Nikita Kucherov had a memorable press conference after winning the Stanley Cup for the second straight year.
The 2019 Hart Trophy winner, sans his championship shirt, arrived clutching a can of Bud Light. After taking a question from The Athletic’s Joe Smith, Kucherov freelanced on his response, ribbing Montreal Canadiens fans for how they celebrated their Game Four overtime victory — their only win of the Stanley Cup Final — and criticizing voters of the Vezina Trophy for snubbing Andrei Vasilevskiy two consecutive seasons.
Tampa Bay won 1-0 in Game Five to take the series four games to one.
Here’s what Kucherov had to say when he arrived in the Zoom Room.
[Clapping] [Begins burping uncontrollably after taking a big gulp of Bud Light]I don’t know what to say. [curses] Back-to-back. I couldn’t sleep for three nights. To be able to win this game was huge.
Vasi was outstanding. MVP. I was telling him every day, you MVP. You the best player. And then they give — whatever the guy on Vegas — the Vezina and then last year, they gave Vezina to someone else. Number one bulls*&^. Number one bulls*&^.
Vasi took both Cups. And then he took MVP. I was keep telling him he’s MVP. He was the guy that was, f*$%ing, he’s the best. He stood on his head today. He kept us in the game. Another shutout by him. Remarkable. Can’t even tell more.
I’m so happy… I didn’t want to go back to Montreal but they acted, the fans in Montreal, c’mon. They acted like they won the Stanley Cup last game. You kidding me?? [Bangs podium for emphasis] Are you kidding me?
There was more.
Nikita Kucherov on Andrei Vasilevskiy: "If he played in a different market, he would win the Vezina every year."
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 8, 2021
After not playing a single game in the regular season, Kucherov returned from injury in the playoffs and scored 32 points (8g, 24a) in 22 games.
Nikita Kucherov, before @JoeSmithTB can even ask his question: "Joe, let's hear it." pic.twitter.com/5JQaBCdMdY
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 8, 2021
Nikita Kucherov just skated around Amalie signing DJ Khaled's "All I Do Is Win" in animated fashion.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) July 8, 2021
