Nikita Kucherov is the clear favorite for the Art Ross Trophy

[NateTheGreat]

yeah, same for Col, they my lock and rest
looks like Bolts will be fighting to the end

I have a hard time seeing them being locked into a seed with the top 3 teams in the Central being so close but I suppose it's possible.

 

[Staniowski]

5 points, and he had the "3rd assist" on the other goal, which was better than most 2nd assists.

 

[missionAvs]

Kucherov with a huge night. Again, this ends McJesus-Kucherov-MacK in that order. Great race.

 

[Staniowski]

I'd like to see a 3-way tie, about 144 points each. They each deserve to win it. The great thing about this race is its the exact three players most people would most like to see in a 3-player race for the scoring title. And indeed the three best offensive forwards of this era.

Of course only one of them can win the Art Ross Trophy.

 

[22FUTON9]

I think I read somewhere that Mack and Kuch both have the chance to become just the 5th and 6th players ever to get 50 goals and 90 assists. Both achieving this would be pretty sick as well.

 

[Video Nasty]

I think I read somewhere that Mack and Kuch both have the chance to become just the 5th and 6th players ever to get 50 goals and 90 assists. Both achieving this would be pretty sick as well.

Sounds interesting so I went through myself and it checks out.

Gretzky 8x (all 50+/100+)
Lemieux 4x
Yzerman x1
LaFontaine x1

That’s it.

McDavid being 1 assist shy last season is the only example of a player being either 1 goal or 1 assist off from joining this club.

 

[x Tame Impala]

Can you imagine if they entered the day tied? Would be a lot of fun and a must-watch.

Man what a game to be at in person. The Art Ross tie breaking game in one of the best Ross races the league has ever seen...lucky Avs fans

 

[snag]

love everyone counting Kuch out when he hasnt played for a week

Not counting him out. He just aint the clear favourite.

 

[snag]

Mac on pace for 140.7
Kuch 139.5
Mcd 136.7 (but he had obvious dip at the start)

Will be decided on last day of reg season in Edm-Col game

Can you imagine if they entered the day tied? Would be a lot of fun and a must-watch.

Man what a game to be at in person. The Art Ross tie breaking game in one of the best Ross races the league has ever seen...lucky Avs fans

You guys have jinxed it. Now it will happen except they both get rested lol

Though it would go to Mack by virtue of goals. An Oiler losing it that way again would be so.....Oiler.

 

[TheStatican]

Though it would go to Mack by virtue of goals. An Oiler losing it that way again would be so.....Oiler.

Hopefully they both end up with 137...

 

[bobholly39]

I'd like to see a 3-way tie, about 144 points each. They each deserve to win it. The great thing about this race is its the exact three players most people would most like to see in a 3-player race for the scoring title. And indeed the three best offensive forwards of this era.

Of course only one of them can win the Art Ross Trophy.

I hate ties - that would be the worst lol.

Also - Draisaitl is having a bit of a down year, but best offensive forwards of this era, he's in that tier too.

If I had one wish - I wish whoever wins the Art Ross also wins the hart. Especially if it's between Kucherov and MacKinnon (a bit of hart voter fatigue/higher bar for McDavid wouldn't upset me too much).

Kucherov and MacKinnon have been in a race for Ross all year...that's all they can control and they're both putting on a tremendous show....imagine it comes down to the very wire....and on his last game Kucherov scores 4 points and beats MacKinnon for Ross by 2 points....only to then lose the hart to MacK? I think that would be pretty crappy. I'd like to see Ross winner also win hart.

 

[bobholly39]

Updated as of this morning:

MacKinnon on pace for 51 goals, 141 points in 82 games. 15 games to go
Kucherov on pace for 49 goals, 140 points in 81 games. 16 games to go
McDavid on pace for 105 assists, 137 points in 80 games. 18 games to go
Pastrnak....way back pacing for 115 points.

McDavid once again has a few games in hand on MacK and Kucherov, and he's also once again fallen behind. Still pacing for over 100 assists though, He trails MacK by 9 points now. Kucherov with a huge game last night is right back in the race.

"Easy" games left on schedule.

MacKinnon plays Columbus(2x), Habs, Penguins. Four non-playoff teams
Kucherov plays SJ, Anaheim, Habs, Penguins, Ottawa, Columbus, Sabres.
McDavid plays Habs, Sabres, Anaheim, Ottawa, Coyotes (2x), SJ

I think Kucherov and McDavid definitely have the easier schedule remaining, and lots of bottom feeder opponents they can score a lot of points against.

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

5 point night for Kucherov just as he was buried for dead.

I feel like I have to say it a million times, but the guy is so insanely underrated. I dunno if it's cuz he's a Winger, Russian or doesn't play for a "northern" team, but he's way better than he gets acknowledged for.

It’s because the guy is a liability on the other ice. McDavid and MacK aren’t exactly defensive stalwarts, but they certainly hustle back and know where their guy is on the ice.

Kucherov makes boneheaded turnovers all the time and does it at a higher rate, and just seems disinterested in working hard on the other side of the puck overall.

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

If I had one wish - I wish whoever wins the Art Ross also wins the hart. Especially if it's between Kucherov and MacKinnon (a bit of hart voter fatigue/higher bar for McDavid wouldn't upset me too much).

Kucherov and MacKinnon have been in a race for Ross all year...that's all they can control and they're both putting on a tremendous show....imagine it comes down to the very wire....and on his last game Kucherov scores 4 points and beats MacKinnon for Ross by 2 points....only to then lose the hart to MacK? I think that would be pretty crappy. I'd like to see Ross winner also win hart.

Mackinnon plays more responsible hockey. Whether it’s because he is a center and Kucherov is a winger, or whatever reason people want to use, it’s just the reality that he will deservedly win if close enough in points.

Kucherov is a +2. If he finishes with a negative +/-, it will have a huge impact on voters. Most voters know how atrocious Kucherov is on the other side of the puck, and the half efforts he gives when he doesn't care on defense shows in his body language.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Lookin like a fool right about now arent we

???.... lol gotta love it

 

[Vasilevskiy]

Mackinnon plays more responsible hockey. Whether it’s because he is a center and Kucherov is a winger, or whatever reason people want to use, it’s just the reality that he will deservedly win if close enough in points.

Kucherov is a +2. If he finishes with a negative +/-, it will have a huge impact on voters. Most voters know how atrocious Kucherov is on the other side of the puck, and the half efforts he gives when he doesn't care on defense shows in his body language.

Yeah I'm sure if he's a minus it will have a huge impact carrying a team to the playoffs with vasi looking like if I was a starting goalie and a defense that has featured a billion of rookies and ahlers. Clueless post

 

[MacMacandBarbie]

Yeah I'm sure if he's a minus it will have a huge impact carrying a team to the playoffs with vasi looking like if I was a starting goalie and a defense that has featured a billion of rookies and ahlers. Clueless post

Carrying a team to the playoffs doesn’t make Kucherov suddenly a motivated player on both sides of the puck. It’s also an incredibly overrated feat.

Hart voting usually only buys into that ‘dragging a team to the playoffs’ narrative when we don’t have a ‘the best player on the best team’ narrative going that year.

 

[RussianGuyovich]

Carrying a team to the playoffs doesn’t make Kucherov suddenly a motivated player on both sides of the puck. It’s also an incredibly overrated feat.

Hart voting usually only buys into that ‘dragging a team to the playoffs’ narrative when we don’t have a ‘the best player on the best team’ narrative going that year.

It must be exhausting having to come in here and unironically defend a grown man that you have affixed your own personality to and posting persona

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

It must be exhausting having to come in here and unironically defend a grown man that you have affixed your own personality to and posting persona

Hahahahaha I'm gonna pretend I didn't see this. Love ya bro!

 

[nturn06]

Can you imagine if they entered the day tied? Would be a lot of fun and a must-watch.

Unless McD rests for the playoffs, at this point he probably does not care about one more ArtRoss. MacKinnon will probably go for it, this might be the only time in his career he may have a chance.

 

[Spirits]

Nathan "special treatment" MacKinnon vs Connor "very rarely gets calls" McDavid . There's Oiler's fan's imagination then there's reality:

But don't let statistics ruin your narrative.
View attachment 835903

#97 with less games played as well.

 

[Beyonder91]

It’s because the guy is a liability on the other ice. McDavid and MacK aren’t exactly defensive stalwarts, but they certainly hustle back and know where their guy is on the ice.

Kucherov makes boneheaded turnovers all the time and does it at a higher rate, and just seems disinterested in working hard on the other side of the puck overall.

He is a winger aka the least important defensive position.

Mackinnon plays more responsible hockey. Whether it’s because he is a center and Kucherov is a winger, or whatever reason people want to use, it’s just the reality that he will deservedly win if close enough in points.

Kucherov is a +2. If he finishes with a negative +/-, it will have a huge impact on voters. Most voters know how atrocious Kucherov is on the other side of the puck, and the half efforts he gives when he doesn't care on defense shows in his body language.

Your post demonstrates a lack of understanding of +/-

Plus minus is only useful comparing players of the same team. Tampa has been very bad defensively this year. Their D core is below average. Vasi has been below average.

Here is Tampa top 6 for most of the year. Kucherov has played with each of them except maybe Cirelli at different times.

Point: -14
Hagel: -2
Stamkos: -24
Paul: -19
Cirelli: -6
Kucherov: +2

Kucherov is the only reason they are in a playoff spot

 

[Cup or Bust]

It will be interesting to see how the scoring race ends. If all things stay relatively equal I think MacKinnon has the Hart Trophy almost in the bag.

 

[Dingo]

He is a winger aka the least important defensive position.


Your post demonstrates a lack of understanding of +/-

Plus minus is only useful comparing players of the same team. Tampa has been very bad defensively this year. Their D core is below average. Vasi has been below average.

Here is Tampa top 6 for most of the year. Kucherov has played with each of them except maybe Cirelli at different times.

Point: -14
Hagel: -2
Stamkos: -24
Paul: -19
Cirelli: -6
Kucherov: +2

Kucherov is the only reason they are in a playoff spot

came here to say just this.

 

[Toby91ca]

He is a winger aka the least important defensive position.


Your post demonstrates a lack of understanding of +/-

Plus minus is only useful comparing players of the same team. Tampa has been very bad defensively this year. Their D core is below average. Vasi has been below average.

Here is Tampa top 6 for most of the year. Kucherov has played with each of them except maybe Cirelli at different times.

Point: -14
Hagel: -2
Stamkos: -24
Paul: -19
Cirelli: -6
Kucherov: +2

Kucherov is the only reason they are in a playoff spot

I don't disagree with needing to look at +/- a bit closer and even closer than just a comparison amongst teammates, but I also think a lot of voters will simply look at the stat, if guys are close in total points and one of them is +30 and the other is -2, rightly or wrongly, likely impacts their vote.

EDIT: If I'm voting and two guys are tied in points, I won't necessarily go as far as to say I'm voting for the center over the winger 100% of the time, but I'm certainly going to default to the center first and then consider what other evidence could sway me in the other direction.