Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the fifth player in NHL history to reach 100 assists in a single season. Kucherov expressed gratitude to his teammates and coaching staff for their support. His accomplishment was recognized by his coach, Jon Cooper, who compared Kucherov to fine wine, getting better with age. The achievement has drawn praise from hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, who commended Kucherov's performance. Kucherov's 100 assists included 62 primary assists, 38 secondary assists, and 40 power-play assists. He also assisted on 33 of Brayden Point's goals and had 26 multi-assist games. Kucherov's exceptional season led him to win his second Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer, finishing with a franchise record of 144 points.
The 2023-24 Art Ross Trophy race came down to the wire with Nikita Kucherov going on to win his second award as the NHL's scoring leader in six years. Check out the 2023-24 regular season recap: https://t.co/WdKfaakVYR #NHLStats https://t.co/7OhfrFAkpp
What a season it's been for Nikita Kucherov! 👏 He becomes the fourth active player in the NHL to claim multiple Art Ross Trophy's. 😤 https://t.co/mIY11PwuZO
Kucherov wins Art Ross Trophy as NHL’s leading scorer for 2nd time: https://t.co/xWlMH7xRCM
Nikita Kucherov of the @TBLightning posted a franchise-record 144 points – the second-most by any player over the past 28 years – to finish four ahead of second-place Nathan MacKinnon and earn his second Art Ross Trophy. #NHLAwards #NHLStats: https://t.co/cVo0AMUOeO https://t.co/y0y1UFFanK
Kucherov wins Art Ross Trophy as NHL’s leading scorer for 2nd time ⤵️ https://t.co/xWlMH7xRCM
KUUUUUUCH 🤩 Nikita Kucherov takes home his second Art Ross Trophy after finishing the season as the League's top point scorer! #NHLAwards https://t.co/sL3TdegXyY
Nikita Kucherov has won the 2024 Art Ross Trophy! ⚡ The Lightning forward tallied a career-best 144 points this season. https://t.co/FDwYG1rZH6
Nikita Kucherov has won his second scoring title. MacKinnon had two assists tonight, finished four points behind Kucherov’s 144 points, a #GoBolts franchise record and Kucherov’s second Art Ross Trophy. He won his first with 128-point season in 2018-19.
Congratulations to @86Kucherov for capturing the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer, finishing with a franchise record of 144 points. This is the second Art Ross Trophy for Kucherov, who also led the league in 2018-19.
With 144 points, Nikita Kucherov has captured his second career Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leader in points, making him just the 16th player to achieve the feat multiple times. The only other player in #Bolts history to win the trophy is Martin St. Louis, who also did it twice. https://t.co/GmQF3yp4YP
Nikita Kucherov's 100 assists by the numbers: 62 – Primary assists 38 – Secondary assists 40 – Power-play assists 33 – Assists on Brayden Point's goals 26 – Multi-assist games 14 – Different goal scorers he assisted on https://t.co/EU5T55I9oy
Nikita Kucherov Becomes The First Player Since Connor McDavid To Record 100 Assists In A Single Season https://t.co/NmyglH81KZ https://t.co/KGe27nz8Fn
From @GinoRedaTSN on @7ElevenCanada That's Hockey - Did a 100-assist milestone lock up the MVP for Nikita Kucherov? https://t.co/RhdubIvTNq #7ElevenThatsHockey https://t.co/N43hDBSfuH
Today’s @TB_Times E-newspaper sports front: #GoBolts Nikita Kucherov joins Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr & McDavid as only players in #NHL history to record 100 assists in a season. Story: https://t.co/z9MTkaTR0l #TBLightning #TampaBay #TORvsTBL https://t.co/Wc88GTDfSs
Nikita Kucherov became the fifth player in #NHL history to have an 100-assist season. Incredible feat. I tried to make the case for Kucherov for Hart Trophy #tblightning https://t.co/7AJehQZq4K
Trophy Tracker Kucherov has 6-point lead in Art Ross race on last day of season ⤵️https://t.co/xdgrUbedtr
Connor McDavid & Nikita Kucherov both reaching 100 assists on the season: https://t.co/fHh6aX9rWo
Three players in NHL history have scored 40 goals and recorded 100 assists in a single season: - Wayne Gretzky - Mario Lemieux - Nikita Kucherov Greatness. https://t.co/uirnvNpIud
Kucherov becomes 5th player in NHL history to get 100 assists in season: https://t.co/KkneTCMJL5
Cooper said he has received texts from Wayne Gretzky when he checked his phone after the game: "He gave -- the class act that he is -- just glowing comments about Nikita Kucherov. It was pretty cool." #gobolts
Cooper on Kucherov: "He's like the fine wine. He's getting better with age and it's impressive to watch. Everybody should cherish it. You'll remember where you were tonight when that happened. You watched a little piece of history. It was awesome."
Cooper on Gretzky sending him a text message about Nikita Kucherov: "While we are talking about The Great one, the first text message I got when I checked after the game and, the class act that he is, he just gave glowing comments about Nikita Kucherov. It was pretty cool" https://t.co/a6l2owOIzk
Kucherov on reaching 100 assists: “Thanks to my teammates and the coaching staff for putting me in position to have success. I'm fortunate to be with great players and play with great players. It's a good moment.” #gobolts
Jon Cooper on Nikita Kucherov's 100th assist: "There are definitely some moments when my career is over that I will look back on two of them being the final 10 second countdowns when we won our Stanley Cups. This is tucked right behind those. The flood of emotions that you go…
#GoBolts' Cooper on Kucherov's season: "You never know how many times this is ever going to come around. When he had 128 points...in 2019, did think he's gonna get to that again? I wasn't quite sure. But he's surpassed that & more. Like a fine wine, he's gotten better w/ age."
Cooper: "While we're talking about The Great One, he was the first text message I got when I went and checked after the game. He just gave, the class act that he is, just glowing comments about Nikita Kucherov. It was pretty cool."
Jon Cooper on Nikita Kucherov hitting 100 assists: "There's definitely some moments when my career's over of what I'll look back on, two of them being when the final 10 seconds count down when we won our Stanley Cups. But this is tucked right behind it."
Kucherov on Brayden Point scoring the goal connected to his 100th assist: "He's been putting in a lot of goals from that spot and couldn't be happier to assist on that goal so happy for him. That was a good one"
Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov becomes fifth player in NHL history with 100 assists in a season https://t.co/bJLIzLi5AF
Nikita Kucherov on what 100 assists means to him: "A special moment. Thanks to my teammates and the coaching staff for putting me in a position to have success and fortunate to be with great players, to play with great players, and it is a good moment"
Kucherov is 5th player in NHL to reach 100 assists as Lighting beat Matthews, Maple Leafs 6-4 https://t.co/iKikqDRY0t
Lightning's Nikita Kucherov joins elite NHL company after recording 100th assist of the season https://t.co/s63Ef5s4sv