Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon are attached at the hip.
What began with the longtime Penguins superstar as the Avalanche superstar's childhood idol has turned into a tremendous friendship on and off the ice.
The two Nova Scotia natives skate together in the summer in what's now known as one of the best and most competitive offseason training groups you'll find.
While at different points in their careers, Crosby and MacKinnon's primes are a very similar style of game that involves speed, strength, and skill to overpower opponents.
Given that, you would have to think that MacKinnon's favorite player to watch in the league would be his idol and buddy, Crosby; however, it turns out Tampa Bay Lightning superstar winger Nikita Kucherov trumps him.
Here was what he had to say when asked about it by Crosby himself during a media sit-down for TSN.
"You, man," MacKinnon jokingly said.
"Yeah, I like Kuch. Well, I like Kuch because he's like the opposite of what I do. You know? I'm like, choppy, and, I don't know, out of control. He's just so smooth, you know? There's not a whole lot of smoothness to my game, so I like watching him," MacKinnon added.
Nathan MacKinnon on his favourite NHL player to watch
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 7, 2025
FULL SITDOWN: https://t.co/R4l1WROYX0 pic.twitter.com/ki1wcQfYNG
The 32-year-old Kucherov is coming off another ridiculously productive season where he amassed 121 points (37 goals, 84 assists) in 78 games played.
Kucherov is everyone's favorite player
It's not just Nathan MacKinnon who loves to watch Nikita Kucherov work his magic on a nightly basis; most of the NHL is in awe of his skill set.
Robert Thomas had this to say when asked about his favorite players to watch during a conversation with insider Jeff Marek several weeks ago.
"If you were to ask NHLers who they would pay to watch, most of them would say Kucherov," Thomas said.
"If you were to ask NHLers who they would pay to watch, most of them would say Kucherov"
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) September 26, 2025
Robert Thomas lets @JeffMarek in on his favourite players to watch and learn from.#OnTheRoad | #airbnbpartner | @Airbnb pic.twitter.com/3o0i8buWfh
Your favorite player's favorite player is very likely Nikita Kucherov, and for good reason.
The five-time All-Star will look to keep it rolling in 2025-26, with the opportunity to bank his fourth consecutive and sixth career 100+ point season.
Kucherov and the Bolts open the campaign at home against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night in Tampa Bay.