Nikita Kucherov is the clear favorite for the Art Ross Trophy

[RussianGuyovich]

Why is everyone talking about this assist thing like is important? Pretty sure it's more impressive to score 50 goals and 90 assists than 40 goals and 100 assists? Maybe McDavid and Kucherov should score more goals?

Thought it's widely accepted goals are more impressive than assists?

nah

 

[WarriorofTime]

Why is everyone talking about this assist thing like is important? Pretty sure it's more impressive to score 50 goals and 90 assists than 40 goals and 100 assists? Maybe McDavid and Kucherov should score more goals?

Thought it's widely accepted goals are more impressive than assists?

People love round numbers.

 

[User9992]

Kucherov - Best Winger Playmaker ever?


There have been only 2 Wingers who reached 87 Assists mark in NHL history:

- Kucherov twice (87 Assists in his Art Ross winning 2018-19 season; and 96 Assists in 77 Games this year);

- Jaromir Jagr once (in 1995-96 season when he played with His Majesty Mario Lemieux himself).


There is a chance that Kuch will get at least another 4 Assists in his remaining 4 games... Is Nikita Kucherov the Greatest Winger-Playmaker? Or there were better than him?

 

[Acallabeth]

Never done before by any winger in history! Highest Assists by a winger were 87 Assists by Jagr in 1995-96 when he played with Mario Lemieux!

Imagine the hype if his name was Nick Kutcher and he was from Ontario.

GWG are the most important goals, followed by the ones that were necessary on a goaltender before that, and lastly ENG seal the deal but are not always necessary nor as impressive as goals on a goalie.

Unless something changed, GWG is a completely arbitrary stat derived from the difference in numbers of GF and GA in a specific game. Like, if you won 5-2, your team's 3rd goal gets credited as a GWG.

I agree that all goals are important, but GWG aren't as special as they sound. Go-ahead goals, tying goals and first goals of the game seem like a much better indicator of clutch scoring.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Jagr, Gordie Howe, Guy Lafleur come to mind. They were all pretty awesome players. The fact that those are the only players who immediately come to mind shows that he’s in pretty elite company.

 

[User9992]

Didn't notice it. Players voted Kuch as 'The Best Playmaker' in NHL ahead of McDavid & Draisaitl.

NHLPA Player Poll 2023-24

The players gave their takes on the NHL's hottest topics.

www.nhlpa.com

 

[Mulletman]

The defensemen these days are a joke. When Jagr played hockey the best defensemen looked like this:

Nowadays the "best defensemen" look like this:

 

[HugginThePost]

The only contemporary of Wayne and Mario’s that was capable of 140 in today’s environment and league is peak Jaromir Jagr. Just because we have top end talent flourishing and having all time seasons back to back years doesn’t diminish what happened in 2023 and 2021. It also ignores all context as it pertains to what McDavid dealt with this year. I don’t know many educated hockey fans who think McDavid is on Gretzky or Lemieux peak level. He is below them but his peak is the closest to Gretzky/Orr/Lemieux level since the expansion.

I promise you that you don’t have to worry about Lemieux ever being surpassed as an actual player by Connor McDavid. The only thing that could happen (not even guaranteed) is a better career because of the injuries.

You must be new around these parts?

We have people here who think McDavid is already better than prime Gretzky,

Amazing time to be alive........

 

[WalterLundy]

You must be new around these parts?

We have people here who think McDavid is already better than prime Gretzky,

Amazing time to be alive........

Definitely newer to the site but yeah if anyone thinks that McDavid is better than Gretzky they are out of their mind.

 

[UED]

The defensemen these days are a joke. When Jagr played hockey the best defensemen looked like this: View attachment 849322
Nowadays the "best defensemen" look like this:
View attachment 849323
View attachment 849324

i agree with your point but in this post you're comparing a kid at the combine with a WWE wrestler?

 

[Beyonder91]

Going to be a close finish!
Mack also has an extra game advantage that Kucherov needs to overcome.

 

[keglu]

Going to be a close finish!
Mack also has an extra game advantage that Kucherov needs to overcome.

Realistically race is over, Kuch has 2 points more, 1 more game left and significantly easier opponents

 

[Acallabeth]

.

The defensemen these days are a joke.

Forwards too. Look at young players in Jagr's times:

Meanwhile young players today:

 

[TheGuiminator]

I don’t care what people say, but if Kucherov finishes close to 150 pts and drops 100 assists, he’s definitely on the same tier as prime Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin

He’d also be the only guy in the modern era to outscore (fair and square) prime McDavid twice

 

[Sky04]

No it hasn’t. It has happened twice outside of the greatest player (and playmaker) ever doing it routinely in his prime. The other two singular times it has happened were by the second and third best players ever. All of them were done in higher scoring environments than this current one as well.

Just because McDavid and Kucherov may both hit it doesn’t mean that it’s losing its value or importance. In terms of era adjustment both McDavid and Kucherov’s assists per game this year only trail the very best Gretzky seasons. Be thankful that you are watching history because this is amazing.

This season is taken for granted because of the 3 headed Art Ross race. Take out Kucherov, Mak and McDavid who are having 3 all time great seasons and the rest of the pack isn't much different from 06' or 07' in terms of scoring.

Panarin would win the Ross with around ~120 points, about 5-6 other 100 points guys and 5-6 90 point players much like it was those first 2 seasons post lockout.

 

[thegazelle]

I know right now Kucherov is something like 9 points ahead and McDavid and MacKinnon are getting multi point games. But shouldn't it be considered that McDavid and the Oilers have some games in hand and also the Oilers have a couple of (presumably) easy games against basement dwellers coming up? I agree with McDavid is playing through injury that will be a factor - looks like he was practising with the team today but still a game time decision - but unless the Oilers didn't have those games in hand I would agree with a Kucherov and MacKinnon as the last two left...but I still don't think McDavid can be ruled out, unless he is sidelined due to injury. I don't think the deficit (Kucherov's lead) is so insurmountable that McDavid won't be in play for the Art Ross when all is said and done.

 

[The Macho King]

I know right now Kucherov is something like 9 points ahead and McDavid and MacKinnon are getting multi point games. But shouldn't it be considered that McDavid and the Oilers have some games in hand and also the Oilers have a couple of (presumably) easy games against basement dwellers coming up? I agree with McDavid is playing through injury that will be a factor - looks like he was practising with the team today but still a game time decision - but unless the Oilers didn't have those games in hand I would agree with a Kucherov and MacKinnon as the last two left...but I still don't think McDavid can be ruled out, unless he is sidelined due to injury.

McDavid needs to make up effectively 10 points in 6 games to catch Kucherov. That's going to require either McDavid going supernova or Kucherov going cold and McDavid still playing extremely well.

Possible, but unlikely.

 

[ViD]

Kucherov - Best Winger Playmaker ever?


There have been only 2 Wingers who reached 87 Assists mark in NHL history:

- Kucherov twice (87 Assists in his Art Ross winning 2018-19 season; and 96 Assists in 77 Games this year);

- Jaromir Jagr once (in 1995-96 season when he played with His Majesty Mario Lemieux himself).


There is a chance that Kuch will get at least another 4 Assists in his remaining 4 games... Is Nikita Kucherov the Greatest Winger-Playmaker? Or there were better than him?

Without a doubt

 

[KeithIsActuallyBad]

McDavid needs to make up effectively 10 points in 6 games to catch Kucherov. That's going to require either McDavid going supernova or Kucherov going cold and McDavid still playing extremely well.

Possible, but unlikely.

He's probably not even playing tonight, he's not going to catch those in front of him.

 

[Sky04]

I know right now Kucherov is something like 9 points ahead and McDavid and MacKinnon are getting multi point games. But shouldn't it be considered that McDavid and the Oilers have some games in hand and also the Oilers have a couple of (presumably) easy games against basement dwellers coming up? I agree with McDavid is playing through injury that will be a factor - looks like he was practising with the team today but still a game time decision - but unless the Oilers didn't have those games in hand I would agree with a Kucherov and MacKinnon as the last two left...but I still don't think McDavid can be ruled out, unless he is sidelined due to injury. I don't think the deficit (Kucherov's lead) is so insurmountable that McDavid won't be in play for the Art Ross when all is said and done.

McDavid is already ruled out tonight, he's done. Tampa has 4 games left, the Oilers 5 after tonight, Kucherov would need to drop to PPG or below and McDavid to play at 3PPG's the remainder of the season. Considering the Leafs, Sens and Sabres are all on the schedule for Tampa that's likely not happening.

 

[gretzkyoilers]

Out of respect to McDavid Kuch and Mac should sit out and let McDavid pass both to win the Art Ross. This would show true sportsmanship.

 

[Sky04]

The defensemen these days are a joke. When Jagr played hockey the best defensemen looked like this: View attachment 849322
Nowadays the "best defensemen" look like this:
View attachment 849323
View attachment 849324

Explains why Jagr got so many points against them, too big and slow.

 

[WalterLundy]

McDavid is already ruled out tonight, he's done. Tampa has 4 games left, the Oilers 5 after tonight, Kucherov would need to drop to PPG or below and McDavid to play at 3PPG's the remainder of the season. Considering the Leafs, Sens and Sabres are all on the schedule for Tampa that's likely not happening.

He’s a game time decision but that doesn’t change the likelihood of him winning being like 5%

 

[thegazelle]

McDavid is already ruled out tonight, he's done. Tampa has 4 games left, the Oilers 5 after tonight, Kucherov would need to drop to PPG or below and McDavid to play at 3PPG's the remainder of the season. Considering the Leafs, Sens and Sabres are all on the schedule for Tampa that's likely not happening.

Did they just announce McDavid is out tonight? Last I heard and read a few minutes ago it's a game time decision. That said, I would tend to agree - if he is iffy, why play him given they need to rest him up for the games that matter in the playoffs. I can't imagine McDavid or the Oilers are so focused on getting him the Art Ross or Hart that they risk further injury to him. I'd certainly also like to see the Golden Knights win tonight (even though I am an Oilers fan) to increase the chance of seeing a Knights/Oilers first round matchup.

 

[snag]

i agree with your point but in this post you're comparing a kid at the combine with a WWE wrestler?

Golberg is pointing to Scotts Stevens....who in his own right was pretty built.