Bolt Prospects: Three Stars of the Week for January 25
Each week ESPN Florida highlights three prospects in the Tampa Bay Lightning organization making an impact for their respective teams.
This week’s three stars go to:
First Star
Nikita Kucherov, RW, CSKA Jr. (MHL – Russia)
It’s nearly absurd that we’re approaching the end of the season in Russia and Lightning 2011 second round pick Nikita Kucherov is still averaging a goal a game in the MHL. This week Kucherov had six points in three games, including four goals. Three of those goals came as a hat trick Sunday in a 9-4 win over Peprov Jr. He also had a 1+1 game on Friday and added an assist early in the week.
For the MHL season, Kucherov has 19 goals and 17 assists for 36 points in 19 games. He is plus-12.
While Kucherov is dominating at the junior (MHL) level, he had only one assist in 13 KHL games playing against men to start the year. After riding the shuttle from the KHL to the MHL and back a few times, he settled into an MHL role.
Until now.
Kucherov was called up to CSKA after his Sunday hat trick and responded by scoring his first KHL goal on Tuesday. While that doesn’t count in last week’s prospect star evaluation time frame, it’s absolutely worth noting.
Next year Kucherov is expected to be in the KHL for at least a full season before possibly making the jump to North America. Right now he is understandably playing a European style game, staying on the perimeter and darting in and out of traffic, but will have to learn the North American “north-south” style in order to stick with the Lightning in the future.
Second Star
Nikita Nesterov, D, Chelyabinsk Jr. (MHL – Russia)
Nesterov, a fifth round pick of the Bolts in 2011, was playing against men in the KHL before the World Junior Championships but has been in the MHL (Russian juniors) since the tournament. This past week Nesterov had a goal and five assists even though his team went 1-1-0-1.
On Thursday he had an assist in a 5-3 loss to Magnitogorsk Jr, followed by a two-assist game Friday in a 4-3 shootout loss to the same team. On Sunday he had a goal and two assists as Chelyabinsk Jr. defeated Ekaterinburg Jr. 5-3. Though it doesn’t count toward the evaluation period totals for this story, Nesterov also had a goal and assist on Monday the 23rd in a win, too.
Last year Nesterov had 19 points in 46 MHL games. He’s already passed that point total this year with 24 points (9 goals) in 31 games to go with a plus-15 rating.
He is scoreless in seven games played for Chelyabinsk’s KHL squad.
Nesterov has a lot of muscle and weight to put on his 6’0” (generous listing) frame, but he’s looking like he could flirt with NHL time in the next few years or so. At the least, he’s going to be a very good defenseman in the KHL. The key is how and if he has any developmental time in North America. He was originally scheduled to play for Tri-City of the Western Hockey League in Canada this year before Chelyabinsk said no.
Third Star
Luke Witkowski, D, Western Michigan (NCAA – USA)
Witkowski, a 2008 sixth round pick of the Lightning, is known for his solid defensive play, not his goal scoring ability. But on Friday night the 6’2” Michigan native scored his first goal of the year against Miami (Ohio) on a slap shot from the blue line.
It was just the junior’s fourth career NCAA goal.
Witkowski wears an alternate captain’s A for the Broncos and is a minute eater on the backline for the club. Though his impact doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet (he does lead the team in penalty minutes), he’s an integral part of WMU’s 13th ranked (USCHO) team.
Expect Witkowski to return to school next year for his senior year. He’s a likely candidate for an NHL contract after that.
For more Lightning prospect information and daily updates, see ESPN Florida partner Bolt Prospects at www.boltprospects.com.
Tags: Tampa Bay Lightning
