It's going to be a lot of Nikita Kucherov content over the next couple of days, and rightfully so. He's chasing the Tampa Bay Lightning franchise record for career points. He enters Friday's game against the Colorado Avalanche tied with his former teammate, Steven Stamkos.
Whether it's a goal or an assist, when he clocks that next point, he'll stand alone with 1,138 points in a Lightning sweater.
Understandably, it won't quite get the spotlight it deserves if the moment happens on Friday, it's Game 1 of the World Series, and many will be checking in on the Rays. They absolutely should be, but until Kucherov has that record-breaking moment, it could be a good idea to have a second screen up on your tablet or laptop.
An Insane Pace for Kucherov
What I've failed to dive into so far is how quickly Kucherov is reaching this record. Yes, it would have been inevitable, even if Stamkos was still with the team, but his absence allowed for the record to be broken at a ridiculous speed.
Stamkos reached 1,137 points in 1,082 games. Kucherov could do it in his 889th career game. Taking nearly 200 fewer games to get it done is a testament to how good he's been.
He's had six total seasons with at least 100 points. He's had at least 130 points over his last four consecutive seasons. For reference, Stamkos has had one career 100-point season. He's come close to 100 a few times, with five seasons with at least 90 points. Even then, Kucherov would be running away with it. Stamkos' career high for a season is 106.
Even if Martin St. Louis stuck around until retirement, he was already well behind the pace of either Kucherov or Stamkos. He would have still been third with 1,033 points.
The only two active players who can really outmatch Kucherov in the context of a career are Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. The latter was posting 100-point seasons in the heart of the dead puck era.
Assuming he's extended, he's going to take this record and run with it to the point where it's going to be untouchable for a long time.
Puck drop out west in Colorado is set for 9 p.m. EDT. If you happen to be out there in Denver, then the time you need is 7 p.m.
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