Is Kucherov getting slighted for awards?

[Pass the Saitl Sauce]

Maybe his effort at the all star game cost him a vote or two

 

[GoldenKnight]

The simple answer is yes. Kucherov is not a very likable player. First off he is Russian. So a language barrier is going to keep him from bonding with players around the league, who all are North American. I don't see him winning the Lindsay ever, which is definitely a popularity contest amongst players. If he didn't win it in 2019, he ain't winning that trophy.

Kucherov DID win the Lindsay in 2019.

 

[surixon]

The 100 assists argument for Kucherov holds a bit less weight this year then it normally would as he wasn't the only player to meet that mark.

 

[JackSlater]

That is a full blown accusation that the voters are breaking the rules and not following the stated award criteria.

They definitely don't always follow the criteria. It's not hard to fine Selke voters every year who admit that they consider points, for instance.

 

[KevinRedkey]

Kucherov was more valuable to his team than MacKinnon was this year.

He was also outright better, but that part is at least debatable.

 

[EXTRAS]

I think if a winger is head 2 head for a hart or conn smythe with any of the other positions, they usually get the short end of the stick.

 

[Seanaconda]

Kuch not winning this year does make me believe those Russian conspiracy theory posters a little bit more

 

[kingsholygrail]

I don't understand. Did Kucherov not win the Art Ross? The trophy for the player with the most points? Their points difference was FOUR. MacKinnon had 7 more goals. It's not a snub by any measurement.

 

[Beyonder91]

The 100 assists argument for Kucherov holds a bit less weight this year then it normally would as he wasn't the only player to meet that mark.

5th player in history to do it but it holds less weight because Mcdavid (one of the GOAT) did?

Also, he is the only winger to ever hit that mark.

 

[HolyHagelin]

People harping on the 100 assists are missing that, perceptionally, mcdavid doing it earlier in the same season devalues the accomplishment, makes it less standout.

Regardless of that, MacK’s WOWY numbers were historic and that probably had a lot to do with it too.

5th player in history to do it but it holds less weight because Mcdavid (one of the GOAT) did?

Also, he is the only winger to ever hit that mark.

Doesn’t matter, someone beat him to the punch in the same season, it could
Never have the same visceral impact as him being the only one

 

[Midnight Judges]

They definitely don't always follow the criteria. It's not hard to fine Selke voters every year who admit that they consider points, for instance.

At least that has something to do with on-ice value though.

 

[surixon]

5th player in history to do it but it holds less weight because Mcdavid (one of the GOAT) did?

Also, he is the only winger to ever hit that mark.

It's about perception. If a real high mark is accomplished by two players in the same season it diminishes the accomplishment even if only by a fraction. Could have been the difference in him lossing the award. He was also the second to hit it last season, meaning McDavid got more of the spotlight for hitting it.

 

[PaulD]

Kuch was better tho. Human flaw is we can be biased. I'd say this was country driven.

yea, when your guy doesnt win....it's rigged.
Now where I have heard that before ?

 

[Sentinel]

This thread is just sour grapes and being a sore loser. No need to slight MacKinnon or Hedman, they deserved their awards. Most points =/= automatic Hart/Smythe win.

Get over it or don’t, but there’s no conspiracy

Three (?) people left Kucherov off the ballot completely. This is just bananas, and those people should not be voting ever again.

I would give it to Kucherov because I like his cerebral play, because I think he WAS more important to his team than McK, and, because 40+ goals / 100+ assists Mark (3rd after 99 and 66) is pretty special.

But two Smythe worthy playoffs and one Hart worthy season with zero hardware is pretty unusual.

Mario's 199 points laughs at this thread, Imagine how he felt. Not saying Gretzky didn't deseve it for his Kings impact. But 1989 is actually a valid debate.

No one was robbed this year. Even the players agree.

Mario didn't win the Hart OR Lindsay. Clearly his peers thought Yzerman was better.

 

[Hockeyholic]

He will still have a very high chance of being inducted into the HHOF.

But awards don't always tell the true story.

Kucherov has been a mega star and everyone knows it.

 

[ThunderRoad]

People harping on the 100 assists are missing that, perceptionally, mcdavid doing it earlier in the same season devalues the accomplishment, makes it less standout.

Regardless of that, MacK’s WOWY numbers were historic and that probably had a lot to do with it too.


Doesn’t matter, someone beat him to the punch in the same season, it could
Never have the same visceral impact as him being the only one

Still the only winger to ever do it. And I see all over the place how Center is the more valuable position, and more a playmaker role. Yet Kucherov plays a different position but still puts up the numbers a center does. He has to dig the puck off the boards more as well, and then deliver the pass. He doesn't just sit there and wait for passes from centers, he's the playmaker when he's on the ice.

 

[Beyonder91]

It's about perception. If a real high mark is accomplished by two players in the same season it diminishes the accomplishment even if only by a fraction. Could have been the difference in him lossing the award. He was also the second to hit it last season, meaning McDavid got more of the spotlight for hitting it.

Kucherov is the first winger to hit it and he set an NHL record for most assists in a season by a winger.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

There's definitely an anti-Russian feel to it, same as the 2 Smythes he should have.

Pick your criteria, Kucherov was the better Hart choice this year.

Value to the team? Kucherov had a point on 49.4% of Tampa's goals and had 60% more points than #2 on his team.
Better season? Kucherov won the Ross and did something only Gretzky, Mario, Orr and McDavid have done with 100 assists.

 

[KevinRedkey]

I've never bought in to the 'anti-Russian' thing before, but there's no way Mac was more valuable to his team this year than Kucherov was.

 

[Beyonder91]

There's definitely an anti-Russian feel to it, same as the 2 Smythes he should have.

Pick your criteria, Kucherov was the better Hart choice this year.

Value to the team? Kucherov had a point on 50% of Tampa's goals and had 60% more points than #2 on his team.
Better season? Kucherov won the Ross and did something only Gretzky, Mario, Orr and McDavid have done with 100 assists.

Just a small correction!
And the only winger to ever hit 100 assists

 

[x Tame Impala]

Three (?) people left Kucherov off the ballot completely. This is just bananas, and those people should not be voting ever again.

I would give it to Kucherov because I like his cerebral play, because I think he WAS more important to his team than McK, and, because 40+ goals / 100+ assists Mark (3rd after 99 and 66) is pretty special.

But two Smythe worthy playoffs and one Hart worthy season with zero hardware is pretty unusual.


Mario didn't win the Hart OR Lindsay. Clearly his peers thought Yzerman was better.

Hedman was fantastic in 2020 and Vasi was fantastic in 2021. I don’t think you’ll find many Lightning fans having issue with those selections.

Kucherov won a Ross for his efforts this season and that’s amazing. I was actually expecting McDavid to get the Lindsay but MacK is a fine candidate as well.

These are subjective awards. Just because your guy didn’t win doesn’t mean it’s rigged against him. How about gave some respect for the other players in the league and their talent + effort instead of whining???

 

[surixon]

Kucherov is the first winger to hit it and he set an NHL record for most assists in a season by a winger.

Does anyone really care about this distinction? A forward is a forward imo especially in today's game where it is much more about who is f1, f2 etc then it is about playing set positions.

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

My point here is that people are making that 100th assist out to be worth significantly more than the 99th. And that doesn't really make sense to me.

In a vacuum, under normal circumstances, people would tend to say a guy with a 50-50-100 stat line had a more impressive season than a guy that was 30-70-100. There's no such thing as a secondary goal. Goals carry a touch more weight. And I don't see why that should change, as long as the total point numbers remain close. Achieving an arbitrary milestone shouldn't reverse that.

If MacKinnon has 50 goals and 70 assists, Kucherov sweeps the awards. Goals aren't worth that much more. But that isn't where we landed. The players and media stuck to their usual playbook, and people shouldn't be surprised. It was just two years ago that Matthews took the awards while be 30 assists back of McDavid.

You seem to be overblowing this whole 'well rounded thing' as if Kucherov put up significantly less goals than MacK. The reality is that Kucherov got well over 40 goals himself, and finished top 10 in goal scoring as well. I don't see how Kucherov isn't 'well rounded' because of his goal scoring. To play devils advocate, if Kucherov puts up a handful more goals he is well rounded, but because he finished with 44 he is lacking in the goal scoring department?

 

[Sentinel]

Hedman was fantastic in 2020 and Vasi was fantastic in 2021. I don’t think you’ll find many Lightning fans having issue with those selections.

Kucherov won a Ross for his efforts this season and that’s amazing. I was actually expecting McDavid to get the Lindsay but MacK is a fine candidate as well.

These are subjective awards. Just because your guy didn’t win doesn’t mean it’s rigged against him. How about gave some respect for the other players in the league and their talent + effort instead of whining???

I didn't say it was a conspiracy to pick Vasilevsky and MacK over Kucherov. I said it was unusual.

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

Kucherov DID win the Lindsay in 2019.

Hey Midnight Judges beat ya to it, but thanks GoldenKnight, I know how hard it is to resist correcting someone. Please feel free to post an opinion or further the discussion in this thread as well.