Nikita Kucherov is in a big-time battle with the NHL's top player.
Nikita Kucherov is in a big-time battle with the NHL's top player.
The 2023-24 season has been a remarkable one for Tampa Bay Lightning superstar forward Nikita Kucherov. The 30-year-old currently has 42 goals to go along with 126 points in 72 games. He is not showing any signs of slowing down and has been in a neck-and-neck battle with Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon (127 points) for the league lead in points for much of this season. Yet, he now has another superstar who is competing with.
After a slow start to the year, Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid is now right with Kucherov and MacKinnon in the points race. McDavid currently has 29 points, 96 assists, and 125 points in 70 games. Thus, Kucherov now has two big-time forwards to compete with for the Art Ross Trophy.
McDavid is playing remarkably right now, too, as he has 13 points over his last five games and 25 points over his previous 10 contests. Kucherov has also been on fire, posting 21 points over his last 10 games.
Nevertheless, Kucherov's push for another Art Ross Trophy is certainly even more challenging now that McDavid's dominant play has gotten him back in the race. Going up against MacKinnon all season has been difficult enough. Let's see which of these three ends up leading the NHL in points at the end of the season from here.
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