Nikita Kucherov is the clear favorite for the Art Ross Trophy

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DFC

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As a massive Kucherov supporter, who believes he is the 2nd most dangerous offensive player in the league, McDavid is still the favorite here. But it could be a great race with both guys topping 120 or even 130 points.

TB is more dependent on Kucherov for offense than in the past. He's prone to deliver. I honestly think he's Jagr level. But McDavid might be top-5 all time, so it's hard for him not to be a favorite with so many games remaining.
 

Strangle

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Kuch got first star of the month, his fourth. Same amount as Crosby's.
If he gets second Art Ross, he will tie Crosby as well.
Sorry if I offended anyone. :sarcasm:

Crosby has been a fantastic and amazing hockey player, but he is a step below some of the top offensive performers that have been torching the league these days
 

authentic

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As a massive Kucherov supporter, who believes he is the 2nd most dangerous offensive player in the league, McDavid is still the favorite here. But it could be a great race with both guys topping 120 or even 130 points.

TB is more dependent on Kucherov for offense than in the past. He's prone to deliver. I honestly think he's Jagr level. But McDavid might be top-5 all time, so it's hard for him not to be a favorite with so many games remaining.

I was just thinking this. He’s playing more ice time lately and Tampa has less offensive depth now, we could be in for a near repeat of his 128 point campaign.
 
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authentic

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Crosby has been a fantastic and amazing hockey player, but he is a step below some of the top offensive performers that have been torching the league these days

Well at age 36 I would think so, but he’s not behind anyone besides McDavid in his prime.
 

Strangle

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Well at age 36 I would think so, but he’s not behind anyone besides McDavid in his prime.

It probably depends on your criteria, I don’t think he’s second behind McDavid offensively. But he brings a lot more than just offense too.

He was probably a step below quite a few players now in their prime compared to his prime.

He’s got a handful of 100+ point seasons, and that’s incredible. But this crop is eating those numbers for breakfast

EDIT: Actually, I thought I might make a kucherov is better offensively than Crosby, that was my gut guess. But looking closer at the stats, I think Crosby is a fair bit better
 

AndreRoy

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It probably depends on your criteria, I don’t think he’s second behind McDavid offensively. But he brings a lot more than just offense too.

He was probably a step below quite a few players now in their prime compared to his prime.

He’s got a handful of 100+ point seasons, and that’s incredible. But this crop is eating those numbers for breakfast

EDIT: Actually, I thought I might make a kucherov is better offensively than Crosby, that was my gut guess. But looking closer at the stats, I think Crosby is a fair bit better

He’d have had a few more of those seasons if not for injuries and lockdowns/shortened seasons. And you can’t compare players across different time periods without considering the trends in league scoring as a whole.
 

Felidae

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As a massive Kucherov supporter, who believes he is the 2nd most dangerous offensive player in the league, McDavid is still the favorite here. But it could be a great race with both guys topping 120 or even 130 points.

TB is more dependent on Kucherov for offense than in the past. He's prone to deliver. I honestly think he's Jagr level. But McDavid might be top-5 all time, so it's hard for him not to be a favorite with so many games remaining.
I dont think he's quite at that level peak wise, he'd be contending with McDavid more than he has if that were the case imo.

I think he's in that next tier though, and I can see Kucherov having a really long prime that could possibly put him over the edge in all time rankings over guys that peaked higher. I just think he'll age really well due to his complete lack of reliance on physical tools. He might be the most effortless player in the game atm.
 

Nathaniel Skywalker

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It probably depends on your criteria, I don’t think he’s second behind McDavid offensively. But he brings a lot more than just offense too.

He was probably a step below quite a few players now in their prime compared to his prime.

He’s got a handful of 100+ point seasons, and that’s incredible. But this crop is eating those numbers for breakfast

EDIT: Actually, I thought I might make a kucherov is better offensively than Crosby, that was my gut guess. But looking closer at the stats, I think Crosby is a fair bit better
Name me one player in the league that can match these scoring finishes. 1,1,2,2 3,3,3,3,5,6,10,10. Nobody besides mcdavid comes close and that's with his peak ruined by injuries
 
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Offtheboard412

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It probably depends on your criteria, I don’t think he’s second behind McDavid offensively. But he brings a lot more than just offense too.

He was probably a step below quite a few players now in their prime compared to his prime.

He’s got a handful of 100+ point seasons, and that’s incredible. But this crop is eating those numbers for breakfast

EDIT: Actually, I thought I might make a kucherov is better offensively than Crosby, that was my gut guess. But looking closer at the stats, I think Crosby is a fair bit better
He was 4th all time in points per game at the same age McDavid is now.
 

AndreRoy

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I dont think he's quite at that level peak wise, he'd be contending with McDavid more than he has if that were the case imo.

He outscored McDavid in one season (which at the time was the best individual season in decades), had another in which he led the league for most of the season before letting up near the end (at which time McDavid caught up and barely passed him), and missed another prime season entirely due to injury (after which he put up historic postseason numbers despite playing through multiple injuries.) And all this while being older and playing significantly fewer minutes per game than McDavid.

On top of that Kucherov was already the league’s top postseason scorer over the previous several years BEFORE putting up 30+ points in back-to-back postseasons, something only he and two guys named Wayne and Mario have ever done.

So I’d say peak Kucherov is up there with just about anybody.
 

AndreRoy

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No.

Small, offensive specialist winger vs a physical, dominant center is not a fair comparison to Kucherov.

Just because Kucherov dominates games in a different way than Malkin doesn’t make him any less dominant. And unlike Malkin he didn’t benefit from a better player on a different line taking the pressure and the defensive heat off of him - Kucherov has been “The Man” on his team for all but the beginning of his career.
 

Pierre Larouche

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He outscored McDavid in one season (which at the time was the best individual season in decades), had another in which he led the league for most of the season before letting up near the end (at which time McDavid caught up and barely passed him), and missed another prime season entirely due to injury (after which he put up historic postseason numbers despite playing through multiple injuries.) And all this while being older and playing significantly fewer minutes per game than McDavid.

On top of that Kucherov was already the league’s top postseason scorer over the previous several years BEFORE putting up 30+ points in back-to-back postseasons, something only he and two guys named Wayne and Mario have ever done.

So I’d say peak Kucherov is up there with just about anybody.
I agree.
 

CashMash

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Just because Kucherov dominates games in a different way than Malkin doesn’t make him any less dominant. And unlike Malkin he didn’t benefit from a better player on a different line taking the pressure and the defensive heat off of him - Kucherov has been “The Man” on his team for all but the beginning of his career.
Malkin 2012 didn't have Crosby taking the pressure off him. He does well with or without Crosby playing.
 

Czechboy

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Still the king!
 
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