Is Nikita Kucherov a Generational Talent? (Based on his NHL Career)

[benfranklin]

*one of three players in NHL history who's scored 30 points in back to back playoff runs

*Only player in NHL history who's scored 30 points in back to back Covid playoff runs.

Fixed it for you. Also playoff points isnt the flex you think it is. You get more credit for winning in less games. Get 30+ points winning in 16 games and then its a flex.

 

[Dust]

Kucherov was drafted in 2011, but didn't crack the roster for 3 more years where he played sparingly as a 4th liner. He soon vaulted up to "very good", but didn't reach peak Kucherov until probably 2017ish.

This basically explains why the answer is no.

 

[Hanji]

No. The general forwards since the 80s are:

Gretzky
Lemieux
Jagr
Ovechkin
Crosby
McDavid

 

[Voight]

*Only player in NHL history who's scored 30 points in back to back Covid playoff runs.

Fixed it for you. Also playoff points isnt the flex you think it is. You get more credit for winning in less games. Get 30+ points winning in 16 games and then its a flex.

COVID or not you still needed 16 games to win the cup. What does a pandemic have to do with his all time play-off performance?

 

[The Macho King]

This basically explains why the answer is no.

Without getting too deep in the weeds on this - Gordie Howe didn't become truly great until his like 22-23 year old season. He also wasn't particularly hyped. Good prospect but not "best player in the league" expectations.

Not saying Kucherov is Howe. I just don't like the idea of pre-draft hype and early dominance as necessary factors toward a player being "generational" or whatever. Just feels like a way to codify confirmation bias.

 

[Dust]

Without getting too deep in the weeds on this - Gordie Howe didn't become truly great until his like 22-23 year old season. He also wasn't particularly hyped. Good prospect but not "best player in the league" expectations.

Not saying Kucherov is Howe. I just don't like the idea of pre-draft hype and early dominance as necessary factors toward a player being "generational" or whatever. Just feels like a way to codify confirmation bias.

I think that's a bit of a reach, but I understand the point you're trying to make. Howe was in the ASG at 19 though.

 

[benfranklin]

COVID or not you still needed 16 games to win the cup. What does a pandemic have to do with his all time play-off performance?

It was watered the F down and guys putting in half efforts locked away in a bubble with a free final against the Habs who won the lottery soon after. It was the opposite of a normal year. Same with the year after in a shortened year with restrictions all over. Do you think Florida teams trained the same as Canadian? Covid 100000% affected everyone differently and many teams worse than others. So a a big asterisk no matter who won those years.

And the 30 points in a playoffs comes down to games played. You can win the Cup in 28 games or 16 games. Which is more likely to have 30 point scorers? The teams who couldnt win easily. So its not much of a flex to brag about 30 points.

 

[The Macho King]

I think that's a bit of a reach, but I understand the point you're trying to make. Howe was in the ASG at 19 though.

Literally a third of the league made the ASG.

 

[authentic]

This basically explains why the answer is no.

Well ultimately he is just not as good as players like Crosby and Ovechkin at their peak anyway.