Career
Juniors
Kucherov originally played professionally in his native Russia, for CSKA Moscow, of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). In the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft, he was selected 58th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning. In an attempt to transition to the North American style, Kucherov played major junior hockey with Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
Tampa Bay Lightning
During the 2013-2014 season, on November 25, 2013, with his first shot, on his first shift, against Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers, Kucherov became the seventh player in Lightning history to score a goal in his National Hockey League debut.
On October 28, 2014, he recorded his first career hat trick against Mike Smith of the Arizona Coyotes. During the 2014-2015 National Hockey League season Kucherov had a breakout season with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Kucherov posted 29 goals, 36 assists, and 65 points. Kucherov also tied for the National Hockey League lead in plus-minus with Max Pacioretty at a +38 rating.
The +38 rating also set the Lightning single season franchise record for +/- rating.
On March 2, 2016, the Russian Ice Hockey Federation named Kucherov to its roster for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Kucherov is being joined by Lightning teammates Vladislav Namestnikov, and Andrei Vasilevskiy. The tournament is set to take place from September
17 to October
1, 2016, in Toronto.