He Is Inevitable

Nhl highlights today - Tampa bay lightning vs new jersey devils was an important game for both in the nhl standings today , but also nikita kucherov racked up 4 points and is now over 100 and has solidified his lead over nathan mackinnon and connor mcdavid . He's my frontrunner for the nhl mvp hart trophy, but if auston matthews 50 goals turns into 75 we could be having a different discussion. For more recaps reactions to nhl hockey highlights 2024 , trade rumors plus daily news, breakdowns of things like nikita kucherov highlights and this lightning vs devils game - subscribe. NHL 2024
#hockey #nhl #highlights #tampabaylightning #newjerseydevils

[@Flashyfinancier]

You cant lead the league in scoring right now with 100+ points and have a 128 point season under your belt just by being lucky. Nikita Kucherov has the highest hockey IQ right now and he is the player who reminds me the most of Gretzky in probably the last 30 years.

[@IHaveTheSchwartz]

A video on how Stamkos is like his hero, Yzerman. A Legendary career that is often overlooked because of his peers - Ovechkin & Crosby. At age 34, there's still potential to reach the 600 Club, although I am sure we can all agree that injuries prevented him from achieving that rare air already.

[@Flashyfinancier]

I think the craziest thing that Kucherov ever did was missing the whole regular season due to injury, and then comeback and lead the playoffs in scoring. That was nonsensical.

[@Borodin410]

Kuch just knows that AllStar weekend is a joke and he's not willing to get paraded out like a dog and pony show.

[@Ryan-bn3qk]

He didn't want to get fined, or I guarantee he would have refused. Respect for the organization and all...

[@Gl-my8fw]

Than someone who deserves it that was also there shpuld have been in the skills instead. I hope he is invited next time but not allowed in the skills and still has to be there.

[@the1andonlyct233]

As long as he doesn't have to go hard and risk injury, I don't think he'll care for not skating around aimlessly hitting machines with pucks@@Gl-my8fw

[@hanslilja3873]

Kucherov is a professor of ishockey he is so unbelivebel good in ewery game that its almost not for real he is a far far better player then matthews ever gonna be its just mcdavid and mackinnon and draisaitl how can compares whit him mcdavid is The best player in The world but and this is a very very big but kucherov is not far behind ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@user-wr3jh7ov3h]

Kuch is lowkey the second best player in the league, behind McDavid. Whenever I hear people talk about the top 5 current NHL players, it's always something like McDavid, MacKinnon, Matthews, Marner, Panarin, Pastrnak, etc. Kuch is almost never mentioned, even though he has the second highest points/game of the last decade. People talk about him like he's consistently missing regular season games. He only missed like 130 of them, mostly due to injuries sustained during deep playoff runs (4 Finals, 2 Cups). He's got over 140 playoffs games. Most players never even get to 50. Let's also mention the fact that he has consistently signed way below market value. Next year, he'll be the 30th highest paid player in the league (AAV). He hasn't even been outside the top-10 since his breakout year (2015-16) where he was 21st. When he signed that contract (July 2018), he already had the second most points in the league over 2 seasons (2016-17 and 2017-18), but his contract only put him at 17th highest paid. What more do you want from your star player? The guy doesn't hog the money bags no more than he hogs the puck.

[@MikeHarvey-ol7xr]

Well stated!

[@pukiinn]

That's a very wise assessment of the realities.

[@jfedol7760]

When Marner (LMAO), Matthews, Pastrnak and that playoff fraud Panarin are put over Kuch, that's when you gotta 🤣 and just move on lol. Just like you said, 2nd highest PPG behind McDavid going back to 2016, 90+ playoff pts with b2b 30+ playoff runs in 3 consecutive seasons. One of the GOAT Playoff Performers of our generation, deep playoff runs, 2 cups. Only Drasaitl comes close to him, but even then. Kucherov is easily 2nd AINEC.

[@chelious1973]

@@jfedol7760Exactly! Only three players in NHL history have 30pts in the playoffs two seasons in a row to win a cup. Kuch, and just two guys named Wayne and Mario. Agree 1000 percent.

[@DetroitTyler]

@@jfedol7760 Kuch is way better than Drasaitl, 1/2 of Leon's goals is just sitting next to the next waiting for Mcjesus to spoonfeed him goals. I don't think Drasaitl would even be a point per game player if he didn't play with Mcdavid.

[@stivvits1067]

Absolutely agree. All 4 Hart Trophy contenders are great this year, but if you take Kucherov away from the Tampa, then it’s not a playoff team anymore. He participated in 102 out of 206 Tampa goals and has 40 points gap between him and the second best Tampa scorer (Point). He maybe not the flashiest player in the league, but he is incredibly effective: doesn’t hold the puck for too long, knows where his teammates are and how to find them. Watch any of the Tampa game and focus on how many touch passes this guy performs. So I’m giving a slight edge to him right now

[@peters5090]

If kucherov were canadian, he would be considered the greatest player of all time

[@APAL880]

Yeah, there's a lot of Russophobia in hockey because Canadians are shills for NATO aggression.

[@pixelsoldiergaming3947]

In a huge kucherov and lightning fan and I’d love to see more lightning vides but I gotta say it’s been a entertaining season so far!!!

[@Ryan-bn3qk]

In regards to the Hagel goal, Esposito always says if you don't know what to do with the puck, just shoot.

[@MikeHarvey-ol7xr]

"Just shoot the dang puck!" Espo, a half dozen times a game

[@trevorconnatser6161]

Loving the bolts content as a Tampa native. Even though we’ve been excellent for so long I still feel like people love to hate us and our team. But this city loves its hockey team more than anything man, we’re so passionate and so blessed to have it. Keep up the great content man

[@Ryan-bn3qk]

100%. This is a hockey town.

[@Mikgwerd]

Since 92' the passion was always there for the team. Still remember when a crowd showed up at the airport to cheer the bolts coming out of their plane terminal after their first ever playoff win in Philly.

[@shmoga]

@@Ryan-bn3qk i was gonna talk shit cuz i didnt beleive you but wow yeah the fans do show up for their games! top 5 in the league if not #1. thats wild to me. crazy the lightning are so popular in tampa, but the devils rays arent.

[@mattduchene8033]

As a leafs fan kucherov to me is underrated in what he does as a player he's got vision and a clapper to me solid 200 ft guy my opinion

[@Dylandontplay]

As a leafs fan MATHEWS does not deserve the trophy, kuch does. I’m sick and tired of leafs players winning awards because of them being on the leafs. It’s lame as fuck

[@Electron-qg1oy]

@@Dylandontplay notice how not a single leaf won an award last year notice how Matthews is the best goal scorer right now so it’s kinda hard not to win Marcie Richard

[@Dylandontplay]

@@Electron-qg1oy nah. Mathew’s doesn’t deserve shit compared to mcdavid, kuch, McKinnon, miller

[@dkeyjets7370]

If you want to talk about the lightning, talk about Hagel, 12 game point streak currently and is 6th in the league for even strength points. Guy plays on the pk with some pp time and is undoubtedly a player that every team would want

[@MIkhailCruverov]

I was so so so mad when the Hawks traded him. He was the most noticeable player on the ice most games and by far the hardest working every shift.

[@TranslatedAssumption]

Steven A. would say, "He's a BAAAAAAD MAN."

[@chrisramsteck5866]

Another comment for the algorithm. I'm definitely biased but Kuch is definitely the MVP of the lightning and deserves the Hart. Matthew's and Big Mac are great players but this team would be in the basement without Number One Bullshit

[@J-JProductions]

Bro the whole game I was like why could u not do that for us during the all star 😭😭😭

[@shortcoursercracing4284]

I’m a huge kuch fan also I love watching your Lightning/ panthers videos as a Florida fan

[@kyyva4533]

Kooch is fucking amazing. some clown saying the all star game that means absolutely nothing and has been a joke for years to cost him th heart? That guys gotta couple screws loose

[@ethanpresley8153]

Brain dead take by Eliot Freedman

[@jfedol7760]

@@ethanpresley8153 Take by a NHL executive lol, Elliote just reports on it smh

[@APAL880]

Or he just doesn't like Russians

[@jirixx7297]

if the season was over tomorrow he would win the hart trophy guarunteed

[@benvinson2237]

Yes more tbl content for sure

[@ZoltanvamosOfficial]

Coming from a Leafs fan, if Auston runs away with only the Rocket this year? We should be happy with it. This guy is incredible, Rocket proves it. I'd more like him to win the Conn Smythe Trophy or Lift the Cup but that might just be me, we'll see... Domi seems to think it's about the cup! Great video Johnny! 👍

[@Electron-qg1oy]

This is coming from a leafs fan but the chances of the leafs lifting the cup is like 0.00000001%

[@maikinmoves]

If you want to talk about Lightning, Talk about Player Development. Kuch Drafted 58th overall. Point in the 3rd round. Hagel was 6th round, Others that were counted out now loved by new teams. Palat, Gourde, JT Miller, Marchessault, Goodrow, Coleman. and the list goes on. They also see and remove those who will drag down a team like Druin.

[@robtech341]

They don't ask how, they ask how many.

[@zlrediska]

Бро снимай ещё про Тампу!)

[@malcolmapplet4313]

Huge Kuch fanboi. But, basically every goal goes through him one way or another and that doesn't really work in the play-offs. Hagel is putting in goals and if you watch him do "Kuch like things" not always unsuccessfully. Hard for me to describe, he has his own style, but you can see him grow his game in that direction. Tampa might just stand pat at the deadline.

[@Ryan-bn3qk]

We're going to get a forward and dman at the very least. We have a ton of cap space (over 11 million I think) without Jeannot and Sergachev. A run is coming.

[@LizardSkin]

Hagel is getting better every game. An absolute gem. Throw on top of that his sheer will to win. He got that dowg in him.

[@danielk9475]

Kuch hates the fanfare stuff. Anyone who's been following him and watches his interviews wasn't at all surprised by the all star event. He should win the Hart though. You're exactly right about the impact he's had this year. I don't think the Bolts would even be in the conversation for a playoff spot without him. Instead we'd be talking about a three or four-way race between the teams currently below them that are all close together in points. Kuch, almost single-handedly, has changed the landscape of the eastern conference and if that doesn't make him the MVP then I question the integrity of the award.

[@danielk9475]

Also would love to see more Bolts content from you. We're an under-served market.

[@nursetj191]

More bolts!

[@chrisramsteck5866]

More lightning please

[@weeblelehmann466]

The Thanos of hockey 😅

[@BedsyFan]

You should react to Victor Hedmans insane body checks. He’s huge!!😊

[@hammatymee]

Lightning fan here love your videos but would love to see some more videos on these guys i mean they were regarded as a potential dynasty team just a few years ago they deserve their flowers overall especially coop.

[@deadrizen]

If Matthews actually scores 70+ I feel like there's an argument. Otherwise it should go to Kuch

[@tpjayce1817]

YES PLEASE MORE LIGHTNING CONTENT

[@LizardSkin]

KUUUUUUCH

[@TheOriginalTuhat]

Disqualifying Kuch because of his All-Star performance would be a mega low-T move

[@classic.cameras]

I am sure he would be crying while drinking Vodka with Ovechkin on the All Star Weekend. 🤣

[@Ryan-bn3qk]

Well it was in Toronto...

[@Electron-qg1oy]

All star weekend is shit anyway they made it slightly better this year but not really kucherov not trying was kinda funny

[@peters5090]

Kucherov is the greatest player of alll time

[@thefozzybear]

Kuch was showing how effortless his skills are. LOL.

[@CloudyYote]

bias alert: im a lightning fan but kuch deserves the hart if it was given out today. he is singlehandedly dragging this aging and struggling lightning squad kicking and screaming into the playoff race

[@chelious1973]

The're not old.

[@zachgamingzone]

Mackinnon has deserved a hart for like 3 seasons now. please for fucks sake just let the guy have it already

[@DetroitTyler]

Mcdavid will pass him, Austin Matthews could pass OVs 65 goals which would be the highest goal total in the modern NHL, and Kuch is rattling in points at a crazy click. Mackinnon will be 4th on most ballots. Just isn't his year unless he goes nuclear for a stretch.

[@zachgamingzone]

@@DetroitTyler so if you don't think those 3-5 point games in January weren't "going nuclear" what do you think is? 10 point games? Get real

[@hockey.realtor]

Want more Lightning videos! ⚡️

[@EF_DadLeftMe]

Kuuuuuuuuuchhhhh

[@Ferd_Turgeson]

Peeps triggered by the All Star game need to lighten up. *cue my best Allen Iverson voice:*. I mean, we’re talking about the All Star game, the aLl sTaR game.

[@braedonmorrissey7548]

look. I didn't like his minimal effort in the skills comp but to take the heart away for it is even lower tbh

[@Tansle620]

If Matthews scores 75, there still is no other conversation where Kucherov isn't the MVP and nothing can be said against it. He has 40 more points than the next highest player on his team. Matthews has 1 less point then Nylander.

[@alchemical.fitness]

every team has a version of their mvp (not league), and art ross should not mean hart necessarily. This race is tight and wonderful to watch.. Being a Leafs fan Im biased about Matthews, yet Marner is the straw that stirs the team..Watching MacKinnon head to head against 34 on Sat was amazing and shows us just how awesome 29 is...Kuch can have the Hart, we want the Cup.

[@tenchi100]

Thanks for showing appreciation to my hometown Tampa Bay Lightning, especially Kucherov.

[@beneasler8868]

The Hart is gonna be such a tough decision. Unfortunately Kucherov has to win the Art Ross to even have a chance of the Hart just down to name recognition alone. He's not a popular enough player to win it just because he got his team into playoffs

[@MikeHarvey-ol7xr]

It's sad that a 2X Champion with four 100 point seasons needs to win one award just to even have a chance at the other, but I agree.

[@chelious1973]

If he played in Toronto they would be screaming every day how good this guy is.

[@APAL880]

​@@chelious1973 Or if he was Canadian

[@keaganmckay8229]

More tampa

[@Raphmoris]

I think that Kuch is pissed that the nhl penalize all the russian players to don't participate and play together to the next tournament for politic reasons...

[@KiLLKiNDLY]

Man what was Schmid on that goal was awful. his positioning on the intial play not great imo pushing too far out of the crease post side, but the push back was awful, I've coached peewee goalies that move better. Where his extension or attempt to save the goal like nah wtf is he doing, that hurt to see goaltending that bad. Can't believe I drafted him in fantasy

[@Itz_KK-jv4xf]

kucherov is w

[@MrTkillian]

And this is the guy the Lightning supposedly intentionally left on IR for an entire regular season for cap reasons. Uh huh, sure.

[@chelious1973]

He had hip surgury. He played as soon as he was healthy. Which was the playoffs. They sure didn't leave the 2nd best offensive player in the NHL on the bench on purpose. You do know who he is dont you?

[@MrTkillian]

@@chelious1973 That's what I'm saying

[@chelious1973]

@@MrTkillian ah. I got you. Duh by me. 😂

[@ethanpresley8153]

REMPE FOR HEART

[@Its_Just_Me_JD]

Gross

[@funsun3999]

Do Nashville predators content please

[@vilhamdutch2962]

Nashville suck I think Nashville frigging SUCKS

[@scrubsforhire81]

Still think he's underated

[@Sir_Sydney_live]

1st view! and comment 😎

[@eliaminator2313]

Don't dislike Kuch at all and think he's a great player but he better contribute to a lot of goals cause he also costs Tampa a lot of goals

[@King-03530]

not more than matthews gives up lol😂

[@cthumann]

I’m glad someone else sees it. Turnover king.

[@trevorconnatser6161]

@@cthumannmaybe earlier in the season but not anymore, he’s become much tighter with his plays, and when he costs a turnover it’s usually because one of our players just hasn’t kept up with his fast thinking mind

[@user-xh6nt4pk1s]

He has +4 this season, while the best Tampa player is Hedman with +7. Kuch is not the best in defense but he doesn't have that much turnovers that cost Tampa goals.

[@Jay-py1ow]

His +\- isn’t great when comparing to those other three guys so that should be factored in as well..even Matthews doesn’t have a single empty netter this season and without him the Leafs would be even worse than Lightning without Kucherov. Just my personal opinion. Also Mackinnon is on another level this year (eye test wise) when watching all four of these guys play each other

[@worldwidegaming1092]

i seen a stat the other day, kuch has been on the ice for 11 empty net goals, meaning he would be a plus 15 right now had he not been, id argue its not fair to bring +/- into that argument, but like you said, personal opinion.

[@alisonwest8801]

First minute tickect

[@Zuliano87]

All Star Game is worthless anyway

[@classic.cameras]

As delusional as I might be, I still see McDavid catching up to Kuch.

[@King-03530]

kuch most definitely deserves the hart trophy even if matthews scores 75 he shouldn’t win it over him, nate and mcjesus deserve it more than matthews this season

[@WalkableBulb905]

As a leafs fan. 100% agree. Kuch is the only reason why Tampa still has a chance at the playoffs. The fact that they could miss them even with how Kucherov is playing tells you everything.

[@tymacdougall3140]

Definitely deserves the hart. He is 4 steps ahead of everyone out there. His hockey iq is off the charts. As for the all star game. He has earned the right to dog it in nothing games/competition as he’s the best player in world when it counts. Just a bunch of liberal miss nancys crying about it

[@poundmytomtom]

His selfishness and immaturity are also off the charts

[@thisiskris017]

@@poundmytomtomHey look it’s a Habs fan

[@Its_Just_Me_JD]

​@poundmytomtom I mean your handle tells us everything we need to know about you. Nobody is ever going to take you seriously. Grow up.

[@salianni16]

Matthews is better!!

[@derfman1792]

I understand you don’t want to spend your time only covering McDavid, but he is another “inevitable”… seems like he was over 25 pts behind the league-lead just 6 weeks or so ago, and now he’s 3rd in league scoring… then there’s MacKinnon, who’s been an absolute monster for the Avs, and Matthews scoring 50 in 54… we hockey fans are spoiled..!

[@vincentperrault5900]

Conor McDavid

[@Its_Just_Me_JD]

I don't think "inevitable" is the correct word... inevitable how, for what or why? Please don't insult Lightning fans by pretending to give Kuch props. Especially when you start the video talking about the All Star crap & how he was "playing into the villian role". No he wasn't... he's actually really shy when he knows all eyes are on only him. It's different when he's in "game mode". Also, he's said time & time again he doesn't really like the attention & gets super anxious at the thought of possibly having to speak to media. He's insecure when speaking English & gets in his head that "people" will make him look like a "dumb Russian", and "mix up" his "sentence". (His words, not mine.) I guess what I'm trying to say is, maybe just do a positive video about the Bolts. This one barely counts as such. No matter how much you tried to spin it. Our Lightning deserve better. I can't help that we're not a Canadian based team. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@cthumann]

One stat that flys under the radar is, he’s first in the league in turnovers. Which loses us a lot of games. He also has ice time that doubles most other players. With that amount of time, I think this "MVP" should have 120 points by now. Then there’s his selfishness and immaturity when something doesn’t go his way, he will give up on the play, stop to complain to a ref, stomp on someone’s skate or kick someone. Take all of that good with the bad and he also sucks up the most money from the team, forcing us to lose beloved players every season. Another reason I’m a diehard Lightning fan but not a Kucherov fan (and it’s not crucial), he does nothing for the off-ice social and PR for the team. Like, behind the scenes stuff where every player will stop to participate and he just walks on by. Anyway, he’s a great player, just not what I want leading my team.

[@MikeHarvey-ol7xr]

That's a 50 gallon drum of Haterade, lol.

[@oneWORMarmy]

You're not exactly looking at this season...you're looking at his career. The guy has matured when it comes to the tantrums and crap he pulled years ago, and he has cleaned up the turnovers throughout the second half of this season. I love my Bolts, but they are the weakest they've been in years. Without Kuch doing what he's doing this year, we'd be major sellers at the deadline. That's a fact, man.

[@MikeHarvey-ol7xr]

As for some of your alleged points: McDavid and Kucherov have near identical ice time, MacKinnon averages over a minute more per game. McDavid and MacKinnon have 12.5 million cap hits, Kucherov's is 9.5 million. Just say you hate the guy.

[@JordanX767]

McDavid is still going to pass him.

[@colerigney2001]

I don’t really like Matthews but I would 100% say he should get the hart. Kuch and Matthews have both carried their teams but what Matthews is doing is unreal

[@Koz4concern]

Mathews carrying his team? WTF you been smoking? Try paying attention instead of talking out your bum. Toronto is far more stacked with great players than Tampa

[@tromedl]

I think he means goal scoring pace.

[@oneWORMarmy]

True. Matthews is not a "turn nothing into something" guy. He relies heavily on Marner and Knies while Kuch often hangs around a little longer after a line change with other lines to give them some juice.@@Koz4concern

[@toke7342]

I don't like him.