Nikita Kucherov is the clear favorite for the Art Ross Trophy

[Vasilevskiy]

Kuch is having an amazing season, could easily have a lot more points. Many posts and missed chances. I think it will be very close if he keeps it up (which might be needed if Tampa wants to qualify for playoffs)

 

[Hoek]

I think McDavid pulls it off but hopefully it'll be close and exciting either way.

 

[Barrie22]

View attachment 779138

Kuch really is killing it.. 1st in points and 2nd in .ppg. Curiuos how it plays out. I still say McDavid but he's also on a heater that may not be sustainable.

Pasta is keeping great company!

3.2 points per game is obviously not sustainable, but kucherov is also playing above his career best level of play right now And McDavid for the season wise is actually below his level of play.

 

[VinikToWinIt]

Figured he would have a monster year since he actually sort of has to try this regular season.

Feels like people forget how good he is because they Lightning have been sleepwalking through the regular season since 2020. And then every year in the playoffs, people are surprised all over again at how incredible he is.

 

[Duke74]

I love Kucherov - but I still think the scoring race finishes similarly to how it did last year.

1. McDavid
2. Draisaitl
3. Kucherov

Draisaitl has been dogshit this year. He'll be hard pressed to finish in the Top 20-25.

 

[bert]

Figured he would have a monster year since he actually sort of has to try this regular season.

Feels like people forget how good he is because they Lightning have been sleepwalking through the regular season since 2020. And then every year in the playoffs, people are surprised all over again at how incredible he is.

He's the most underrated player in the league. Its absolutely hilarious when you see the toronto centric media say things like Matthews is a top 5 player and Kuch isnt. Or this year Nylander has a hot start despite getting outproduced by Kucherov, all we hear about is how Nylander is going to win the hart or art ross.

 

[Dust]

Draisaitl has been dogshit this year. He'll be hard pressed to finish in the Top 20-25.

He's 17th right now and the Oilers powerplay has finally got rolling again. I think he'll finish near the top when it's all said and done (3-5). You're not wrong though, he hasn't been very good.

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

One factor for Kucherov this year, Tampa is actually playing him 21+ minutes per night for the first time ever, sometimes double shifting with 4th line guys. Also, Tampa has always religiously used 2 PP lines but they've been having him stay out for the 2nd PP unit occasionally. Now we're seeing what he can do with McDrai type ice time.

 

[Coffey]

He's the most underrated player in the league.

Kucherov? Nikita Kucherov? Nikita Igorevich Kucherov?

 

[DFC]

Kucherov? Nikita Kucherov? Nikita Igorevich Kucherov?

When lists still have him outside the top 10, or even top 20, he's definitely still pretty underrated. It doesn't even feel like underrated though... more like just overlooked.

 

[Staniowski]

McDavid, Kucherov, J. Hughes, and MacKinnon are probably the guys to keep an eye on. They are each capable of putting up big numbers.

Of course McDavid might pull away, but it could be interesting.

 

[Paulinbc]

It’s December.

 

[Video Nasty]

One factor for Kucherov this year, Tampa is actually playing him 21+ minutes per night for the first time ever, sometimes double shifting with 4th line guys. Also, Tampa has always religiously used 2 PP lines but they've been having him stay out for the 2nd PP unit occasionally. Now we're seeing what he can do with McDrai type ice time.

He's averaging the same workload up to this point of the season as last year.

Through 27 games in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 so far, he averaged over 21.5 minutes per game.

He had 39 points last year and scored 6 over his next 2 to have 45 through 29.

Let’s see how he does over the next 2 games this season.

Either way, virtually identical results.

 

[Kerberos]

10 points back with 4 games in hand. I think that's pretty manageable for McDavid.

 

[Macheteops]

Even with his horrid start I expect McDavid to be close to 140 at seasons end. Be tough for Kuch to hit that but if anyone else can it would be him

McDavid
Kuch
Draisaitl
J.Hughes
MacKinnon

My prediction for the top 5

 

[AndreRoy]

He's the most underrated player in the league. Its absolutely hilarious when you see the toronto centric media say things like Matthews is a top 5 player and Kuch isnt. Or this year Nylander has a hot start despite getting outproduced by Kucherov, all we hear about is how Nylander is going to win the hart or art ross.

If Kucherov were a Canadian playing for a Canadian (or at least “Original” Six) team he would be seen as a generational player.

 

[cupface52]

Not sure why some say Kucherov is under rated. He's been in his own tier alongside Mack and Drai for the past while.

Actually, a mediocre or just "good" season from McDavid -- and he will not sniff the Top 3. Not after his last few seasons. It would be like Gretzky winning the Art Ross with 130 points in 1993-94 and not getting a single Hart vote. Not one.

LAK were 16 points out of a playoff spot, in a 12 team conference, no playoffs, no Hart. Not comparable at all if the Oilers make the playoffs.

Better comparable would be either '90 when Bourque should have won, or '91, though Hull did have 86 goals, 35 more than anyone else. Hull winning is comparable to Matthews winning the Hart is '22.

 

[habdynasty]

Mcdavid wins with at least a 20 Point lead.

 

[DistantThunderRep]

Not sure why some say Kucherov is under rated. He's been in his own tier alongside Mack and Drai for the past while.




LAK were 16 points out of a playoff spot, in a 12 team conference, no playoffs, no Hart. Not comparable at all if the Oilers make the playoffs.

Better comparable would be either '90 when Bourque should have won, or '91, though Hull did have 86 goals, 35 more than anyone else. Hull winning is comparable to Matthews winning the Hart is '22.

It's because when you see most top players list, Kuch is some how between 11-15 on most lists, and 20-25 on others.

 

[Dust]

If Kucherov were a Canadian playing for a Canadian (or at least “Original” Six) team he would be seen as a generational player.

No he wouldn't. Not by anyone with half a sense of what generational actually means. He would likely be far less under rated and forgotten about, but he wouldn't be close to generational.

 

[jigglysquishy]

There have only been three generational players born after 1975. Ovechkin, Crosby, McDavid.

Kucherov is fantastic. But Malkin and Kane aren't generational. Sakic and Yzerman and Forsberg weren't. Kucherov isn't either.

 

[hamzarocks]

There have only been three generational players born after 1975. Ovechkin, Crosby, McDavid.

Kucherov is fantastic. But Malkin and Kane aren't generational. Sakic and Yzerman and Forsberg weren't. Kucherov isn't either.

Realistically only Mcdavid is generational from those 3 in the purest sense

He is the only player who can challange 99/66/9/4 for the greatest player ever title

Crosby and OV are absolute legends but they don't compare to Mcdavid or the big 4

 

[Video Nasty]

Realistically only Mcdavid is generational from those 3 in the purest sense

He is the only player who can challange 99/66/9/4 for the greatest player ever title

Crosby and OV are absolute legends but they don't compare to Mcdavid or the big 4

Agreed. Even if people don’t end up budging on any of the Big Four, McDavid is clearly in the next tier on his own before anyone else.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Kucherov's biggest drawback is probably good draft position rather than team or nationality.

 

[Calderon]

McDavid has to be the favorite for the Ross as of now. He's also in a situation where he's rately been: chasing someone else. That might be a big motivation for him, even if getting into the playoffs and chasing the Cup should and probably is at the top of his mind.

One thing to look out for, though, is that a ferocious chase of this length (3/4 of a season) must be draining and might end up costly if and when they make the postseason.