Is There a Case For Kucherov > Ovechkin?

[Catscountry40]

Simple question. Is there a case to be made that Nikita Kucherov is the overall better player than Alex Ovechkin? We're talking about career up until Kuchverov's age (29) and projection until they both retire. Will Kucherov be looked on as the better player between the two once they are both out of the league?

Points in favor of Kuch:

Insane Hockey IQ
Better playoffs production
Multiple cups and finals appearances

Points for ovechking:

The GOATscorer potentially.
Better peak.
Better name recognition/flashier player

KUCH will forever be known as the injury faker. You can talk all the LTIR you want bu Kuch was ready to come back wayyyyy before those playoffs.

It is amazing how the TB core has not made past the 1st round without some wild circumstance.

Barkov, Tkachuk, and Rino are all more complete players. Kuch is just a stat complier.

 

[DrMartinVanNostrand]

KUCH will forever be known as the injury faker. You can talk all the LTIR you want bu Kuch was ready to come back wayyyyy before those playoffs.

It is amazing how the TB core has not made past the 1st round without some wild circumstance.

Barkov, Tkachuk, and Rino are all more complete players. Kuch is just a stat complier.

It's remarkable how you got every detail here wrong. Enjoy delusion.

 

[Master P]

We can have this discussion once they are both retired.

 

[Nathaniel]

Kucherov is a lock for top 3 in points this year. It would be his 5th time. Amongst active players top 3.

McDavid- 8 (1,1,1,1,1,2,2,3)
Crosby - 8 (1,1,2,3,3,3,3,3)
Kucherov - 5 (1,1,3,3,x)
Ovechkin - 5 (1,2,3,3,3)

These are the only active players to do it 5 or more times. Draisaitl at 4. A few more at 3 (Malkin, Kane). MacKinnon is the only other active player with a shot, but this is just his second season.

If you go back a generation Jagr was the only one to do it (7x). Some big names like Sakic, Yzerman, Selanne, and Forsberg didn't quite make it. Post Lafleur/Dionne Gretzky and Lemieux are the only others to join.

7 players across 55 birth years (1951-2006). Kucherov in some pretty rarified company.

Crosby (1,1,2,2,3,3,3,3)*

 

[Caps8112]

Oh I know, don't get me wrong. Ovi from 06-10 was a monster lol and the undisputed best player in the world, and he does have a longer and better prime + the overall career, but Kuch's resume (RS + playoffs) just stacks up way better IMHO when you look at it with a wide perspective if that makes sense even with the Rockets and the 2 less MVP's (he got robbed last year) that Alex has on him. The what if game is annoying and it applies both ways but Kuch just like McDavid should be sitting at 7/8 100pt seasons by now if it wasn't for COVID (2019-20 ) or timely injuries (2021/2021-22) ruining his prime. There's no way in hell current Ovi would've been producing like that, 50+ goals be damned. Kucherov is a point production monster akin to McDavid, Jagr, Gretz and Lemieux, his playmaking and IQ is light years ahead of the competition. He's a lock for 120pt seasons when healthy and in the ZONE, The fact this his game is less reliant on speed and more on IQ is a great factor that could lead to him producing very well until his late 30s to maybe his early 40s. Ovi's goal totals are disgusting but 50+ goals are just not more impactful when compared to consistent 100pt seasons.

the what if game is fun... Ovi is likely sitting at a 1000 goals if not for the lockouts/covids. He likely has another ross, rocket and hart from 09-10 with 10 games missed. Im sure there is more but thats pretty significant.

 

[Habssince89]

nope. close it up.

 

[jigglysquishy]

Crosby (1,1,2,2,3,3,3,3)*

He finished third in 2010 with the goal tiebreaker.

 

[Nathaniel]

He finished third in 2010 with the goal tiebreaker.

Crosby led the nhl in goals in 2010

 

[jigglysquishy]

Crosby led the nhl in goals in 2010

Weird that the NHL.com would scrape it weird like that.

Good catch.

 

[VinikToWinIt]

KUCH will forever be known as the injury faker. You can talk all the LTIR you want bu Kuch was ready to come back wayyyyy before those playoffs.

It is amazing how the TB core has not made past the 1st round without some wild circumstance.

Barkov, Tkachuk, and Rino are all more complete players. Kuch is just a stat complier.

Lol Kucherov was skating on one hip through 2 rounds. He just carved everyone up standing still from the half wall on the power play.

 

[Nathaniel]

Weird that the NHL.com would scrape it weird like that.

Good catch.

The goals tie breaker is only for the art ross. Not for #2 and beyond.

 

[EXTRAS]

You do realize Ovechkin has a case for hockey Mt Rushmore if/when he breaks Gretzky goal record ?

Nah.

 

[hamzarocks]

Him, Mackinnon and Draisaitl are huge threats to Crosby, & OVs legacies and maybe even Mcdavids if he doesnt outright dominate them next 2-3 years.

The three of them have basically made Malkin & Kane forgetten legends

Kucherov could win Ross#3 this year. He is definately in conversation to clear 87 and 8 by the end of his career if he holds up. 5 years from now well now the answer to this

 

[Nathaniel]

Him, Mackinnon and Draisaitl are huge threats to Crosby, & OVs legacies and maybe even Mcdavids if he doesnt outright dominate them next 2-3 years.

The three of them have basically made Malkin & Kane forgetten legends

Kucherov could win Ross#3 this year. He is definately in conversation to clear 87 and 8 by the end of his career if he holds up. 5 years from now well now the answer to this

Lol no where near Crosby. 20 ppg+ seasons along with all his hardware

 

[Regal]

Weird that the NHL.com would scrape it weird like that.

Good catch.

Goals tiebreaker is only for the Art Ross anyway, but NHL.com stats are likely just run by the web developers, not anyone “official”. If you pick a season it automatically sorts by points, and sorts tied players by games played first. If you click off points to another stat and back to it, it no longer sorts by games played, but I have no idea what it sorts players by (a quick check shows it’s not games played, goals, or alphabetical).

 

[hamzarocks]

Lol no where near Crosby. 20 ppg+ seasons along with all his hardware

No one really cares for ppg+ when your not winning awards

Kucherov if he wins ross/hart/lindsay this year + another 2-3 seasons of being top 3/5 in pts/ppg hes had better peak, better prime and same playoffs as Crosby. He would just be behind on longevity which he would need 80-90 pt seasons in his kid 30s to late 30s to make up.

Kucherov is a big time threat to Crosby/OV

Crosby in his best scenerio with full health gets 6 rosses, 6 harts, 6 lindsays, but he does so playing in a weak era for top end talent from 2011-2015. His trophy case in this era if healthy would not be as loaded as hes not beating superiorly skilled talent so regularly from this era.

Kucherov after this year could have 3 rosses, 2 harts, 2 lindsays which matche crosbys actual results for the big 3 awards (outside of rockets and smythes which are the 5th and 4th best awards imo) despite playing in an era with a player better than Crosby in Mcdavid and 2 other players better than 2011-whenever OV and Malkin (Draisaitl and Mackinnon)

Another big time year and he will be at 1100+ pts with major trophy case. A 3rd cup + smythe would also go a long way for any playoff fanatics.

Kucherov being a top 7-8 player all time is now upto him. Hes got the basis of dominance to get to that level with another 2-3 top tier seasons after this one

 

[jigglysquishy]

No one really cares for ppg+ when your not winning awards

Kucherov if he wins ross/hart/lindsay this year + another 2-3 seasons of being top 3/5 in pts/ppg hes had better peak, better prime and same playoffs as Crosby. He would just be behind on longevity which he would need 80-90 pt seasons in his kid 30s to late 30s to make up.

Kucherov is a big time threat to Crosby.

Crosby in his best scenerio with full health gets 6 rosses, 6 harts, 6 lindsays, but he does so playing in a weak era for top end talent from 2011-2015

Kucherov after this year could have 3 rosses, 2 harts, 2 lindsays which matches crosbys actual results despite playing in an era with a player better than Crosby in Mcdavid and 2 other players better than 2011-whenever OV and Malkin (Draisaitl and Mackinnon)

Another big time year and he will be at 1100+ pts with major trophy case. A 3rd cup + smythe would also go a long way for any playoff fanatics.

Kucherov being a top 7-8 player all time is now upto him. Hes got the basis of dominance to get to that level with another 2-3 top tier seasons after this one

You really need to spend more time learning hockey history instead of just lazily trophy counting.

 

[hamzarocks]

You really need to spend more time learning hockey history instead of just lazily trophy counting.

You need to spend more time getting off the old eras dick and realizing hockey continues to improve with the best players you have ever watched play hockey being right now in 2025

Old era players will almost always be lower than current era players.

Few exceptions being the big 4 players with Howe being the only true old era player in that group

 

[jigglysquishy]

You need to spend more time getting off the old eras dick and realizing hockey continues to improve with the best players you have ever watched play hockey being right now in 2025

Old era players will almost always be lower than current era players.

Few exceptions being the big 4 players with Howe being the only true old era player in that group

Maybe one day you'll learn. But I guess it's not today.

Laziness is laziness.

 

[Nathaniel]

No one really cares for ppg+ when your not winning awards

Kucherov if he wins ross/hart/lindsay this year + another 2-3 seasons of being top 3/5 in pts/ppg hes had better peak, better prime and same playoffs as Crosby. He would just be behind on longevity which he would need 80-90 pt seasons in his kid 30s to late 30s to make up.

Kucherov is a big time threat to Crosby.

Crosby in his best scenerio with full health gets 6 rosses, 6 harts, 6 lindsays, but he does so playing in a weak era for top end talent from 2011-2015

Kucherov after this year could have 3 rosses, 2 harts, 2 lindsays which matches crosbys actual results despite playing in an era with a player better than Crosby in Mcdavid and 2 other players better than 2011-whenever OV and Malkin (Draisaitl and Mackinnon)

Another big time year and he will be at 1100+ pts with major trophy case. A 3rd cup + smythe would also go a long way for any playoff fanatics.

Kucherov being a top 7-8 player all time is now upto him. Hes got the basis of dominance to get to that level with another 2-3 top tier seasons after this one

Firstly 20 straight seasons of elite play dwarfs kucherov. Those 20 ppg seasons include 8 top three scoring finishes, 9 top five scoring finishes, 12 top ten scoring finishes. Last season he was 12th in scoring n is currently 11th. That is elite longevity in your late 30s. Not to mention kucherov does not n will not ever sniff crosbys hart record of 1,1,2,2,2,2,3,4,5. Also 2 smythes to 0. Etc

 

[hamzarocks]

Firstly 20 straight seasons of elite play dwarfs kucherov. Those 20 ppg seasons include 8 top three scoring finishes, 9 top five scoring finishes, 12 top ten scoring finishes. Last season he was 12th in scoring n is currently 11th. That is elite longevity in your late 30s. Not to mention kucherov does not n will not ever sniff crosbys hart record of 1,1,2,2,2,2,3,4,5. Also 2 smythes to 0. Etc

There was not 20 straight seasons of elite play

2018 was not elite
2020 was not elite
2022-2024 was not elite
2025 is not elite

If your counting those as elite seasons for crosby then you are not being honest. He has 14 elite years where he was top 3 player for his first 5, top 1 player for the next 5, top 3 player for next 2, then top 5 in 2019, top 10 in 2021.

He was not elite in 2018 when he was fringe top 10 player
Same applies for 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 when hes been a non top 10 player in the league.

Kucherov has 8 elite seasons where hes been a top 10 player at worst in the league and more often top 3 range (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)

Kucherov still has to keep this up for another half decade but he has a chance to catch Crosby which no one thought would be possible

 

[wetcoast]

Him, Mackinnon and Draisaitl are huge threats to Crosby, & OVs legacies and maybe even Mcdavids if he doesnt outright dominate them next 2-3 years.

Not really as both Ovi and crosby hit the ground running and those extra 2-3 years of elite results matter.

The three of them have basically made Malkin & Kane forgetten legends

To some degree maybe but this is in part the shiny new toy thing

Kucherov could win Ross#3 this year. He is definately in conversation to clear 87 and 8 by the end of his career if he holds up. 5 years from now well now the answer to this

Kucherov is never catching Crosby and although he probably will end up with a better prime and even peak (non consecutive) and already has a better playoff resume than Ovi he has to age really well and have several more elite seasons before we can talk about this.

That being said he is only 31 and another long playoff run this year might help a lot.

 

[Nathaniel]

There was not 20 straight seasons of elite play

2018 was not elite
2020 was not elite
2022 was not elite
2025 is not elite

If your counting those as elite seasons for crosby then you are not being honest. He has 14 elite years where he was top 3 player for his first 5, top 1 player for the next 5, top 3 player for next 2, then top 5 in 2019, top 10 in 2021.

He was not elite in 2018 when he was fringe top 10 player
Same applies for 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 when hes been a none top 10 player in the league.


Kucherov has 8 elite seasons where hes been a top 10 player at worst in the league (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)

Kucherov still has to keep this up for another half decade but hes tracking to catch crosbt

Top 10 in scoring is not elite in 2018,2021? Crosby at age 36 was 12th. Age 35, 15th, age 37 is 11th. Lets see what kuch is doing in 5-6 years.

 

[hamzarocks]

Not really as both Ovi and crosby hit the ground running and those extra 2-3 years of elite results matter.


To some degree maybe but this is in part the shiny new toy thing



Kucherov is never catching Crosby and although he probably will end up with a better prime and even peak (non consecutive) and already has a better playoff resume than Ovi he has to age really well and have several more elite seasons before we can talk about this.

That being said he is only 31 and another long playoff run this year might help a lot.

Hitting the ground running doesnt matter if Kucherov can still end with better peak and prime than Crosby/OV

Yes hes behind now, no doubt. He needs to do what hes done the last 3 years for another 3-4 seasons to make it a lot closer.

Kucherov has continued to prove doubters wrong and is playing at a higher level at 31 then either Crosby or OV were.

We'll see how he ages but his style of play should not hurt him compared to Mackinnon whose skating needs to stay at a high level to make up for his lower IQ/awareness compared to Kucherov/Crosby/Mcdavid type players.

5 years we'll now if he ends up a Crosby/OV tier player or falls out and ends a Yzermann/Lafleur/Sakic/Bossy tier player

 

[Nathaniel]

Hitting the ground running doesnt matter if Kucherov can still end with better peak and prime than Crosby/OV

Yes hes behind now, no doubt. He needs to do what hes done the last 3 years for another 3-4 seasons to make it a lot closer.

Kucherov has continued to prove doubters wrong and is playing at a higher level at 31 then either Crosby or OV were.

We'll see how he ages but his style of play should not hurt him compared to Mackinnon whose skating needs to stay at a high level to make up for his lower IQ/awareness compared to Kucherov/Crosby/Mcdavid type players.

5 years we'll now if he ends up a Crosby/OV tier player or falls out and ends a Yzermann/Lafleur/Sakic/Bossy tier player

Crosby at 31 was 2nd in hart voting and 4th in selke. Something kucherov could never sniff