Nikita Kucherov Reaches New Tampa Bay Lightning Milestone As Coaches Call Him "A Wizard"

Nikita Kucherov Becomes Lightning’s All-Time Points Leader© NDTV Library

Nikita Kucherov is now the Tampa Bay Lightning's all-time points leader after passing Steven Stamkos against the Utah Mammoth on Saturday night. The Russian forward reached 1,138 career points in his 890th NHL game, moving ahead of Stamkos, who finished his Lightning career with 1,137 points in 1,082 games. Kucherov's latest achievement follows an MVP-winning 2025-26 season, when he produced 44 goals and 86 assists. He has continued that scoring form this season, recording four goals and 10 assists in his opening games.

Jon Cooper and Jared Bednar Praise Kucherov 

Lightning coach Jon Cooper called Kucherov one of the smartest players he has coached.

"He's arguably the smartest player I've ever coached," Cooper said. "He's always multiple steps ahead."

He added, “I'm like, 'All right, I've got him here about some learning thing.' He's like, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa' and he makes me back the clip up. He's like, 'Well, look at this, this, this,' and I'm like, 'Oh my god, yeah, you're right.”

Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar also praised the forward's playmaking ability.

"He's a wizard with the puck," Bednar said. "It's not that he's a scorer, but his puck distribution, the way he handles the puck, the way he's able to slow it down off the rush, or an O-zone play, and buy himself time and time for his teammates to get open, is elite."

Colorado defenseman Josh Manson pointed to the difficulty of defending Kucherov when he has possession. 

"He doesn't look at you, and you think you have him, but you don't,” Manson said. You have to be on your toes and cautious because he's always looking to find a lane. He's always looking to slip by you, and he's very deceptive. I think deception is a real key to his game."

Kucherov Breaks Tampa Bay's Points Record

Kucherov reached the milestone in the first period by firing a power-play shot that Brayden Point converted from the rebound. The assist was his 10th of the season and brought his career totals to 405 goals and 733 assists. 

Selected in the second round of the 2011 NHL Draft, Kucherov recorded his first NHL point on Nov. 25, 2013, scoring on his first shot against the New York Rangers and Hall of Fame goalie Henrik Lundqvist. He registered his first assist about a month later.