Nikita Kucherov is the clear favorite for the Art Ross Trophy

[Kerberos]

Pretty insane with how terrible and injured playing-at-10%-of-his-abilities McDavid has been this year, he's still only 15 points behind after a 6 point Kucherov game.

If McDavid gets healthy, I don't think that's a big enough gap to hold him off. Kucherov will make it close thanks to that buffer though. Draisaitl will also be there too, if, and it's a big if, the Oilers become something other than a tire fire.

 

[Stealth1616]

This isn’t really surprising, guy has averaged like a 115 point pace over the past 5 years when healthy.

 

[Garbageyuk]

For sure he's the frontrunner.

But I wouldn't count out McDavid, Draisaitl or MacKinnon just yet.

McDavid is out of it for sure.

 

[Akrapovince]

It’s always been the story of McConsistent.

You can be out pace him for a couple weeks.

You can be within striking distance of him for months.

But over the course of the year, he will start just picking up his two points a game sprinkled with 3 or 4 point games to make up for his pointless streaks.

His whole career will be players who will be tied with him riding stupid hot just for him to slowly chip away and pull ahead.

Usually on your best stretches of hockey players will match or just fall short of McDavid’s production. Unfortunately this year, you’re looking at a red hot Kucherov and an ice cold McDavid. It’ll be a lot to chip at but McDavid still does it imo.

 

[AndreRoy]

It's been my position for a while that Kucherov's 2018-19 season was a one-off. But he appears to have returned to that level. Hope he can keep it up.

Look at Kuch’s PPG rates over the last several years. He’s missed a lot of time due to injury but his play never fell off.

 

[GreeningOil]

McDavid is out of it for sure.

Yeah I’m gonna have to disagree with that. He’s NEVER going to be out of it unless he is forced to sit out for a very extended period of time

 

[Roksta]

Those? Great, so did Tom Kühnhackl.

Stanley Cup's won by all sorts of mediocre players all the time, Art Ross is a significantly more prestigious achievement.

Or you know, maybe he meant Conn Smythes?

 

[Shareefruck]

I'd agree he's the favourite.

Of the Canucks Trio I'd say Miller is the best bet to contend, Petey's hurt and has fallen off a bit, Hughes is continually productive but its hard for Dmen to lead the whole year.

Pasta, Makar & Panarin are also top contenders. Panarin has been very consistent. Makar has been on fire & there's no reason to think he'll slow down. And Pasta especially I could see having a big time 5 point+ night like this pretty easily.

Early to say its clear with that kind of competition, but I'd say he's the best bet yes.

I don't think Miller's a good bet either.

It's miraculous that Miller's been able to put up these points when he's been deployed as the primary shutdown center. I'm not suggesting his play will drop off (maybe it will though-- his energy level might be a bit unsustainable compared to how effortless Hughes has been), but I think it'd be pretty unrealistic to expect the numbers to keep pace.

I actually think he's least likely out of the trio. Pettersson has played much worse than him, but he gets easier opposition, and the fact that he has this many points while playing poorly/injured bodes well for if he ever gets healthy. In contrast, as great as he is, I don't think Miller can go up from here.

 

[Video Nasty]

McDavid is out of it for sure.

Just like all those other times you doubted what he’s capable of, right?

 

[DFC]

This isn’t really surprising, guy has averaged like a 115 point pace over the past 5 years when healthy.

Pretty much this. People keep pretending this isnt the norm for him. Any kind of ranking that places Kucherov outside of the top 5 is a joke.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I don’t want to derail and take anything away from Kucherov, but despite his picture perfect start where you literally cannot ask any more from him, he still trails McDavid’s last season.

It’s crazy what Kucherov is doing this year but it’s just cool to take a step back and put it in perspective.

One day later, it’s the same.

McDavid is out of it for sure.

Funny story

 

[TheUnusedCrayon]

No way you put him above Hughes at this point. Hughes has carried his team and is playing great defensively too.

 

[Stealth1616]

No way you put him above Hughes at this point. Hughes has carried his team and is playing great defensively too.

I don’t think you know what the Art Ross is for lol

 

[MardyBum]

He'll get hurt and miss time, so Nah.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Trevor Moore is winning the Art Ross this year wym?

 

[Garbageyuk]

Just like all those other times you doubted what he’s capable of, right?

I don’t doubt that he’s capable of it, but will he do it? Those are two different things. I don’t think he does. He looks unmotivated, the team is a chaotic mess, and they are almost certainly missing the playoffs, and the gap now is substantial. He may also be injured, but is still playing for some reason. Can’t see it happening this time.

 

[Oilslick941611]

McDavid is out of it for sure.

I don't know, hes playing very poorly this year still has 20 points. He regaining steam recently so I wouldnt call him out of it yet

 

[TheUnusedCrayon]

I don’t think you know what the Art Ross is for lol

Oh my f*** I need some sleep. Thinking of the Hart obviously.

 

[RebuildinVan]

The two point lead at game 20 will be insurmountable

 

[67 others]

He’s been on fire since the beginning of the season topping it off with a 6 point performance today.

35 points in 20 games (143 point pace), 4 more than Hughes. 15 more than McDavid

Who else remembers when zetterberg had 14 goals and 16 assists in the first 20 games of 2007-08 and folks were christening him the next Gretzky at age 30?

 

[WarriorofTime]

Who else remembers when zetterberg had 14 goals and 16 assists in the first 20 games of 2007-08 and folks were christening him the next Gretzky at age 30?

You know who Kucherov is I presume?

 

[42]

The two point lead at game 20 will be insurmountable

Well, Hughes is not winning it, that's for sure.

 

[ICanMotteBelieveIt]

With McDavid and Draisaitl struggling so far, Kucherov definitely has a chance at winning the Art Ross.

He is probably the 3rd best offensive player in the league after those two, and his past history provides evidence of this.

Unbelievable that The Hockey News didn't have him in their top 20 players ranking.

This gotta be cap (it probably isn't, but it should be)... dafuq

 

[Sentinel]

Who else remembers when zetterberg had 14 goals and 16 assists in the first 20 games of 2007-08 and folks were christening him the next Gretzky at age 30?

He only won the Conn Smythe that year.

 

[ICanMotteBelieveIt]

He now has 35 points in 20 games played.

Meanwhile Kakko had a career high 40 points in 82 games played last season. Kucherov will surpass Kakko's career high in 2-3 games (at worst)....