Nikita Kucherov wins his third Art Ross Trophy matching McDavid with 3 120 point seasons

[Sky04]

Is it cute though? Why would you compare Mackinnon's age seasons where Kucherov at the same age wasn't even in the league? Not to mention Tampa played two weak Cinderella run teams for their two cups. Mack is two years younger and hit his prime faster, he might be producing at these rates after Kuch has fallen off.

Kuch has also never really not played for a good team, it was considered an epic fail when Tampa missed by one point in 2017. Mack had to start his career playing behind Matt Duchene insisting to be the #1C while Colorado missed the playoffs every year. Their numbers are near identical when both playing on contenders.

And Colorado played a tired Tampa team for theirs with Point injured so doesn't count either. It's considered an epic fail that Mackinnon has passed the 1st round once playing with a generational talent in Makar. The 13/14 Lightning were a good team? Weird, that's the season MSL got injured and Stamkos broke his leg.

And Mackinnon started his career behind Duchene because Duchene was better, Mackinnon even got bumped down to 3C in his sophomore year cause he was terrible. Regardless not sure why we're bringing up years they were developing, Kucherov outpaces and outproduces raw numbers at their best.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

if he was Canadian he'd have 2 Smythes and be getting his 2nd Hart this year

It's possible it's not about being Canadian as much as he's a dick.

Super talented player, but hasn't won himself many friends.

 

[NVious]

User name definitely checks out.

truth hurts.

 

[Ezpz]

And Colorado played a tired Tampa team for theirs with Point injured so doesn't count either. It's considered an epic fail that Mackinnon has passed the 1st round once playing with a generational talent in Makar. The 13/14 Lightning were a good team? Weird, that's the season MSL got injured and Stamkos broke his leg.

And Mackinnon started his career behind Duchene because Duchene was better, Mackinnon even got bumped down to 3C in his sophomore year cause he was terrible. Regardless not sure why we're bringing up years they were developing, Kucherov outpaces and outproduces raw numbers at their best.

The obvious retort to that is Tampa made the playoffs missing Stamkos. Tampa made the playoffs missing Kucherov. Colorado would miss the playoffs without Mack. They're straight up built like the 70's Bruins where two guys are the entire team. Tampa are built like the 70's Habs. Insane depth at every position.

 

[daver]

Even showing point totals at all when Kucherov missed a whole year and a large chunk of another is a nice touch too

Who knows what Kucherov's PPG if he played 20/21. He was at a 1.25 PPG the year before.

 

[daver]

Then there's the fact Kucherov went to 3 cup finals and Mack only went to 1. In Mack's only Cup final he was 1.20ppg. So yes, overall it gets tougher to put up points the farther you go on.

Still waiting for why it's obvious Kucherov is better.

 

[Bobby Ryan Getzlaf]

You've so succinctly summarized what's wrong with media-voted awards.

Emotional people deciding a dispassionate award.

My response was to someone commenting on how fans on HF don’t want to talk about Kucherov. There was no mention of him winning awards or not winning awards.

But applying it to your awards comment, unfortunately, for an award that isn’t determined by a clear cut result such as the Richard, there’s always going to be emotions and biases from the voting committee. Being unlikable doesn’t do him any favors with fans nor people voting on awards.

 

[Master P]

For your viewing pleasure.

 

[1909]

Kuch is neither media boy nor has a likeable personality.

In fact, he behaves like a non-respectful person almost every time he gets pissed or loses. Last year ASG “performance” just completes his image.

Why does he have to be mad that media doesn’t like him? Hart just doesn’t fit his profile and behavior.

Excellent playmaker and one of the best wings ever. But I wish he just had a better character.

He is not a marketable player for the NHL.

 

[authentic]

It's possible it's not about being Canadian as much as he's a dick.

Super talented player, but hasn't won himself many friends.

Or to those who watch hockey other players were simply better, rather than a grand conspiracy.

 

[Beyonder91]

Still waiting for why it's obvious Kucherov is better.

When MacKinnon can make it out of the 2nd round more than once we can compare their playoff numbers.
Besides that the only thing MacKinnon has on Kucherov is a Calder trophy that nobody cares about

 

[DFC]

He's been a dominant force for years now. And yet most people see him as an elite player and nothing else. Lol.
He's a generational talent, just like Ovie predicted back in 2016, where he anticipated Kuch becoming one of the greatest russian players to ever play in the NHL.
Best playmaking winger of all time.
Once his career is over he'll end up being top 3 winger all time.
Generational.

He's Russian, he plays in a small market, and he didn't burst on the scene as a hotshot 18 year old. All of those things keep Kucherov from ever getting to "shiny new toy" status.

Meanwhile, 3 Art Rosses, 3 cups, and a Hart trophy. 100 assists. 3-straight 80 assist seasons (first winger ever to do it). And, believe it or not, because of his playing style, he's still in the middle of his prime.

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

It's possible it's not about being Canadian as much as he's a dick.

Super talented player, but hasn't won himself many friends.

Amazing how many people can't fault his game so they go the "I don't like his personality" route. Is he a dick? Have you met him? Did he not try hard enough in the skills competition? Mack and Draisaitl have had their fair share of tantrums and pissy attitudes over the years as well.

 

[jigglysquishy]

if he was Canadian he'd have 2 Smythes and be getting his 2nd Hart this year

Are we really blaming anti Russian bias for a Russian beating a Russian for the Conn Smythe?

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

Amazing how many people can't fault his game so they go the "I don't like his personality" route. Is he a dick? Have you met him? Did he not try hard enough in the skills competition? Mack and Draisaitl have had their fair share of tantrums and pissy attitudes over the years as well.

I wasn't talking about Kucherov's personal life. I'm talking about his behavior on the ice and in interviews, and yes his behavior at the All-Star game.

And I was just giving an honest opinion about why he might not be getting votes for various awards. I'm not making any statement about his worthiness for them based on his hockey performance.

 

[Plastic Joseph]

Yes, I addressed that. Notice how it wasn't "Best forward" but "Best overall forward" ?
That wording automatically gives a bias towards centers.

Best overall means best player. Most complete would probably favor centres.

Makes sense, centres are generally the best forwards on the team

 

[Plastic Joseph]

Are we really blaming anti Russian bias for a Russian beating a Russian for the Conn Smythe?

These people don't even pay attention they just spew the same rhetoric over and over . In their minds kuch has 2 comn smythes lmao

 

[Plastic Joseph]

if he was Canadian he'd have 2 Smythes and be getting his 2nd Hart this year

What nationalities won the CS those 2 years??

Surely it was brayden point right?

 

[Plastic Joseph]

He's Russian, he plays in a small market, and he didn't burst on the scene as a hotshot 18 year old. All of those things keep Kucherov from ever getting to "shiny new toy" status.

Meanwhile, 3 Art Rosses, 3 cups, and a Hart trophy. 100 assists. 3-straight 80 assist seasons (first winger ever to do it). And, believe it or not, because of his playing style, he's still in the middle of his prime.

3 cups?

2 cups - both in shortened seasons mind you. One in the bubble and one where they played an eastern conference team in the finals. 0 cups in usual circumstances

 

[NatusVincere]

Crosby isn’t winning one Smythe in 16 or 17 if his name is Kucherov. Kucherov isnt losing at least the 21 Smythe if his name is Crosby. If its close it always goes to the Canadian golden boy. Especially if he is missing some major award.

People can simply accept it that there is a logical bias to North American stars in a North American league. Instead of they come up with all of sorts of brain gymnastics to not speak out loud what everyone knows already.

 

[Troubadour]

Crosby isn’t winning one Smythe in 16 or 17 if his name is Kucherov. Kucherov isnt losing at least the 21 Smythe if his name is Crosby. If its close it always goes to the Canadian golden boy. Especially if he is missing some major award.

People can simply accept it that there is a logical bias to North American stars in a North American league. Instead of they come up with all of sorts of brain gymnastics to not speak out loud what everyone knows already.

I think/feel so, too, but we cannot really prove it. Hence the problem -- it is an opinion, not a fact. In general though, you can come up with a logically sound opinion that Conn Smythe, while a very prestigious trophy, matters little when comparing all time players, when -- most of the time -- it is simply one of the best players on a Cup winning team.

The fact you're among the top five best players on a Cup winning team does not imply you're the best player in the playoffs, let alone the entire league.

Ironically, Conn Smythe as an individual accolade is much more prestigious when you snatch one as a defeated finalist.

 

[Senor Catface]

Crosby isn’t winning one Smythe in 16 or 17 if his name is Kucherov. Kucherov isnt losing at least the 21 Smythe if his name is Crosby. If its close it always goes to the Canadian golden boy. Especially if he is missing some major award.

People can simply accept it that there is a logical bias to North American stars in a North American league. Instead of they come up with all of sorts of brain gymnastics to not speak out loud what everyone knows already.

Interesting take when Kucherov "lost" the Smythe to a Russian goalie and a Swedish defenseman.

 

[LightningStrikes]

3 cups?

2 cups - both in shortened seasons mind you. One in the bubble and one where they played an eastern conference team in the finals. 0 cups in usual circumstances

How many of those cups does your team / do other teams have? Yeah, moot point bro.

 

[NatusVincere]

Interesting take when Kucherov "lost" the Smythe to a Russian goalie and a Swedish defenseman.

Its kind of ironical you guys thinking you found the holy grail picking a year in which the only two realistic options for the Smythe were Russians, to show there is no bias against Russians… while the whole conversation is about a possible bias in favor of Canadian stars if its close.

And it goes without saying that the NHL wouldn't be the NHL if >90% of the trophies weren't awarded "correctly" or to deserving winners.

 

[Senor Catface]

Its kind of ironical you guys thinking you found the holy grail picking a year in which the only two realistic options for the Smythe were Russians, to show there is no bias against Russians… while the whole conversation is about a possible bias in favor of Canadian stars if its close.

And it goes without saying that the NHL wouldn't be the NHL if >90% of the trophies weren't awarded "correctly" or to deserving winners.

You're the one who mentioned 2021 lol. Now that's a bad year to pick?