Nikita Kucherov is the clear favorite for the Art Ross Trophy

[Five Alarm Fire]

Sad to see this, wanted a fair race till the end between all three.
Hopefully he can recover soon.

That’s a bummer.

 

[Calderon]

If McDavid should stay out until the playoffs or otherwise doesn't reach 100 assists but Kucherov does, that'd be a massive switcheroo.

 

[Dingo]

Guess which team sinks to the f***ing bottom of the ocean when his star player is off the ice.

this is a stat i wouldnt mind seeing more of, historically

 

[Video Nasty]

Well, I guess I have to finally admit that’s the final nail in the coffin for McDavid’s Art Ross chances.

130 points in 74 games with two separate injuries that will cause him to miss time and/or affect his play is still pretty amazing. At this point, it would be a bitter pill to see him miss out on 100 assists.

Hopefully with the Oilers in a better position now than they were with his upper body injury they forced him back early from at the beginning of the season, they don’t screw up how they handle him again. Pending further details, he should probably be sat for all 6 remaining games.

 

[gretzkyoilers]

Well, I guess I have to finally admit that’s the final nail in the coffin for McDavid’s Art Ross chances.

130 points in 74 games with two separate injuries that will cause him to miss time and/or affect his play is still pretty amazing. At this point, it would be a bitter pill to see him miss out on 100 assists.

Hopefully with the Oilers in a better position now than they were with his upper body injury they forced him back early from at the beginning of the season, they don’t screw up how they handle him again. Pending further details, he should probably be sat for all 6 remaining games.

Put him on a power play to get the 100 assist then he will be McDone

 

[WarriorofTime]

Oilers should be focused on postseason, not round number milestones for a player that’s already accomplished all there is in the regular season.

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

Well, I guess I have to finally admit that’s the final nail in the coffin for McDavid’s Art Ross chances.

130 points in 74 games with two separate injuries that will cause him to miss time and/or affect his play is still pretty amazing. At this point, it would be a bitter pill to see him miss out on 100 assists.

Hopefully with the Oilers in a better position now than they were with his upper body injury they forced him back early from at the beginning of the season, they don’t screw up how they handle him again. Pending further details, he should probably be sat for all 6 remaining games.

If he's questionable for tomorrow it would seem like a lot to miss the last 6 games unless they want to be really really cautious. Would be a shame to miss out on the 100 assists.

 

[Video Nasty]

If he's questionable for tomorrow it would seem like a lot to miss the last 6 games unless they want to be really really cautious. Would be a shame to miss out on the 100 assists.

Hopefully it ends up not being that serious and he misses just a game, still gets 100+ assists/140 points, and is ready for a ripping playoff run.

 

[WalterLundy]

Well, I guess I have to finally admit that’s the final nail in the coffin for McDavid’s Art Ross chances.

130 points in 74 games with two separate injuries that will cause him to miss time and/or affect his play is still pretty amazing. At this point, it would be a bitter pill to see him miss out on 100 assists.

Hopefully with the Oilers in a better position now than they were with his upper body injury they forced him back early from at the beginning of the season, they don’t screw up how they handle him again. Pending further details, he should probably be sat for all 6 remaining games.

If he doesn’t play another game this year then it comes down to two injuries that derailed what could have been the best season of the cap era supplanting 21 and 23 versions of himself. It would be 2 missed games early and 6 missed games at the end with an 11 game stretch of 8 points where he was clearly not close to himself. What remains is a glimpse of what could have been. 63 games: 27 G, 95 A, 122 P (1.94 PPG). The best stretch of his career. 160 points and above being very much in play with 1.51 APG for a 124 assist 82 game total which would be the highest non Gretzky total or per game average for raw totals and adjustments (virtual tie with 93 Lemieux for per game assists but way ahead with adjustment). He has the best non Gretzky season for adjusted assists per game this year for the whole 74 games anyway.

What’s amazing is that this was clearly done with the injury causing him to collect his points in a different manner. His shot for the most part this year has been different due to what is bothering him(other than when I was at the game in Pittsburgh when he ripped one). He has whiffed on more shots than I’ve ever seen from him and it’s even impacted certain stickhandling areas yet here we are. He was able to still produce points at the best rate of his career for those 63 games without lethal or even his average goal scoring. This shows incredible versatility. Without his amazing play for the last 58 games the oilers aren’t where they are now and he was the best player in the world.

It’s a shame that he may miss games down the stretch and hopefully not all but clearly this season just wasn’t meant to be the one to top his two best thus far. I just want him to be okay for the playoffs and next year. If he is 100% healthy I truly believe he scores 160-170 in his career. He’s proven he can average 2 points per game or very close for stretches of 60-100 consecutive games. Just comes down to doing it in a season. This isn’t to take away from Kucherov who I believe will win the Ross. This is a year that is his premiere season and it deserves recognition. I only point out what could have been for McDavid because he is the only player in the league currently capable of 160-170.

 

[Montreal Shadow]

Oilers should be focused on postseason, not round number milestones for a player that’s already accomplished all there is in the regular season.

But he hasn't accomplished 100 assists!!

 

[Dingo]

If he doesn’t play another game this year then it comes down to two injuries that derailed what could have been the best season of the cap era supplanting 21 and 23 versions of himself. It would be 2 missed games early and 6 missed games at the end with an 11 game stretch of 8 points where he was clearly not close to himself. What remains is a glimpse of what could have been. 63 games: 27 G, 95 A, 122 P (1.94 PPG). The best stretch of his career. 160 points and above being very much in play with 1.51 APG for a 124 assist 82 game total which would be the highest non Gretzky total or per game average for raw totals and adjustments (virtual tie with 93 Lemieux for per game assists but way ahead with adjustment). He has the best non Gretzky season for adjusted assists per game this year for the whole 74 games anyway.

What’s amazing is that this was clearly done with the injury causing him to collect his points in a different manner. His shot for the most part this year has been different due to what is bothering him(other than when I was at the game in Pittsburgh when he ripped one). He has whiffed on more shots than I’ve ever seen from him and it’s even impacted certain stickhandling areas yet here we are. He was able to still produce points at the best rate of his career for those 63 games without lethal or even his average goal scoring. This shows incredible versatility. Without his amazing play for the last 58 games the oilers aren’t where they are now and he was the best player in the world.

It’s a shame that he may miss games down the stretch and hopefully not all but clearly this season just wasn’t meant to be the one to top his two best thus far. I just want him to be okay for the playoffs and next year. If he is 100% healthy I truly believe he scores 160-170 in his career. He’s proven he can average 2 points per game or very close for stretches of 60-100 consecutive games. Just comes down to doing it in a season. This isn’t to take away from Kucherov who I believe will win the Ross. This is a year that is his premiere season and it deserves recognition. I only point out what could have been for McDavid because he is the only player in the league currently capable of 160-170.

somehow, he always comes out on top

 

[WalterLundy]

somehow, he always comes out on top

Ask hardcore Lemieux fans about it. They make it so he “comes out on top” as well by bending reality in every Gretzky discussion. This is just factual stuff here. I have repeatedly given Kucherov his flowers in this thread and actually want him to get the respect he deserves. Having 160-170 point potential doesn’t put McDavid on top just added perspective.

 

[daver]

It’s a shame that he may miss games down the stretch and hopefully not all but clearly this season just wasn’t meant to be the one to top his two best thus far. I just want him to be okay for the playoffs and next year. If he is 100% healthy I truly believe he scores 160-170 in his career. He’s proven he can average 2 points per game or very close for stretches of 60-100 consecutive games. Just comes down to doing it in a season. This isn’t to take away from Kucherov who I believe will win the Ross. This is a year that is his premiere season and it deserves recognition. I only point out what could have been for McDavid because he is the only player in the league currently capable of 160-170.

Except it absolutley does. Every player has injuries and misses time. McDavid has actually been quite fortunate to not miss time during his peak.

His closest peers, Kucherov and Mac have missed time. Crosby and Malkin missed time. Stamkos missed time. Jagr missed time. Lindros, Mario, Orr etc....

I don't think you can reasonably play the would of, could of game with McDavid. He got off to a bad start and recovered but Kucherov also got off to a slow start. Him and Kucherov have a better PPG since Oct. 31:

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

Kucherov's season, and Mac's, shed some doubt as to the where McDavid's previous season should rank all-time.

Ask hardcore Lemieux fans about it. They make it so he “comes out on top” as well by bending reality in every Gretzky discussion. This is just factual stuff here. I have repeatedly given Kucherov his flowers in this thread and actually want him to get the respect he deserves. Having 160-170 point potential doesn’t put McDavid on top just added perspective.

It's not perspective, it's hypothetical.

 

[WalterLundy]

Except it absolutley does. Every player has injuries and misses time. McDavid has actually been quite fortunate to not miss time during his peak.

His closest peers, Kucherov and Mac have missed time. Crosby and Malkin missed time. Stamkos missed time. Jagr missed time. Lindros, Mario, Orr etc....

I don't think you can reasonably play the would of, could of game with McDavid. He got off to a bad start and recovered but Kucherov also got off to a slow start. Him and Kucherov have a better PPG since Oct. 31:

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

Kucherov's season, and Mac's, shed some doubt as to the where McDavid's previous season should rank all-time.



It's not perspective, it's hypothetical.

It’s not hypothetical at all. He has stretches with playoffs and without playoffs included that are 160 point worthy or clear 160 in 82 consecutive. It’s just a matter of actually putting it together in a season. I don’t need to play the what if game as he has been pretty good with durability.

As for casting doubt on last years season he led outright in goals assists and points for the first time since Gretzky. As good as Kucherov’s season has been he hasn’t sniffed that and that’s no knock because this for him is better than anything Crosby, Ovi or Malkin ever achieved. It’s legitimate peak Jagr territory. Unless peak Jagr casts doubt by being inferior to peak McDavid as well.

 

[Cup or Bust]

I am sure McDavid will still play some games this season, it doesn't sound like it's a serious injury. The Art Ross means absolutely nothing though, it's more important he is healthy for the playoffs.

 

[Rschmitz]

Sucks about McDavid

 

[Macheteops]

Well, I guess I have to finally admit that’s the final nail in the coffin for McDavid’s Art Ross chances.

130 points in 74 games with two separate injuries that will cause him to miss time and/or affect his play is still pretty amazing. At this point, it would be a bitter pill to see him miss out on 100 assists.

Hopefully with the Oilers in a better position now than they were with his upper body injury they forced him back early from at the beginning of the season, they don’t screw up how they handle him again. Pending further details, he should probably be sat for all 6 remaining games.

Obviously depending on the injury I can't see him sitting 6 games. I'd think he'd want to get in a few games before playoffs

 

[Calderon]

One can only wonder, however, if this big Toronto has something to do with the injury. Getting McDavid out of the lineup and off the race even this late in the season might just be enough to shove Matthews into Hart contention. Big Toronto, always stomping on the little guy.

 

[DFC]

Lol. Do you remember in 2017 when Hedman outscored Karlsson but only got 3 first place votes to EK's 63? Unfortunately I think what you are reading is anecdotal, I have zero faith we see objective voting.

A Russian, who's a loner and who has a divisive reputation, playing for a small market team. That'll be a much bigger factor in who wins than anything else.

If all three ended the year with the same points I bet Kucherov wouldn't get a single 1st place vote.

I get that, but you have mainstream guys like Chris Johnston, Steve Dangle, and Jesse Whatshisname saying Kucherov is the guy. There are more, but those are the ones I saw just today.

 

[Rschmitz]

I get that, but you have mainstream guys like Chris Johnston, Steve Dangle, and Jesse Whatshisname saying Kucherov is the guy. There are more, but those are the ones I saw just today.

I will believe it when it happens.

 

[McShogun99]

I’d sit Mcdavid for the next 2 games and the last game of the season. Rather have him ready for the playoffs then chasing an award he has an outside chance of winning.

 

[Video Nasty]

If he doesn’t play another game this year then it comes down to two injuries that derailed what could have been the best season of the cap era supplanting 21 and 23 versions of himself. It would be 2 missed games early and 6 missed games at the end with an 11 game stretch of 8 points where he was clearly not close to himself. What remains is a glimpse of what could have been. 63 games: 27 G, 95 A, 122 P (1.94 PPG). The best stretch of his career. 160 points and above being very much in play with 1.51 APG for a 124 assist 82 game total which would be the highest non Gretzky total or per game average for raw totals and adjustments (virtual tie with 93 Lemieux for per game assists but way ahead with adjustment). He has the best non Gretzky season for adjusted assists per game this year for the whole 74 games anyway.

What’s amazing is that this was clearly done with the injury causing him to collect his points in a different manner. His shot for the most part this year has been different due to what is bothering him(other than when I was at the game in Pittsburgh when he ripped one). He has whiffed on more shots than I’ve ever seen from him and it’s even impacted certain stickhandling areas yet here we are. He was able to still produce points at the best rate of his career for those 63 games without lethal or even his average goal scoring. This shows incredible versatility. Without his amazing play for the last 58 games the oilers aren’t where they are now and he was the best player in the world.

It’s a shame that he may miss games down the stretch and hopefully not all but clearly this season just wasn’t meant to be the one to top his two best thus far. I just want him to be okay for the playoffs and next year. If he is 100% healthy I truly believe he scores 160-170 in his career. He’s proven he can average 2 points per game or very close for stretches of 60-100 consecutive games. Just comes down to doing it in a season. This isn’t to take away from Kucherov who I believe will win the Ross. This is a year that is his premiere season and it deserves recognition. I only point out what could have been for McDavid because he is the only player in the league currently capable of 160-170.

Great post and I agree. If he’s healthy over the next couple of seasons, I firmly believe he crosses 150 again and enters 160 territory.

 

[RussianGuyovich]

Didn’t want anyone to get hurt. Hopefully it’s just playoff maintenance.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

At the time of the injury news. Kuch 136 in 76 1.79 ppg. Mcdavid 130 in 74 1.75 ppg. Valiant effort. Kuch had his number regardless. Third in scoring at 27 is nothing to scoff at

 

[crowfish]

Kucherov's season, and Mac's, shed some doubt as to the where McDavid's previous season should rank all-time.

Lol, what? Where were Kucherov and Mackinnon last year? Oh, yeah, 40 points below McDavid. Them having career years to barely outproduce him the next season mean nothing for the significance of McDavid's 2022. That will be the far and away best season of the salary cap era unless McDavid himself one ups it.

You will be waiting a long time to see somebody lead the league in goals in assists again in the same season.