GRIT & GF
Nikita Kucherov

Tampa Bay Lightning, Right wing

Nikita Kucherov

  • Finesse
  • Two-way
  • Play-driver
Points, 2026–27
10
3 G, 7 A in 8 GP
Individual xG
3.2
3 goals from it
Ice time per game
21:43
24 shots on goal
xGF% at 5v5
63.6
share of chances while he's on

Nikita Kucherov has 3 goals and 7 assists (10 points) in 8 games for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2026–27, with 24 shots on goal and 21:43 of ice time a game. His Grit & GF rating for 2026–27 is 52.2 out of 100, provisional until he has 15 to 20 games.

8 games in. The methodology requires 15 to 20 games to be accurate, so this season's rating still leans on the league average for his position and will move.

GRIT & GF

52.2050100
Rated above 34% of forwards
Goals above average
+0.3
Wins
+0.05
Physicality29thGF37thIntimidation81thChemistry46thClutch92th

Where the rating comes from

Weight × score in standard deviations. They sum to −0.00, which the normal curve turns into the rating.

Your weights

Under these weights he ranks above 34.1% of 402 rated players

The default weights are our call. Set your own; they get rescaled to add up to 100%.

Clutch

+1.20 SD · 92th percentile · weight 0%

His team's expected-goal differential with him on the ice in the third period or overtime of a one-goal game, against his own usual rate. Not counted in the rating since grit-0.5: it didn't repeat from season to season, so it was mostly luck.

  • Close-and-late liftxGD per 60Heavily shrunk: close-and-late minutes are scarce.0.0892th pct
  • Close-and-late ice timeminutesThe sample behind the clutch number.2995th pct

Percentiles are against 402 rated forwards in 2026-27, on 118 minutes of his 5-on-5 time. Hits, blocks and takeaways count toward the rating and are worth zero goals until a study shows otherwise. Model grit-0.5.

Embed or share this card

Free to use with a link back. The image updates as his rating does.

Nikita Kucherov's Grit & GF card
Download PNG

Game notes

Written the morning after from the night's stats, for games where he did something worth a sentence.

  1. vs VAN

    Saturday, October 17

    Volume

    Nikita Kucherov had 11 shot attempts. Seven reached the net and two went in. He came in averaging 6.6 attempts a game. The Lightning beat the Canucks 4-2.

  2. vs SEA

    Thursday, October 15

    Volume

    Nikita Kucherov had 12 shot attempts. Eight got through to the goalie, and none went in. His average this season was 5.7. The Lightning beat the Kraken 4-3 in overtime.

  3. at NYI

    Saturday, October 10

    Streak

    Nikita Kucherov has a point in 5 straight games. He has 8 points in 5 games this season. He played 17:46 and had one shot on goal. It finished 5-3 for the Lightning.

  4. vs MIN

    Thursday, October 8

    Volume

    Nikita Kucherov had 9 shot attempts. One got through to the goalie, and none went in. His average this season was 6.3. The Lightning beat the Wild 3-2.

  5. at MTL

    Friday, May 1

    Volume

    Nikita Kucherov had 17 shot attempts. Six reached the net and none went in. His average this season was 7.1. His 1.2 expected goals came up empty. It finished 1-0 for the Lightning in overtime.

  6. vs MTL

    Wednesday, April 29

    Volume

    Nikita Kucherov had 8 shots on goal. His average this season was 3.0. He has 136 points in 82 games this season. The Lightning fell 3-2 to the Canadiens.

  7. at MTL

    Friday, April 24

    Volume

    Nikita Kucherov had 12 shot attempts. One got through to the goalie, and none went in. His average this season was 7.0. The Lightning lost 3-2 to the Canadiens in overtime.

  8. vs DET

    Monday, April 13

    Overtime winner

    Nikita Kucherov scored the overtime winner. That was his 44th goal of the season. He played 16:29 and had three shots on goal. It finished 4-3 for the Lightning in overtime.

Player card

Percentile among 378 forwards with enough games this season. 50 is the median.

Scoring

  • Ice time per game21:43
    98
  • Points per 603.45
    91
  • Goals per 601.04
    67
  • Individual xG per 601.10
    74
  • Shots per 608.3
    78

5-on-5 play

  • xG for per 60, on ice3.61
    94
  • xG against per 60, on ice2.07
    77
  • xGF%63.6%
    94

Physical

  • Hits per 600.3
    3
  • Blocks per 600.7
    8
  • Penalty minutes per 600.7
    73

Skating and shooting

NHL EDGE puck and player tracking, 2026–27. Percentiles are the league's, against all skaters.

Skating

  • Top speed23.0 mph
    95
  • Bursts over 20 mph18
    80
  • Distance skated27 mi
    91

Shooting

  • Hardest shot84.6 mph
    75
  • Shots on goal24
    92
  • Shooting %12.5%
    51

Zone time

  • Offensive zone time46.7%
    89
  • Offensive zone time, even strength43.9%
    84

Who he plays with

His most-used linemates at 5-on-5 this season, with what happened while they were out together.

LinematesGamesTOIShot attemptsxGGoalsxG share
Brayden Point, Gage Goncalves747:1062–352.8–0.93–075%
Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel827:4532–161.9–0.90–168%
Jake Guentzel, Brayden Point710:5012–80.5–0.40–057%
Brayden Point, Ilya Mikheyev58:0312–100.7–0.51–157%
Jeffrey Viel, Conor Geekie45:437–40.2–0.30–046%
Brayden Point, Brandon Hagel83:351–70.1–0.30–021%
Anthony Cirelli, Gage Goncalves52:064–00.2–0.00–0100%

Where he shoots from

His unblocked shots this season, attacking right. 3 goals from 40 attempts.

GoalShot or miss

Last 20 games

Columns are his individual expected goals, the quality of his own chances. Dots are goals he scored.

ixGGoal
0.000.501.001.50
04-0710-17

By season

SeasonGPGAPSOGixGTOI/GPHitsBlkxGF% 5v5
2026–2783710243.221:431263.6
2025–2677448613023137.520:05362957.3
2024–2578378412126526.821:11233455.8
2023–24814410014430636.821:40453855.1

Last 20 games

DateTOIGASOGixGHitsBlkPIM
2026-10-1720:402071.43002
2026-10-1522:160080.62100
2026-10-1323:150020.10000
2026-10-1017:460210.11010
2026-10-0820:550210.30000
2026-10-0521:590210.09000
2026-10-0322:460130.29000
2026-10-0124:071010.25010
2026-05-0320:160030.07010
2026-05-0122:500061.14102
2026-04-2921:440080.38100
2026-04-2622:570230.41002
2026-04-2420:350110.20002
2026-04-2123:221050.28112
2026-04-1917:380250.19202
2026-04-1520:540010.34010
2026-04-1316:291130.64000
2026-04-1120:210020.19010
2026-04-0923:120110.25102
2026-04-0719:410130.03000