The Midseason Awards for the Tampa Bay Lightning
Some less so, primarily in honor of the incredible, absurd, and occasionally viral moments that this season has shown. It’s kind of great, huh? Good. Let’s distribute some equipment now.
The MVP Award belongs to Nikita Kucherov.
Nothing is simpler than this. There was a reason why Nikita Kucherov was selected first overall in the NHL All-Star Draft. In addition to being the most valuable player on the Lightning, he might be the best player in the NHL this year.
After participating in 49 of Tampa Bay’s 50 games this season, Kucherov has been involved in more than half of the plays that result in the puck ending up in the goal, accounting for an incredible 48.9% of the team’s 174 goals this season.
With 140 points expected to be scored, the All-Star winger will surpass his previous career high of 128 points during the 2018–19 campaign. He has earned 85 points this season thus far. It would also record the second-highest points a player has scored in a season in NHL history, only surpassed by Connor McDavid’s 153 points in 2022–2023.
Better defenders are no match for him on the ice. He nearly always places his passes exactly where his teammates have taped them. Few players in the league have an opinion that they would like to share about the game.
Even if it seems like he is years ahead of everyone else on the ice, is it conceivable that he is improving? Kucherov has only missed ten chances to record a point in his 49 games. Nevertheless, in thirteen of those fifty-nine games, he has scored three points or more.
He leads the NHL in shots on goal with 210, ranking third in the league, and is one of just five skaters with more than 200 shots this season. Thanks to all those shots, Kucherov has already scored 32 goals this season, the most in a single season since he scored 33 in 2019–20.
He accomplished a first for himself this season before the 50th game: reaching the 50-assist mark. The only other player still playing who has done it twice is him. In three or more seasons, just nine players in NHL history have accomplished this feat. Among the other greats on that list were Bryan Trottier, Adam Oates, Peter Stastny, Denis Savard, Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Wayne Gretzky, and Mario Lemieux.
I could go on and on about Kucherov’s statistics, but this will do for now. In the previous NHL season, just 21 skaters scored more than 85 points in total. Even though there are 32 games left in the regular season for the Lightning, Kucherov is already starting. When he competes for the Art Ross Trophy at the end of the season against Nathan MacKinnon of Colorado, it will be interesting to see that number. “CK”
Nikita Kucherov, Kucherov’s Stick: The Greatest Flex Prize
Three Steaming Faces from After Kucherov’s stick put this puck in the net to assist the team upset the Penguins, nose emojis were sent into the ice. I lack the information and analysis necessary to assess how outstanding this picture really is. Nevertheless, it’s a worthy tribute to one of the best wingers in the league and among the better shots of the current campaign.
It just so happens that Kuch is competing in the NHL All-Star Skills Competition this Friday night. He is one of the competitors in the NHL Accuracy Shooting, NHL Passing Challenge, Upper Deck NHL Stick Handling, and Tim Hortons NHL One Timers. There will be numerous opportunities for Kuch’s Vapor Hyperlite to shine on national television. TB
Victor Hedman, recognized as the best defenseman
One of the players who gained the most from the much-needed relaxation after the Lightning’s elimination in the Stanley Cup Playoffs’ first round the previous season was Victor Hedman.
Hedman was a consistent backup for almost ten years and had more playoff minutes than any other NHL player over the previous four seasons, when all of the games were counted. It’s obvious that The Big Swede benefited greatly from taking a somewhat longer vacation because he came back to Tampa rejuvenated and ready for this campaign.
Hedman’s point total from the 2022–2023 season, when he finished with 49 points on nine goals and forty assists, has already been eclipsed in just 48 games this season. He had nine goals at the All-Star break to match his season total, but he also had more assists (41), points (50), and goals than he had the season before.
Since Mikhail Sergachev and Erik Cernak, two vital pieces of Tampa Bay’s blue line, suffered injuries, Hedman has had to step up and play significant minutes. In January, he participated in twelve games, averaging twenty-five minutes on the ice per contest. The eventual Hall of Famer has flourished with so much ice time.
So far this season, he leads all NHL defensemen in assists (41) and points (50). With 83 points left to play in the season, he would tie his career high of 85 points from the 2021–2022 campaign, which is his second-highest point total in a single campaign.
Hedman made history earlier in the season when he became the first defenseman to skate for the Lightning in 1,000 games overall. Not only did he become the team’s first-ever defenseman, but he also became just the 28th defenseman in NHL history to reach 700 career points. Not only is he Tampa Bay’s finest defenseman right now, but he’s the best the team has ever had. “CK”
Treasured “Brothers Gotta Hug”: Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman
The most wholesome brothers in hockey performed a friendship tour de force for Hedman’s 1,000th game, while Stammer gave a heartfelt pregame tribute to the Big Swede. The two had been doing shows together in Tampa before they could legally hit MacDinton’s.
Together, they shared Stanley Cup victories and an upbringing. As they succeed in an undertaking that only their previous mentor could, their relationship has become even closer. If they’re lucky, they’ll have 11,000 matching tattoos. TB
The Most Promising Development Award
Darren RaddyshRaddysh played in seventeen more games during the regular season, totaling three points from one goal and two assists. He quickly became good friends with Mikhail Sergachev, and the two had a great relationship.
Raddysh earned a berth on the major club’s permanent roster for the 2023–24 season after playing effectively toward the end of the regular season and into the playoffs the previous year. The fact that he had only appeared in 21 regular-season games before this season could have easily been disregarded.
That’s mostly his fault because of how he performed on the ice. Raddysh hasn’t appeared like a player with fewer than 100 games played throughout his NHL tenure. His four goals this season equal for second place among all the defenseman on the Bolts, and his eighteen points are tied for third. He has skated for the team in all 50 games.
Raddysh proved he was fitting in when he played in his 50th NHL game right before halftime.In six of the previous eight Lightning games, Raddysh has hit the scoresheet, tallying two goals and dishing out four assists. He had a +5 rating going into the All-Star break and was riding a three-game winning streak.
As the Bolts battle for a postseason spot, expect that confidence to last throughout the second half of the season. Raddysh might play a significant role in Tampa Bay’s postseason run if he keeps playing the way he has been for the past month. “CK”
The Award That Catches My Eye at the Moment
An enormous fan, Kraken Anonymous
What a fantastic evening for this devoted Krakens supporter, who probably had no idea on December 9th that he would be used as a social media scapegoat for his team’s overtime defeat. But that’s just what occurred thanks to some great glass seats, a wild fan base, and a little bit of serendipity.
Based on the PG-rated Focus Around and Find Out chart, we may conclude that a league-leading scorer such as Kucherov is risky to be around. Moreover, a completely authentic Reddit website asserts that the concerned Kraken enthusiast may have had a beak on him. Kuch and Hagel glided like a tractor beam over to the fan and his buddies after their play that won the game, maybe to give them free tickets to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next game. With a warm smile, Mikhail Sergachev joined in the fun. Congrats to all of you. TB
Respect for the Soul and Heart
Luke Glendening
Luke Glendening, a standout faceoff player in the NHL for many years, was a wonderful addition to the Lightning this offseason.
That has also been the trend of the year. This season, Glenning has been Tampa Bay’s most productive center field player. With a win percentage of 56.7%, which is tied for seventh-highest in the NHL, Glenning leads the team in wins. But his influence is felt far from the battlefield.
Glendening has tied for second place among all Lightning forwards with 61 hits and 32 saves in the process. With eight goals this season, Glendening, who has participated in all 50 games, is just four goals shy of his career high and has already surpassed his total from the entire previous year.
Key player on Tampa Bay’s penalty kill unit Glendening broke over the puck line on January 11 against the Devils to score the team’s first shorthanded goal of the season.
Tampa Bay lost Corey Perry, Pat Maroon, and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare this off-season, which caused them to make changes to their fourth line. Glendening was a great asset to the group. He was a storehouse of knowledge in the dressing room and played the game with passion and purpose. “CK”
The Apologies for Upsetting You Award
The Post-Game Press Conference with Andrei Vasilevskiy
Under any other circumstances, Andrei Vasilevskiy’s first shutout following back surgery is most likely lost to history. This is rather regular material for the Big Cat, given his history and the circumstances. But this evening, some unseen backdoor sizzler had other ideas.
When the “biff heard ’round the bay” appeared at precisely the appropriate moment to provoke laughter, the room’s professional journalists were forced into a playful game of “It wasn’t me!” Even Vasy was having difficulty remaining composed and had completely forgotten the question.
That evening’s valiant performance could have been written off. But we will never forget Vasy’s incredible comeback against the Stars on a cold December night, all thanks to a little viral success from one of America’s tried-and-true practical pranks. TB
1 Comment
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