Nikita Kucherov is the clear favorite for the Art Ross Trophy

[Video Nasty]

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.

McDavid also likely knows that the best chance they have is for him to continue going supernova, so the scoring title and the success of the Oilers go hand in hand.

It’s taken him only 6 games over the course of two weeks to go from 64th in scoring and 41st in PPG while being 15 points behind, to 9th in scoring and 3rd in PPG, and chipping the lead of the scoring leader to 10 who also happened to play two more games in the process.

I firmly believe at this point that McDavid will be back in the lead no later than the close of the first half for the Oilers (1/18/24 against the Kraken).

The chase will have lasted all of 7 weeks and 23 games if it takes that long.

I suspect it may be even sooner than that.

McDavid is simply a different animal than he was in 2018-2019. He had “only” 11 games out of 78 where notched 3 or 4 points that season.

He had 18 of those, including two 5 point games, out of 56 in 2020-2021. He had 22 of those in 82 games last season. He also registered at least a point in 59 of his last 62 games last season before having one in each of the first 6 games he played straight to open this season. With him seemingly back to full health, it’s more likely than not that he’s probably only going to register at least a point in at least 50 of his final 57 games.

Kucherov is a terrific player and has earned some benefit of the doubt, but as we’ve seen since, McDavid is leagues beyond where he was 4-5 years ago. This chase won’t take anything extra out of McDavid because him scoring in bunches is the best chance the Oilers have to keep it all going.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

McDavid also likely knows that the best chance they have is for him to continue going supernova, so the scoring title and the success of the Oilers go hand in hand.

It’s taken him only 6 games over the course of two weeks to go from 64th in scoring and 41st in PPG while being 15 points behind, to 9th in scoring and 3rd in PPG, and chipping the lead of the scoring leader to 10 who also happened to play two more games in the process.

I firmly believe at this point that McDavid will be back in the lead no later than the close of the first half for the Oilers (1/18/24 against the Kraken).

The chase will have lasted all of 7 weeks and 23 games if it takes that long.

I suspect it may be even sooner than that.

McDavid is simply a different animal than he was in 2018-2019. He had “only” 11 games out of 78 where notched 3 or 4 points that season.

He had 18 of those, including two 5 point games, out of 56 in 2020-2021. He had 22 of those in 82 games last season. He also registered at least a point in 59 of his last 62 games last season before having one in each of the first 6 games he played straight to open this season. With him seemingly back to full health, it’s more likely than not that he’s probably only going to register at least a point in at least 50 of his final 57 games.

Kucherov is a terrific player and has earned some benefit of the doubt, but as we’ve seen since, McDavid is leagues beyond where he was 4-5 years ago. This chase won’t take anything extra out of McDavid because him scoring in bunches is the best chance the Oilers have to keep it all going.

Problem with that is if he uses all his energy which he's gonna have to make the playoffs he's gonna burn himself out. He's about to be 27. Best thing is to keep hot until the oilers are pretty much secure n then forget about the ross

 

[Video Nasty]

Problem with that is if he uses all his energy which he's gonna have to make the playoffs he's gonna burn himself out. He's about to be 27. Best thing is to keep hot until the oilers are pretty much secure n then forget about the ross

I know Crosby conditioned you to think that generational players can’t win team championships during Art Ross runs, but for the actual best of the best, those also tend to go hand in hand.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

I know Crosby conditioned you to think that generational players can’t win team championships during Art Ross runs, but for the actual best of the best, those also tend to go hand in hand.

Lol okay champ. Let's see. Because mcdavid has never come close to doing that. But you've been conditioned to missing the playoffs so this year will not be anything new

 

[hamzarocks]

Lol okay champ. Let's see. Because mcdavid has never come close to doing that. But you've been conditioned to missing the playoffs so this year will not be anything new

Crosby is an all time great, but the sooner you realize Mcdavid is way ahead of him the sooner you can appreciate Mcdavid's greatness

Mcdavid is further ahead of Crosby then Crosby is to Ovechkin

 

[jigglysquishy]

I mean, there is something to winning a Cup a year you dominate the regular season.

Howe 1952
Orr 1970
Lemieux 1992
Gretzky 1984/1985/1987/1988
Sakic 2001
Malkin 2009

It's rare and a remarkable achievement.

 

[Nadal On Clay]

I mean, there is something to winning a Cup a year you dominate the regular season.

Howe 1952
Orr 1970
Lemieux 1992
Gretzky 1984/1985/1987/1988
Sakic 2001
Malkin 2009

It's rare and a remarkable achievement.

DIdn't Lafleur win the Ross + Cup too?

 

[jigglysquishy]

DIdn't Lafleur win the Ross + Cup too?

Ya he did. There's more examples they're just the first that jumped to mind.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

I mean, there is something to winning a Cup a year you dominate the regular season.

Howe 1952
Orr 1970
Lemieux 1992
Gretzky 1984/1985/1987/1988
Sakic 2001
Malkin 2009

It's rare and a remarkable achievement.

I mean crosby in 2017 was no slouch. 1st in goals, 2nd in points, 2nd in hart

 

[Video Nasty]

I mean crosby in 2017 was no slouch. 1st in goals, 2nd in points, 2nd in hart

Who was he second to in the Art Ross and Hart race?

 

[LTIR]

Another case of
"Thank you OP for this thread.
-Oiler fans"

Now do one for Draisaitl not scoring enough please.

 

[AndreRoy]

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.

Players with 30+ points in back-to-back postseasons in NHL history:

- Wayne Gretzky
- Mario Lemieux
- Nikita Kucherov

Players with > 125 points in a season in the 21st century:

- Nikita Kucherov
- Connor McDavid & Leon Draisaitl

When a player accomplishes multiple feats of that caliber that hadn’t been done in a generation or more, one of which puts him in a class with only himself and the consensus two greatest ever to play the game, I’d say that qualifies him as generational.

McDavid has the flash and the hype, not to mention the Canadian citizenship and team, but especially when you look at postseason performances there’s no question that Kucherov is a one-in-a-generation player.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Who was he second to in the Art Ross and Hart race?

Who won the cup and smythe?

 

[CokenoPepsi]

Kuch is pretty much Patrick Kane if Kane got to be play with talent on his line.

 

[34]

kuch is a beast. Very underrated.

 

[Video Nasty]

Who won the cup and smythe?

The Pittsburgh Penguins.

 

[authentic]

Kuch is pretty much Patrick Kane if Kane got to be play with talent on his line.

Patrick Kane is more dominant at his best than Kucherov anyway and a lot better in elimination games in the playoffs. Also has the higher goal scoring peak in a lower scoring era.

 

[CN8]

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

Or he’d be constantly ragged on for being top scorer but terrible defensively cause he’s minus

 

[Sky04]

Kane would be Kucherov if he scored more and hid less sexual assaults.

 

[CokenoPepsi]

Kane would be Kucherov if he scored more and hid less sexual assaults.

And also disappeared in non COVID playoffs

 

[DFC]

I think he should be the favorite for the Hart right now too. TB would be trending for a lottery pick without him.

 

[BenchBrawl]

I mean, there is something to winning a Cup a year you dominate the regular season.

Howe 1952
Orr 1970
Lemieux 1992
Gretzky 1984/1985/1987/1988
Sakic 2001
Malkin 2009

It's rare and a remarkable achievement.

Béliveau 1956

 

[Coffey]

I think he should be the favorite for the Hart right now too. TB would be trending for a lottery pick without him.

Dang. Bolts are actual trash now?

 

[ViD]

And also disappeared in non COVID playoffs

Didn’t Kucherov have the most play off points of his era? I mean the guy has 160 points in 142 play off games

 

[Breakers]

Career year for Pettersson ?

LOL, he’s been terrible for so many games and still has those scoring totals. Tocchet says it an injury.

Not calling his year a career year at all.