DENVER — Colorado head coach Patrick Roy had some high praise for two of his former players, Nikita Kucherov and Jonathan Marchessault. The two Lightning forwards played for Roy while with Quebec of the QMJHL. While Kucherov was there for a short time, traded after playing six games in 2012-13, Marchessault played under Roy for four seasons.
Roy could see right away the skill level in Kucherov.
“He was phenomenal with the puck when he was with us for a short period of time,’’ Roy said. “He sees the ice and his (hockey) IQ is off the chart.