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Tampa Bay Lightning: Top 5 Standouts of the Regular Season

By Lane Fahey

TAMPA, FL - MAY 06: Tampa Bay Lightning center J.T. Miller (10) celebrates his goal with Tampa Bay Lightning defender Victor Hedman (77), Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) and Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) during the second period of an NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Playoffs game between the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning on May 06, 2018, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - MAY 06: Tampa Bay Lightning center J.T. Miller (10) celebrates his goal with Tampa Bay Lightning defender Victor Hedman (77), Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) and Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) during the second period of an NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Playoffs game between the Boston Bruins and the Tampa Bay Lightning on May 06, 2018, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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1. Nikita Kucherov

This player is obviously a given. Nikita Kucherov finished off the season with 100 points in 80 games. A career best for Kucherov, the Lightning forward was only behind Connor McDavid and Claude Giroux for overall points in the league.

With seven game-winning goals, Kucherov put on a show for the Bolts the whole season, helping the team have the highest goals per game for the season, at 3.5 goals.

Kucherov was an All-Star this season, and looking back, the Bolts Nation had a lot of fun watching this young star shine. One of his best moments? Beating Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby through the five-hole in the All-Star game.

What made it even better? On February 20, Kucherov did it again, this time against Holtby at home to give the Bolts a 4-2 lead over the Capitals.

Kucherov stayed consistent on the first line, along with teammate and captain Steven Stamkos. The third linemate, however, seemed to change every now and then. Originally it was Vladislav Namestnikov. Once Namestnikov was traded to the New York Rangers, forward J.T. Miller took his spot.

Kucherov has one more year left on a 4.8 million dollar deal. Starting July 1st, the Bolts can sign a new deal with Kucherov, for the 2019-2020 season.

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