Nikita Kucherov is the clear favorite for the Art Ross Trophy

[crowfish]

View attachment 788803

$100?

 

[mel13666]

He's gonna be hard for anyone to catch if he keeps this up. I thought he'd hit some sort of slump that just about everyone hits.

He didn't have a slump. He just completely missed the 20-21 regular season, and missed about 40 games in the 21-22 season due to injuries. In the 22-23 season, he returned to the elite again in 3rd place with 113 points. Since 2017, he has not had a single disastrous season or a serious part of the season. He is as consistent as McDavid, only with slightly lower numbers.

 

[mel13666]

If you take their current PPG, account for missed games, you get

Kucherov: 82 GP 57 G 84 A 141 P
MacKinnon: 82 GP 45 G 85 A 130 P
McDavid: 80 GP 34 G 89 A 125 P

I don't think anyone besides these three has a decent shot.

Kuch missed the game as well as McDavid. Adjust to 81 GP.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

And McDavid.

Don’t let the fact that it’s going to take four months for the Oilers to play their four games in hand on the others trick you into thinking that this a true 10-14 point gap.

Of course, it is predictable fodder for the future when we will have to listen how it took McDavid all season to gain the lead, while ignoring his injury where he missed 2 games and was rushed back early to then play like a shell of himself for 9 games, while also having a handful less games available to him than anyone else.

Hats off to Kucherov and MacKinnon for making McDavid pay early though.

It's over lol.

 

[WalterLundy]

For the record I’d actually like to see MacKinnon win the Art Ross. He needs some personal hardware he’s too good not to. Kucherov adding another would also mean a lot for his career especially at his current age and context. Both would be great to see. I just think it’s silly that there are those that rejoice at the thought of McDavid possibly not winning his 6th Ross at age 27. Not only that but after putting up the best season we have seen in the league in 30 years. In healthy games this year he has 39 in 20. McDavid is a 160 point(or 2 ppg) peak player. He proved that during his 84 game stretch from Apr 20 2022 to Mar 3 2023 with 167 points for 1.99 PPG. I get not being a fan of his but he’s the best offensive talent in league history aside from two people if we are really being honest.

In my mind and as one who has watched Gretzky and Lemieux’s careers in their entirety he’s clearly the best player since them. Even then when you consider how much more advanced this league is I feel like 10-20 points is all that Gretzky would be able to clear him by in this current league at McDavid’s best. The Ross race officially ended last year on March 14th when he finished his 68th game with 129 points. That alone would have been enough for the most points since 1995-96 but we all lived through this and know. Won’t be so this year obviously and even though there may be a new winner this year (that I would actually be pretty happy with) counting out McDavid with games in hand and ignoring context is crazy.

 

[DFC]

As good as Kucherov is, I cant see him maintaining the roughly 2 ppg he's had for about the last 20 games or so. But I think somewhere in the 130 range is a decent bet.

 

[koyvoo]

Mackinnon closing the gap, McDavid looks about to go on another tear. Race is tightening up.

 

[Sheppy]

McDavid will win by 15+ points

 

[Video Nasty]

Gotta hand it to both Kucherov and MacKinnon. Another 2 points and 3 points respectively, as McDavid went off for 5 to keep the lead from getting slashed nearly in half in just one game.

It’s only a matter of time, but they’re certainly doing their best to fend off the inevitable collapse.

 

[JoeSakic13]

Gotta hand it to both Kucherov and MacKinnon. Another 2 points and 3 points respectively, as McDavid went off for 5 to keep the lead from getting slashed nearly in half in just one game.

It’s only a matter of time, but they’re certainly doing their best to fend off the inevitable collapse.

I do love the narrative that it’s still “inevitable” for McDavid to win the Art Ross.

Not like any of the top point-getters are guys playing way above expectations save for maybe JT Miller.

McDavid’s early-season faltering allowed for other guys to take the throne. Up to him to win it back. Nights like tonight shows he can, but not that he “inevitably” will.

 

[Video Nasty]

I do love the narrative that it’s still “inevitable” for McDavid to win the Art Ross.

Not like any of the top point-getters are guys playing way above expectations save for maybe JT Miller.

McDavid’s early-season faltering allowed for other guys to take the throne. Up to him to win it back. Nights like tonight shows he can, but not that he “inevitably” will.

When another player piles up 450 points in his past 260 games like McDavid has, a 1.73 PPG for more than 3 seasons worth of games, I’ll be willing to dial back those sort of comments.

Kucherov and MacKinnon are proven high scorers, but they don’t have a sample size that high for that long, and that’s likely what it would take to fend off McDavid’s assault to win his fourth consecutive Art Ross and sixth overall.

Can they reach 140? Because that’s what will be needed. And considering neither are “on pace” for it, I’m going to take the guy who has proven it year in and year out that he’s capable of doing so, and has most recently come off a season where he crossed 150 and beat both by 40 points, until he doesn’t.

 

[CokenoPepsi]

Hopefully it comes down to McDavid and MacKinnon...would be interesting how a Hart vote goes then...do we get a little McDavid fatigue?

Lightning look like they about to fall out of playoff contention quick

 

[GrumpyKoala]

As good as Kucherov is, I cant see him maintaining the roughly 2 ppg he's had for about the last 20 games or so. But I think somewhere in the 130 range is a decent bet.

127, one shy of his personal best

 

[Kennedys]

Connor McDavid still exist

 

[WarriorofTime]

Kucherov is so underrated lol.

 

[Kennedys]

Kucherov is so underrated lol.

Reading the thread title i think McD is underrated at this point

 

[dahrougem2]

Only a matter of time before McDavid overtakes MacKinnon and Kucherov for the Art Ross.

Question is, does that allow him to pass them for the Hart? If Tampa misses the playoffs, Kucherov won't get a sniff. But MacKinnon finishing, say, only 5-7 points behind McDavid but his team having a much better record could sway voters his way.

 

[Bank Shot]

Only a matter of time before McDavid overtakes MacKinnon and Kucherov for the Art Ross.

Question is, does that allow him to pass them for the Hart? If Tampa misses the playoffs, Kucherov won't get a sniff. But MacKinnon finishing, say, only 5-7 points behind McDavid but his team having a much better record could sway voters his way.

Isn't the Hart usually more likely to go to the guy on the worse team all else being equal?

 

[Dust]

Only a matter of time before McDavid overtakes MacKinnon and Kucherov for the Art Ross.

Question is, does that allow him to pass them for the Hart? If Tampa misses the playoffs, Kucherov won't get a sniff. But MacKinnon finishing, say, only 5-7 points behind McDavid but his team having a much better record could sway voters his way.

If Colorado takes the top seed in the West and the points difference is close, I think he'd get the votes to go his way. So much hockey left to go though, I'd just like to see Mackinnon stay healthy for an entire season for once. So many what ifs in season's past, I just want to see that sentence completed for once.

 

[Bank Shot]

If Colorado takes the top seed in the West and the points difference is close, I think he'd get the votes to go his way. So much hockey left to go though, I'd just like to see Mackinnon stay healthy for an entire season for once. So many what ifs in season's past, I just want to see that sentence completed for once.

All else being equal, the guy on the worse team usually gets more credit for the Hart. So McDavid should get even more credit for carrying a weak team to the playoffs.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the NHL writers to go out of their way to do the dumbest thing possible though. They generally do.

 

[Dust]

All else being equal, the guy on the worse team usually gets more credit for the Hart. So McDavid should get even more credit for carrying a weak team to the playoffs.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the NHL writers to go out of their way to do the dumbest thing possible though. They generally do.

I don't really think Edmonton is that much weaker than Colorado, and there's just too much hockey left to really guess how things are going to finish up. We could see dozens of different narratives play out the rest of the season. Edmonton's early struggles will long be forgotten by season's end if they keep playing at the same level they've been at for the last month.

 

[dahrougem2]

All else being equal, the guy on the worse team usually gets more credit for the Hart. So McDavid should get even more credit for carrying a weak team to the playoffs.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the NHL writers to go out of their way to do the dumbest thing possible though. They generally do.

Problem is, MacKinnon's team from top to bottom this season is arguably weaker than McDavid's.

What is keeping Colorado atop the standings is MacKinnon, Nichushkin, Makar, and Rantanen.

Just because the Oilers started out horrifically doesn't mean the Oilers are so much worse of a hockey team - as evidenced by their last ~20 games.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Nice 5 point game. But kuch 2 points and mack 3 point night so still 10 point lead.....

 

[rojac]

All else being equal, the guy on the worse team usually gets more credit for the Hart. So McDavid should get even more credit for carrying a weak team to the playoffs.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the NHL writers to go out of their way to do the dumbest thing possible though. They generally do.

So, if you believe that NHL writers generally "go out of their way to do the dumbest thing possible," why would you out any value in a trophy decided by them?

 

[BenchBrawl]

Ignoring injuries, McDavid has this in the bag for sure.