Nikita Kucherov is On The Verge of Breaking a Gretzky Record

Wayne Gretzky is unquestionably the greatest playoff performer in the history of the NHL. He has the most points ever scored in a single playoffs, is tied for fourth in goals scored in a single post-season, and is first in assists scored. In fact, he is ranked 1st through 3rd in that category, his peak of 31 helpers in 19 games coming in the 1988 post-season on his way to winning his fourth Stanley Cup in five years.

Yet we may be on the cusp of seeing that all-time record broken. Nikita Kucherov, who missed the entirety of the regular season after a pulled groin in last year's playoffs led to him needing hip surgery in September, is currently sitting with 22 assists in 16 playoff games this year. Last season, on his way to winning the Stanley Cup, Kucherov scored 27 assists in 25 games. He is five shy of that total currently, in 9 fewer games played, and he is just 9 assists away from the Gretzky record

This hinges of course on the Tampa Bay Lightning's ability to make the Cup Finals this year, and the New York Islanders will have something to say about that. Nonetheless, should the Lightning break through to the final round, Kucherov needs only to maintain his current pace and he should surpass Gretzky's assist record. For reference, last season Kucherov was scoring assists at a pace of 1.08 per game. This year, he is scoring them at a pace of 1.37 per game. I certainly wouldn't put it past him. Would you?

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