Nikita Kucherov is the clear favorite for the Art Ross Trophy

[kugelbahn]

If McDavid keeps up his post injury pace and while Kuch and Mackinnon maintain the pace they are at this season it will be very very close. Like 1 or 2 points close.

On Jan 1 (well after McD injury) Kuch lead McD by 13 points. Same lead now, 13 pts.
McD had 6 point night last game, Kuch had it Nov 24.
McD is not gaining if you smooth out those spikes.

But this can change fast.

 

[authentic]

what do you think the stat line for all three will look like?

Hmmm, about 140 or so for McDavid, roughly 130 or so for MacKinnon and/or Kucherov.

 

[Dingo]

Hmmm, about 140 or so for McDavid, roughly 130 or so for MacKinnon and/or Kucherov.

reasonable, i could see it.

to me thats close, but our definitions just werent the same.

 

[Dingo]

NHL.com has no assist for Point's garbage goal.... but Kuch dumped that garbage in.... did it change possession?

edit - i saw a better replay, now!

 

[JFleegs]

another Kucherov goal

 

[Master P]

Kucherov better starts averaging 3 points per game for the rest of the season, cause McDavid ain't slowing down

6th Art Ross incoming

3 pts for Kuch so far tonight.

 

[authentic]

If McDavid keeps up his post injury pace and while Kuch and Mackinnon maintain the pace they are at this season it will be very very close. Like 1 or 2 points close.

It may very well come down to that. Would certainly make it more interesting, but I stick by saying it‘s McDavid’s before the season is up.

 

[BallardEra]

3 for Kucherov and McDavid tonight.

2 for MacKinnon.

 

[TheGuiminator]

McDavid is gonna drop 100 assists this season, insane

 

[kugelbahn]

McDavid is gonna drop 100 assists this season, insane

But on pace to finish with only 35 goals, compared to 64 last year.
This is very big swing: 30 goals less, 10 assists more...

 

[Cup or Bust]

McDavid is gonna drop 100 assists this season, insane

That would be unreal if he did. It would be another chance to put his name beside Gretzky, Lemieux, and Orr again. Won't be easy though.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

13 point lead....

 

[Video Nasty]

13 point lead....

5 games in hand….

 

[Video Nasty]

On Jan 1 (well after McD injury) Kuch lead McD by 13 points. Same lead now, 13 pts.
McD had 6 point night last game, Kuch had it Nov 24.
McD is not gaining if you smooth out those spikes.

But this can change fast.

It sure can. Like how McDavid has picked up 5 points on Kucherov in the last 3 days, while they’ve both played two games.

People are in store for a rude awakening. Let’s ignore McDavid getting injured and playing through it for 8 or so games preventing him from having 90 points himself at this point.

He has literally had 5-6 games in hand the entire season. Those games are going to be made up over the next 6 weeks and this race is going to get uncomfortably tight.

It’s going to appear like McDavid stole the Art Ross during the final weeks of the season.

In reality, the Oilers had a terrible schedule laid out and it has given the illusion of a lead that is larger than it actually will be.

This is not Crosby in 2014-2015. McDavid is available for these 5 games in hand and will probably put up about 15 points in them.

Anyone who thinks he doesn’t want to join Howe, Esposito, Gretzky, and Jagr as the only players to have won at least 4 Art Rosses in a row and also join Howe and Lemieux as the only players behind Gretzky with 6 is still living in Crosby what if fantasy land.

 

[RDTBay4]

5 games in hand….

I've often wondered why the Lightning have had games in hand the entire season, then get tons of time off throughout March.

Kind of strange. If we keep our winning ways, teams are going to be desperate during (and after) they hit their back to back stretch right before the playoffs.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Kucherov is the best player in the NHL this year hands down.

He will grab this.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

5 games in hand….

It's getting intriguing for sure

 

[bucks_oil]

On Jan 1 (well after McD injury) Kuch lead McD by 13 points. Same lead now, 13 pts.
McD had 6 point night last game, Kuch had it Nov 24.
McD is not gaining if you smooth out those spikes.

But this can change fast.

Dates are irrelevant. As others have pointed out, McD had 5 games at hand on Jan 1st and has 5 games at hand today. This gap will close by seasons end when (knocks on wood) both players are healthy and have played 82 and 80 games respectively.

After 48 games played:
* Kucherov 83 points
* McDavid 80 points

 

[Flat Ronnie]

How can you watch that game last night (Avs v Lightning) and not admit that Kucherov is at minimum on the same level as MacKinnon?

 

[jigglysquishy]

If McDavid leads in assists he will do so for the fourth time in his career. Only players to do it more

Orr (5 times)
Gretzky (16 times)

 

[Cup or Bust]

If McDavid leads in assists he will do so for the fourth time in his career. Only players to do it more

Orr (5 times)
Gretzky (16 times)

I am hoping for 100 assists this season but not sure if he can keep up his current pace.

 

[RussianGuyovich]

It’s too bad that McDavid has been:

- hurt
- sick
- bad vibes from juju
- focusing on defense
- mean + grumpy nhl schedulers
- focusing on his personal relationships
- helping the homeless
- convicted of a felony
- training calves

or whatever reason you want to to pick out of thin air for why he’s not in the lead. I feel for him, because I have a high EQ

 

[Cup or Bust]

It will be a wild finish I am sure.

 

[Coffey]

It’s too bad that McDavid has been:

- hurt
- sick
- bad vibes from juju
- focusing on defense
- mean + grumpy nhl schedulers
- focusing on his personal relationships
- helping the homeless
- convicted of a felony
- training calves

or whatever reason you want to to pick out of thin air for why he’s not in the lead. I feel for him, because I have a high EQ

Or he's just not been as good this year, doesn't need excuses.

 

[Cup or Bust]

It sure can. Like how McDavid has picked up 5 points on Kucherov in the last 3 days, while they’ve both played two games.

People are in store for a rude awakening. Let’s ignore McDavid getting injured and playing through it for 8 or so games preventing him from having 90 points himself at this point.

He has literally had 5-6 games in hand the entire season. Those games are going to be made up over the next 6 weeks and this race is going to get uncomfortably tight.

It’s going to appear like McDavid stole the Art Ross during the final weeks of the season.

In reality, the Oilers had a terrible schedule laid out and it has given the illusion of a lead that is larger than it actually will be.

This is not Crosby in 2014-2015. McDavid is available for these 5 games in hand and will probably put up about 15 points in them.

Anyone who thinks he doesn’t want to join Howe, Esposito, Gretzky, and Jagr as the only players to have won at least 4 Art Rosses in a row and also join Howe and Lemieux as the only players behind Gretzky with 6 is still living in Crosby what if fantasy land.

Kucherov is having a great season. Definitely one of the top players in the league. He deserves credit as well but just scoring points doesn't make you the best player in the league. McDavid dominates games unlike anyone else outside of about 2 or 3 players in NHL history, which is why no one else in the league career wise is even close to him.