"Now, the hockey world is seeing we have a star," Lightning coach Jon
Cooper said.
Kucherov showed the Dan Girardi Authentic Jersey hockey world his star power last season, when he had 85 points,
including 40 goals, in 74 games. Those numbers felt even more impactful
to the Lightning because he put them up despite not having regular
linemates because of injuries.
Kucherov and Stamkos combined for 41 points in the first 17 games last
season, but a knee injury took Stamkos out for the final 65 games. The
Lightning missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs by one point; hardly
Kucherov's fault.
Stamkos is healthy again and, with Vladislav Namestnikov (nine goals, 12
assists) on the left wing of the Lightning's top line, they've
rediscovered the chemistry they had early last season.
Stamkos finished second in Eddie Giacomin Authentic Jersey Hart Trophy vote through the first quarter. They're in line to be the
first teammates to be finalists for the Hart since Jaromir Jagr and
Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh Penguins) finished second and third,
respectively, in 2000-01.
"Obviously, they've picked up with the chemistry they had when they
played last year for those first few games," Cooper said. "Probably most
importantly, though, [Kucherov] really, almost methodically, works at
his game. Whether it's his release, his one-timer, his change in
direction while moving and shooting, he constantly is doing that."
That's the rink rat Glenn Anderson Authentic Jersey element that has been so important to Kucherov's growth from a 30-goal
scorer two seasons ago to a 40-goal scorer last season to a potential
70-goal scorer this season."When he shows up in Tampa, Florida, in July,
when it's 100 percent humidity and nobody is here, and he's renting out
the ice himself to work on his game," Cooper said, "I see how his
production totals have gone up."
Work ethic on the ice is also a key factor. It's not as if Kucherov is
standing around and waiting for Stamkos to set him up, or waiting to set
up Stamkos.
Kucherov's vision and Henrik Lundqvist Authentic Jersey intelligence, Cooper said, are significant and underrated parts of his
game.
"He sees what's going to happen next in the game before the player he's
going against sees it," Cooper said. "It's impressive. Like, he's such a
sneaky little forechecker because he knows what the defender is going
to do before the defender knows what he's going to do. That's why he
often comes away with pucks, because he's so good at that."
Kucherov has been so good at everything this season, bringing the
spotlight on himself, even if he'd prefer the coverage of the shadows.
"People talking, like 'He's a star,' or something like that, I'm not
putting that in my head and thinking about it," Kucherov said. "If I do,
my game is going to go a different way. I just focus on my game. We're
here for one reason, to make the playoffs and win the Cup."
