceoffs - Faceoff Winning Percentage (min. 75 faceoffs taken).
  • 5v5 TOI - The percentage of his teams 5v5 TOI that the player was on the ice for.
  • Suppress - Measures a players ability to suppress opponent puck possession and shot attempts against.
  • Skating - An indicator of a players skating ability, or speed bursts above 20mph per mile skated.
  • Defend - An indicator of a players ability to suppress shot quality against.
  • 4v5 TOI - Penalty Kill ice time, calculated as the percentage of his teams 4v5 ice time that the player was on the ice for.
Data Sources
Terms of Use

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If you have any questions, send an e-mail to the e-mail address at the top of this page.

Read Introducing Player Archetypes on HockeyAnalysis.com for more details on archetype calculations.

Core Archetypes

Season Team(s) GP TOI Producer Playmaker Shooter Sniper Rebound Rush Skating Defend
2015-16 TBL 77 0.55 -0.02 0.63 0.71 1.53 0.17 - -0.08
2016-17 TBL 74 1.82 0.76 1.19 0.89 0.27 0.30 - -0.08
2017-18 TBL 80 2.72 1.15 2.42 1.80 -0.20 0.64 - -0.58
2018-19 TBL 82 3.50 3.24 1.07 1.46 -0.78 -0.34 - -0.27
2019-20 TBL 68 2.67 1.43 1.72 1.32 -0.55 0.09 - 0.42
2021-22 TBL 47 1.88 1.81 0.73 0.94 -1.21 -1.28 -1.06 -2.02
2022-23 TBL 82 1.34 1.89 -0.22 -0.20 -0.81 -0.40 -0.62 -0.57
2023-24 TBL 81 3.05 3.95 0.36 0.37 -1.16 0.44 -0.07 -1.17
2024-25 TBL 78 2.54 1.85 1.24 1.04 -0.80 -0.30 -0.64 -0.10
2025-26 TBL 76 4.07 4.23 1.25 1.50 -1.50 -1.16 -0.07 -0.10

Situational and Secondary Archetypes

Season Team(s) GP TOI 5v5 TOI 5v4 TOI 4v5 TOI Possession Drive Suppress Faceoffs
2015-16 TBL 77 1.19 0.87 -1.95 0.45 0.77 0.32 -
2016-17 TBL 74 1.57 1.29 -2.01 1.43 1.15 -1.06 -
2017-18 TBL 80 1.85 1.23 -2.02 0.44 1.44 1.23 -
2018-19 TBL 82 1.60 1.71 -1.95 0.66 1.70 1.18 -
2019-20 TBL 68 1.28 1.44 -1.89 1.17 1.63 0.21 -
2021-22 TBL 47 1.78 1.68 -2.02 0.21 1.16 1.51 -
2022-23 TBL 82 1.69 1.51 -1.93 1.00 1.67 0.66 -
2023-24 TBL 81 2.12 2.10 -2.01 1.28 2.10 1.01 -
2024-25 TBL 78 2.11 1.82 -2.13 0.87 1.79 1.10 -
2025-26 TBL 76 1.50 1.94 -1.96 1.50 2.74 1.10 -

About Archetypes

Player archetypes are a look at a players strengths and weaknesses in his game when compared to other players around the leeague. Except for Faceoffs, the values shown are the players z-score (standard deviation from the mean) for the specific metric used to calculate the archetype values. When calculating z-scores forwards were compared to forwards and defensemen were compared to defensemen. Positive values indicate the player is above average and shaded in blue, while negative values indicate the player is below average and shaded in punk. The five year trend charts show a range of -4.0 to 4.0.

The value shown for Faceoffs is the faceoff winning percentage rather than their z-score with winning percentages below 50 in pink shades and above 50 in blue shades.

All archetypes are 5v5 except 5v4 TOI, 4v5 TOI and Faceoffs (all situations). Archetypes use regular season data only.

Archetypes Summary
  • Producer - Measures a players ability to produce goals and assists, adjusted for quality of teammates.
  • Playmaker - Measures whether a players points come from passes.
  • Shooter - Measures whether a players points come from shots (goals or assists on rebounds from his shots).
  • Sniper - Measures the to score above the expected goal rate.
  • Rebound - Measures the percent of a players shot attempts that come from rebounds (forwards only).
  • Rush - Measures the percent of a players shot attempts that come from rush plays
  • Skating - An indicator of a players skating ability, or speed bursts above 20mph per mile skated.
  • Defend - An indicator of a players ability to suppress shot quality against.
  • 5v5 TOI - The percentage of his teams 5v5 TOI that the player was on the ice for.
  • 5v4 TOI - Powerplay ice time, calculated as the percentage of his teams 5v4 ice time that the player was on the ice for.
  • 4v5 TOI - Penalty Kill ice time, calculated as the percentage of his teams 4v5 ice time that the player was on the ice for.
  • Possession - An indicator of a players ability to improve his teams puck possession game.
  • Drive - Measures a players ability to drive puck possession and generate shot attempts for his team.
  • Suppress - Measures a players ability to suppress opponent puck possession and shot attempts against.
  • Faceoffs - Faceoff Winning Percentage (min. 75 faceoffs taken).

Read Introducing Player Archetypes on HockeyAnalysis.com for more details on archetype calculations.

Data Sources

5v5 Individual Stats

Season Team(s) GP TOI G/60 A/60 Pts/60 xG/60 GAE/60 Sh% xSh% Sh%AE %SA Rush %SA Reb.
2015-16 TBL 77 1042:20 0.86 0.92 1.78 0.71 0.16 11.54 9.44 2.10 4.37 8.74
2016-17 TBL 74 1080:15 1.00 1.33 2.33 0.77 0.23 12.95 9.94 3.01 4.64 5.67
2017-18 TBL 80 1215:37 1.33 1.53 2.86 0.80 0.54 15.17 9.06 6.11 5.24 4.49
2018-19 TBL 82 1210:28 1.14 2.13 3.27 0.75 0.39 14.11 9.33 4.78 3.40 3.40
2019-20 TBL 68 936:55 1.22 1.73 2.95 0.79 0.42 13.29 8.67 4.62 4.04 4.55
2021-22 TBL 47 695:33 1.21 1.81 3.02 0.92 0.29 13.86 10.52 3.35 1.49 2.99
2022-23 TBL 82 1225:29 0.73 1.76 2.50 0.83 -0.10 9.74 11.02 -1.28 2.98 4.68
2023-24 TBL 81 1300:08 0.97 2.08 3.05 0.84 0.13 10.66 9.20 1.46 4.79 4.45
2024-25 TBL 78 1251:38 1.15 1.77 2.92 0.83 0.32 13.48 9.71 3.78 1.97 5.12
2025-26 TBL 76 1112:13 1.35 2.37 3.72 0.91 0.44 16.89 11.39 5.51 0.83 3.32

5v5 On Ice Stats

Season Team(s) GP TOI SAF/60 GF/60 xGF/60 SAA/60 GA/60 xGA/60 GF% xGF% xGF Rel xGA Rel xGF% Rel
2015-16 TBL 77 1042:20 44.21 2.65 2.52 39.20 1.90 2.04 58.23 55.32 0.43 0.08 3.75
2016-17 TBL 74 1080:15 45.32 3.05 2.71 38.32 2.11 2.12 59.14 56.08 0.67 -0.03 7.48
2017-18 TBL 80 1215:37 49.85 3.55 2.85 44.77 2.62 2.47 57.60 53.53 0.46 0.34 0.69
2018-19 TBL 82 1210:28 49.32 3.92 3.09 44.21 2.68 2.74 59.40 53.04 0.60 0.45 0.91
2019-20 TBL 68 936:55 47.77 3.65 2.83 40.54 2.11 2.16 63.33 56.72 0.53 0.00 5.17
2021-22 TBL 47 695:33 45.98 4.31 3.34 44.77 3.45 3.05 55.56 52.24 0.74 0.67 0.07
2022-23 TBL 82 1225:29 48.86 3.53 3.44 42.64 2.89 2.85 54.96 54.66 0.90 0.34 4.44
2023-24 TBL 81 1300:08 47.81 3.69 3.17 41.81 3.46 2.60 51.61 54.92 1.15 0.39 7.15
2024-25 TBL 78 1251:38 47.17 3.93 3.20 42.86 2.30 2.65 63.08 54.74 1.04 0.37 6.01
2025-26 TBL 76 1112:13 49.95 4.64 3.54 40.14 2.59 2.55 64.18 58.16 1.14 0.31 6.46

NHL Edge Stats

Skating Shooting Zone Time
Season GP Top Speed Bursts>20/mi Avg. Speed ES Avg. Speed Top Speed Avg. Speed %Long Range %Mid Range %High Danger ES DZ% ES NZ% ES OZ%
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Legend

Percentile 0-25 Percentile 25-50 Percentile 50-75 Percentile 75-100
Forwards are compared with forwards and Defensemen are are compared with Defensemen.

5v5 Lines

Season
Season Teammate Teammate Team TOI GF/60 GA/60 GF% xGF/60 xGA/60 xGF% xGF Rel xGA Rel xGF% Rel
This table is for Basic and Premium subscribers only. To view please login to and/or subscribe to one of our subscription plans. 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 2030-31 2031-32 2032-33 2033-34 2034-35

Glossary

Type Statistic Definition
IndividualG/60Goals Against per 60 minutes.
IndividualA/60Assists per 60 minutes.
IndividualPts/60Points per 60 minutes.
IndividualxG/60Expected Goals per 60 minutes.
IndividualGAE/60Goals Above Expected (G/60 - xG/60).
IndividualSh%Shooting Percentage.
IndividualxSh%Expected Shooting Percentage.
IndividualSh%AEShooting percentage above expected (Sh% - xSh%).
Individual%SA RushPercentage of shot attempts determined to be on the rush.
Individual%SA Reb.Percentage of shot attempts determined to be from rebounds.
On IceSAF/60Shot Attempts For per 60 minutes.
On IceGF/60Goals For per 60 minutes.
On IcexGF/60Expected Goals For per 60 minutes.
On IceSAA/60Shot Attempts Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On IceGA/60Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On IcexGA/60Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On IceGF%Goals For Percentage = Goals For / (Goals For + Goals Against)
On IcexGF%Expected Goals For Percentage = Expected Goals For / (Expected Goals For + Expected Goals Against)
On IcexGF RelxGF/60 when On Ice - xGF/60 when not On Ice.
On IcexGA RelxGA/60 when On Ice - xGA/60 when not On Ice (lower is better).
On IcexGF% RelxGF% when On Ice - xGF% when not On Ice.
Individual and On-Ice stats from Puckalytics.com (starting in 2015-16). NHL Edge Stats from edge.nhl.com (starting in 2021-22). Edge statistic definitions can be found at the Edge Stats Glossary.

News and Opinions

Current Contract

Nikita Kucherov signed an $76,000,000 8-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning and General Manager Steve Yzerman on July 10, 2018 with an AAV of $9,500,000. This contract will start in 2019-20 and end after the 2026-27 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 11.66% of the salary cap.

Standard Contract (RFA) ( )  (0 ratings)

Season Age* Clause Cap Hit AAV Perf. Bonus Sign. Bonus Salary Compensation Minors Salary Status
2019-20 26 $9,500,000 $9,500,000 - $11,000,000 $1,000,000 $12,000,000 $12,000,000 RFA-arb
2020-21 27 NMC $9,500,000 $9,500,000 - $5,000,000 $4,000,000 $9,000,000 $9,000,000 UFA
2021-22 28 NMC $9,500,000 $9,500,000 - $8,500,000 $3,500,000 $12,000,000 $12,000,000 UFA
2022-23 29 NMC $9,500,000 $9,500,000 - $5,000,000 $4,000,000 $9,000,000 $9,000,000 UFA
2023-24 30 NMC $9,500,000 $9,500,000 - $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $10,000,000 $10,000,000 UFA
2024-25 31 M-NTC $9,500,000 $9,500,000 - $4,000,000 $5,000,000 $9,000,000 $9,000,000 UFA
2025-26 32 M-NTC $9,500,000 $9,500,000 - $3,000,000 $5,000,000 $8,000,000 $8,000,000 UFA
2026-27 33 M-NTC $9,500,000 $9,500,000 - $3,000,000 $4,000,000 $7,000,000 $7,000,000 UFA
Total - $44,500,000 $31,500,000 $76,000,000 $76,000,000
Signed: July 10, 2018
Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
GM: Steve Yzerman
Exp. Status: UFA
Cap %: 11.66
Clause: In 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27 player submits a list of 10 teams he will accept a trade to.

Previous Contracts (show) (hide)

Nikita Kucherov signed a $14,300,000 3-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning and General Manager Steve Yzerman on October 11, 2016 with an AAV of $4,766,667. This contract will start in 2016-17 and end after the 2018-19 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 6.53% of the salary cap.

Standard Contract (RFA) ( )  (0 ratings)

Season Age* Clause Cap Hit AAV Perf. Bonus Sign. Bonus Salary Compensation Minors Salary Status
2016-17 23 $4,766,667 $4,766,667 - - $4,250,000 $4,250,000 $4,250,000 RFA
2017-18 24 $4,766,667 $4,766,667 - - $4,500,000 $4,500,000 $4,500,000 RFA-arb
2018-19 25 $4,766,667 $4,766,667 - - $5,550,000 $5,550,000 $5,550,000 RFA-arb
Total - - $14,300,000 $14,300,000 $14,300,000
Signed: Oct 11, 2016
Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
GM: Steve Yzerman
Exp. Status: RFA-arb
Cap %: 6.53

Nikita Kucherov signed a $2,227,500 3-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning and General Manager Steve Yzerman on September 11, 2012 with an AAV of $742,500. This contract will start in 2012-13 and end after the 2015-16 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 1.24% of the salary cap.

Entry Level Contract ( )  (0 ratings)

Season Age* Clause Cap Hit AAV Perf. Bonus Sign. Bonus Salary Compensation Minors Salary Status
2012-13 19 $742,500 $925,000 - $92,500 - $92,500 - ELC
2013-14 20 $711,667 $894,167 $232,500 $92,500 $600,000 $692,500 $70,000 ELC
2014-15 21 $711,667 $894,167 $182,500 $92,500 $650,000 $742,500 $70,000 ELC
2015-16 22 $711,667 $894,167 $132,500 - $700,000 $700,000 $70,000 ELC
Total $547,500 $277,500 $1,950,000 $2,227,500 $210,000
Signed: Sep 11, 2012
Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
GM: Steve Yzerman
Exp. Status: RFA
Note: This entry level contract slid one season as player did not meet the games played threshold to start the contract.

Career Statistics

Regular Season Playoffs
Season League Team GP G A Pts +/- PIM Shots Sh% TOI/G GP G A Pts +/- PIM Shots Sh% TOI/G
2009-10 Russia-Jr. CSKA Jr. 53 29 25 54 40 5 2 2 2
2010-11 Rus-KHL CSKA 8 0 2 2
2010-11 WJ18-A Russia 7 11 10 21 +10 6
2010-11 Russia-Jr. CSKA Jr. 41 27 31 58 81 10 5 8 13 16
2011-12 KHL CSKA 18 1 4 5 4
2011-12 WJC-A Russia 7 2 5 7 +4 2
2011-12 Russia-Jr. CSKA Jr. 23 24 19 43 40 7 3 1 4
2012-13 WJC-A Russia 7 5 3 8 +4 4
2012-13 QMJHL Quebec 6 3 7 10 -1 2 20 1,500.0
2012-13 QMJHL Rouyn-Noranda 27 26 27 53 +18 12 106 2,453.0 14 9 15 24 +8 10 48 1,875.0
2013-14 AHL Syracuse 17 13 11 24 +1 10 50 2,600.0
2013-14 NHL Tampa Bay Lightning 52 9 9 18 +3 14 102 8.8 13:07 2 1 1 3 33.3 11:37
2014-15 NHL Tampa Bay Lightning 82 29 36 65 +38 37 191 15.2 14:57 26 10 12 22 +7 14 57 17.5 16:59
2015-16 NHL Tampa Bay Lightning 77 30 36 66 +9 30 209 14.4 18:13 17 11 8 19 +13 8 51 21.6 20:09
2016-17 NHL Tampa Bay Lightning 74 40 45 85 +13 38 246 16.3 19:26
2016-17 WC Russia 10 7 8 15 +7 8
2016-17 WCup Russia 4 2 1 3 +1
2016-17 EHT Russia 2 0 0 0
2017-18 NHL Tampa Bay Lightning 80 39 61 100 +15 42 279 14.0 19:49 17 7 10 17 -6 10 61 11.5 17:55
2018-19 WC Russia 10 6 10 16 +11 4
2018-19 EHT Russia 3 1 0 1 -1 6
2018-19 NHL Tampa Bay Lightning 82 41 87 128 +24 62 246 16.7 19:58 3 2 2 -4 19 9 0.0 21:51
2019-20 NHL Tampa Bay Lightning 68 33 52 85 +26 38 210 15.7 18:52 25 7 27 34 +15 22 92 7.6 21:40
2020-21 NHL Tampa Bay Lightning 23 8 24 32 +6 14 62 12.9 18:18
2021-22 NHL Tampa Bay Lightning 47 25 44 69 +1 22 156 16.0 19:59 23 8 19 27 +7 14 77 10.4 20:44
2022-23 NHL Tampa Bay Lightning 82 30 83 113 -2 36 271 11.1 20:08 6 1 5 6 11 21 4.8 20:16
2023-24 NHL Tampa Bay Lightning 81 44 100 144 +8 22 306 14.4 21:40 5 7 7 -1 2 9 0.0 21:26
2024-25 NHL Tampa Bay Lightning 78 37 84 121 +22 45 265 14.0 21:11 5 4 4 2 7 0.0 22:59
2025-26 NHL Tampa Bay Lightning 76 44 86 130 +43 50 231 19.0 20:20 7 1 5 6 +2 10 31 3.2 21:20
NHL Career 879 401 723 1124 +200 436 2712 14.8 19:07 159 54 123 177 +39 126 480 11.2 19:34