Team Hughes right winger Nikita Kucherov (86) of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Lightning All-Star who dogged skills competition gets booed

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 2/3/24

Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov wasn't the most popular player in Toronto for this weekend's NHL All-Star Game, and when given the opportunity, fans let him know it.

Roughly 24 hours after becoming public enemy No. 1 by dogging it during the skills competition, Kucherov was denied on a breakaway during Saturday's All-Star Game, prompting a slew of boos from the Scotiabank Arena crowd.

Fans in Toronto seemed to like the Nikita Kucherov miss pic.twitter.com/6qYO6txopV
— Hailey Salvian (@hailey_salvian) February 3, 2024

To make matters worse, Kucherov egged on the boos before he even attempted his shootout chance.

Kuch waving off the boos @Rogers | #NHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/yr2Mj8VzCr
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 3, 2024

Kucherov caught flack on Friday night when he put forth a less-than-enthusiastic effort during the revamped skills competition. He skated lazily through the passing challenge, drawing jeers from the crowd toward the latter end and a scolding from commentator John Buccigross on ESPN's broadcast of the event.

"This is not a good look, quite frankly," Buccigross said. "And the fans are booing him. And that's what happens when you don't try your best, and you're in a hockey city like Toronto."

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