Vorobyov: Kucherov is "in space" with his hockey IQ
Former Russia coach Ilya Vorobyov called Tampa star Nikita Kucherov a unique player with elite IQ after he said hockey has become faster but dumber.
Former Russia head coach Ilya Vorobyov has described Tampa forward Nikita Kucherov as a player who is "in space" with his hockey IQ. His comments follow Kucherov's own remark that the game has become faster but dumber.
Kucherov won the Hart Trophy, the NHL's award for the regular season's most valuable player, in 2019 and again in 2026.
"Nikita is simply in a different reality. He has never been in the shoes of those guys who work for the team, block shots on the penalty kill, win faceoffs. Kucherov is a unique player," Vorobyov said. "And those guys are mere mortals, he is in space with his IQ, simply a great player, you can count players like that on the fingers of one hand. Yes, those guys do honest work, but they will never take Kucherov's place."
If Vorobyov's words draw a response from players in the roles he describes, Kucherov's comment on the state of the game may stay in circulation for a while yet.
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