613Leafer
Registered User
- May 26, 2008
- 13,020
- 3,953
Scoring is up recently, so it's hard to compare raw point totals. But by age 30, Ovechkin was #3 in the league for points by per game during his career (2005-2006 to 2015-2016, min 350+ games) behind Crosby/Malkin, whereas Kucherov today at age 30 is #2 in points per game during his career (2013-2014 to 2023-2024, min 350+ games) behind only McDavid.
That's a very marginal difference, but Ovechkin's dominance as arguably the best goal scorer of all time isn't something Kucherov has a comparable claim on, and I think overcomes the slight difference in points per game performance relative to their peers.
Ovechkin's also had really good longevity, so it's unlikely Kucherov can do much in his 30s to overcome the difference. The above only compares them at 30 or younger, and in his 30s Ovechkin won 3 Rocket Richard trophies. Can't see Kucherov overcoming that - would take like 2-3 more Art Ross / Hart calibre seasons + continuing to produce at a very high level in general into his late 30s.
That's a very marginal difference, but Ovechkin's dominance as arguably the best goal scorer of all time isn't something Kucherov has a comparable claim on, and I think overcomes the slight difference in points per game performance relative to their peers.
Ovechkin's also had really good longevity, so it's unlikely Kucherov can do much in his 30s to overcome the difference. The above only compares them at 30 or younger, and in his 30s Ovechkin won 3 Rocket Richard trophies. Can't see Kucherov overcoming that - would take like 2-3 more Art Ross / Hart calibre seasons + continuing to produce at a very high level in general into his late 30s.
