TAMPA, Fla. — Nikita Kucherov’s shirtless, beer-guzzling news conference following the Lightning’s Stanley Cup-clinching win Wednesday at Amalie Arena drew the attention of Bud Light.
Kucherov, who arrived at his postgame presser clearly having already kicked back a few, was as unfiltered as could be. He took a seat in front of a Zoom camera and answered reporters’ questions while chugging cans of Bud Light, at one point sliding an empty can down the interview table and then cracking open another in a motion as slick as one of his touch passes.
He also turned away what appeared to be Bud Light in a champagne bottle mid-interview, asking for the bubbly instead.
So on Friday afternoon, Bud Light posted a tweet saying the brand, which is owned by Anheuser-Busch, signed the star forward to a deal.
Moments later, the company issued a release, detailing the terms of the deal:
“Bud Light will ensure Kucherov and his teammates continue having a legendary championship celebration by supplying all of the beer for the team at Champa’s Stanley Cup Parade on Monday.”
The release also included a statement from Kucherov:
“After my Stanley Cup championship press conference, how could Bud Light not sign me onto their team. I am excited to be part of the Bud Light team and can’t wait to celebrate our back-to-back championship with Lightning fans next week ... with some free Bud Light.”
Bud Light isn’t the only company battling for the Stanley Cup spotlight. Coors Light is producing a special Champions Ice brew that was made from filtered ice shavings from Amalie Arena ice following Game 1 of the final.
