First coach Nikita Koucherov Gennady Kurdin told that the hockey player from Tampa is appreciated in America, but in Russia there is no information noise around him as there is around him. Alexandra Ovechkina because the Washington striker is highly promoted in his native country.
This season, Kucherov has scored 93 points (36+53) in 54 games and leads the NHL scoring race. Ovechkin has 836 goals in regular NHL championships. The 38-year-old striker still has 58 goals to score ahead of the leader in this indicator, Wayne Gretzky (894).
— Does it bother you that Nikita Kucherov, with his 140 points per season, is in the shadow of Alexander Ovechkin, while everyone discusses each of his goals?
— It’s just that Ovechkin is already very popular in Russia. Kucherov is at a high level in America, but there isn’t as much hype around him at home. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t talk to the press much. Ovechkin still comes to Russia, his every step is visible. He plays football and participates in events.
Even last year, Kucherov scored 113 points during the NHL championship. But in Russia this did not cause much resonance. Another factor is that Nikita has never participated in the Olympics – neither in 2018, nor in 2022, and 2026 is uncertain. This is a very important factor. Remember how Pavel Bure became a cult hockey player in the country when he scored five goals against the Finns in Nagano 1998. If Kucherov had played for the Russian national team, his rating would have immediately increased. And he didn’t play much in the World Championships — either we weren’t allowed in, either because of the pandemic, or his Tampa team reached the Stanley Cup Final four times.
The NHL is watched by a narrow circle of fans, but the majority want the national team. Yes, the same Ovechkin did not play very successfully for the national team. Even when he won gold at the World Championships, you couldn’t say he was great. But he participated in these tournaments, his rating increased, and then he created the Putin team. In general, he showed up everywhere.
However, in general, hockey players are less promoted. If we remember the 70s, the whole country knew all the players of the national team and clubs of the USSR. Although the TV seemed to only have three channels. But the first button has always been hockey. During the tour, matches of CSKA, Dynamo and Spartak were constantly broadcast. This is where fame and popularity came from.
Now the Internet is everywhere, but who watches Tampa games at night? Who would have known Nikita Gusev if he hadn’t scored this same goal at the Olympics? Then Kirill Kaprizov made a name for himself. Therefore, the team really improves the image of the players. And it is very important that Russia returns to international competitions,” Kurdin told .
Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
