It was Nikita Kucherov’s week to shine. The National Hockey League on Monday announced their three stars of the week for the week of December 22 though December 28th and Kucherov was named the NHL’s first star. The Lightning captain and right wing led a group that also consisted of Seattle Kraken right wing Eeli Tolvanen and Montreal Canadiens who had a heck of a match against the Lightning on Sunday, Juraj Slafkovsky.
All eyes are on Kuuuuuuuuuch 🤩
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) December 29, 2025
He’s been named the @NHL's First Star of the Week! pic.twitter.com/e5qAyK5dcr
Kucherov led the league this week with four goals, two assists, and six points in three games skated. He earned two points on two assists against the St. Louis Blues last Monday; On Saturday against the in-state rival Florida Panthers on the road he scored twice for two points to help lead the Lightning to a 4-2 win over Florida. And then back at home on Sunday he scored twice again for two more points in a game that was decided in a shootout. Those three games gave Kucherov his four goals, two assists, and six points to lead the league and be named the NHL’s first star of the week.
Tolvanen of the Kraken ranked second for the week in the NHL with two goals, four assists, and six points over the course of the week, and the third star who the Lightning just faced from Montreal, Slafkovsky, the left winger tallied three goals, two assists, and five total points on the week.
Kucherov has continued to be a star on the ice for Tampa Bay in 2025. Over the course of the season, the 6’”, 173lb lefty has accumulated 17 goals, 32 assists, for 49 points, and a +12 rating through 34 games skated. That’s good enough to have him sitting seventh in the NHL with a 17-32-49 line through 34 matches.
Drafted 28th overall in the second round of the 2011 NHL draft by Tampa, Kucherov has continued to stack on the accolades throughout his illustrious career. He has skated 837 games, recording 374 goals, 669 assists, and a career 1,043 points, with a an overall +169 rating. He has won the Art Ross Trophy three times, including the past two seasons in a row.