Nikita Kucherov is the clear favorite for the Art Ross Trophy

[Video Nasty]

Most were using 100 assists as to why McDavid could get the Hart but now Kuch is about to hit 100 it doesn't seem as important to the "insiders". Kuch has a real chance at hitting 50/100/150; which should all but guarantee him the Hart.

I’d like to add some context and hopefully clarity here.

1. Kucherov and MacKinnon have been the front runners for the award virtually all season. I don’t really understand the general screw job idea some are aiming for.

2. I think I’m one of the more vocal McDavid fans around here. I’ve recognized that he would finish no higher than third in voting, so let’s be real here…there’s not some giant swell of support for him over Kucherov, particularly now that he is injured again.

I think what we’re seeing here is people being blindsided by Kucherov’s comeback when it comes to who is reaching 100 assists first. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that it was McDavid and not too long ago, Kucherov wasn’t even in the discussion to do it; now if he sits again tonight, it pretty much locks Kucherov in to reaching the mark first. I think people are almost dumbstruck by it happening.

3. Kucherov has 2 goals in his last 11 games and 5 in his last 19. His best 3 game stretch all season is 4 goals total. Potting 7 goals with 3 games left is not a real chance.

His case is strong. I think he deserves it at this point.

But I also think voters decided months ago that MacKinnon was getting it as long as his case was very good as well, which it is.

 

[EmptyNetAssassin]

Let's be honest here. MacKinnon brings more to the game besides offense than Kucherov.

Clearly not. He wasn't good enough to win back to.back cups. They needed a little help from.the refs and league by allowing the makar offsides goal which he clearly was offsides. Refs should have been fired after thay review. The avs kept the bolts from three peating with a little help from the stripes.I don't see Mack breaking on records by the two greatest players at his position(lemieux amd Gretzky), but Kucherov is breaking one of jagr's season record for assist who is currently the best right winger of all time. I don't think Mackinnon will even break the records of his generation of players (crosby and mcdavid) either. Hof player absolutely for Mack, but isn't breaking any generational records.

 

[Czechboy]

Well, looks like I was wrong. I picked mcdavid. Seems likely for Kucherov and good for him! Really amazing season. Mack too.

 

[Sky04]

Let's be honest here. MacKinnon brings more to the game besides offense than Kucherov.

Mackinnon and the Av's have been out of the 2nd round once in his career lol, they are the Washington Capitals of this era. Ultimate underachievers with a one hit wonder year, no doubt thanks to his leadership.

 

[snag]

Clearly not. He wasn't good enough to win back to.back cups. They needed a little help from.the refs and league by allowing the makar offsides goal which he clearly was offsides. Refs should have been fired after thay review. The avs kept the bolts from three peating with a little help from the stripes.I don't see Mack breaking on records by the two greatest players at his position(lemieux amd Gretzky), but Kucherov is breaking one of jagr's season record for assist who is currently the best right winger of all time. I don't think Mackinnon will even break the records of his generation of players (crosby and mcdavid) either. Hof player absolutely for Mack, but isn't breaking any generational records.

Mackinnon and the Av's have been out of the 2nd round once in his career lol, they are the Washington Capitals of this era. Ultimate underachievers with a one hit wonder year, no doubt thanks to his leadership.

There is something to be said about doing it without the best goalie in the world backstopping you.

 

[Coffey]

There is something to be said about doing it without the best goalie in the world backstopping you.

Please. You know HF equates cups with a single superstar forward on the team.

 

[snag]

Please. You know HF equates cups with a single superstar forward on the team.

rofl. I also know Mack wouldn't drink that horse piss Kuch drank.....let alone get shit faced from it.

 

[OurlordAndSaviorKuch]

There is something to be said about doing it without the best goalie in the world backstopping you.

I mean Kuch carried this team this season with Vasy out. And even when vasy was back and not playing his best.

Kuch is the only reason this team is where it is currently.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Let's be honest here. MacKinnon brings more to the game besides offense than Kucherov.

Such as faceoff losses and the intangibles that come from being from the same hometown as Crosby.

 

[tfwnogf]

Mackinnon promotes chickpeas and healthy eating, Kucherov promotes beer drinking. Case closed.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Isolating defense gets a bit overrated with super god forwards. Pretty sure MacKinnon and Kucherov both have crappy ev defense on the JFresh thing (if that’s considered sourceable) but are still like 100% WAR anyways. They tilt the ice and don’t need to defend often enough to matter that much.

 

[The Macho King]

Mackinnon promotes chickpeas and healthy eating, Kucherov promotes beer drinking. Case closed.

Kucherov making a political statement of support for Justice Kavanaugh.

 

[EmptyNetAssassin]

There is something to be said about doing it without the best goalie in the world backstopping you.

Sounds like excuses for not being able to win back to back cups or break records for the best player at his position.

 

[snag]

I mean Kuch carried this team this season with Vasy out. And even when vasy was back and not playing his best.

Kuch is the only reason this team is where it is currently.

We weren't talking about current... Nor regular season.

Sounds like excuses for not being able to win back to back cups or break records for the best player at his position.

That might be cause the best of the best are usually centers?

 

[Rschmitz]

We weren't talking about current... Nor regular season.

Yeah, why would what's happening now in the regular season matter when it comes to the Hart?

 

[snag]

Yeah, why would what's happening now in the regular season matter when it comes to the Hart?

I wasn't replying to ANYTHING pertaining to the regular season or the Hart trophy. Your 2¢ ain't buying anything from me.

 

[WarriorofTime]

MacKinnon is better because he is a center and we know this because centers are the best players.

(Spot the logical error!)

 

[Rschmitz]

I wasn't replying to ANYTHING pertaining to the regular season or the Hart trophy. Your 2¢ ain't buying anything from me.

Oh ok, I mean we are in a thread about the Ross trophy and 95% of the posts are about Hart, but totally my fault.

 

[snag]

Oh ok, I mean we are in a thread about the Ross trophy and 95% of the posts are about Hart, but totally my fault.

Well.....before you chime in, try reading the context of the replies you are replying to. So yeah....totally your fault.

 

[SyZyGY]

Most of the Canadian media who would normally be pumping this story is based out of Toronto where Kuch is a huge villain. He has been incredible this season.

It sucks McDavid has gotten injured a couple of times this year, I would've loved to see this go down with both guys healthy and giving it their all. What a treat this race has been.

If we are honest, the only reason there's a race is because McDavid got injured

 

[snag]

If we are honest, the only reason there's a race is because McDavid got injured

We are HF. We are not honest.

 

[WarriorofTime]

If we are honest, the only reason there's a race is because McDavid got injured

Don’t forget that Gretzky is in his sixties. Or else he’d be my pick.

 

[HabsQC]

If we are honest, the only reason there's a race is because McDavid got injured

And also because the other 2 didn't

Still the best art ross race in years

 

[EpochLink]

Well, looks like I was wrong. I picked mcdavid. Seems likely for Kucherov and good for him! Really amazing season. Mack too.

We will have 2 players with 100 assists for the first time since 1988-1989, damn near 36 years to get to this achievement.

 

[um]

Clearly not. He wasn't good enough to win back to.back cups. They needed a little help from.the refs and league by allowing the makar offsides goal which he clearly was offsides. Refs should have been fired after thay review. The avs kept the bolts from three peating with a little help from the stripes.I don't see Mack breaking on records by the two greatest players at his position(lemieux amd Gretzky), but Kucherov is breaking one of jagr's season record for assist who is currently the best right winger of all time. I don't think Mackinnon will even break the records of his generation of players (crosby and mcdavid) either. Hof player absolutely for Mack, but isn't breaking any generational records.

2 years have passed and you still haven’t learned how offsides work?

Damn.