Will a defenseman ever win the Art Ross again?

[MarchessaultCantRead]

Makar is currently the NHL’s scoring leader and, while it’s unlikely that he’s still there at the end of the season, what are the chances that a defenseman will ever with the Art Ross again?

It’s only been done twice in NHL history (1970 and 1975 by Bobby Orr).

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[Rabid Ranger]

Seems very unlikely.

 

[BobCole]

Given the evolving role of dmen in the league as of late, I wouldn't rule it an impossibility in the future.

 

[KevinRedkey]

Only Orr has done it (twice), roughly 50yrs ago.

The combination of goalies being much better, and the game being much faster, don't lend well to defencemen winning an Art Ross any time soon. The game would need to change drastically.

 

[authentic]

Given the evolving role of dmen in the league as of late, I wouldn't rule it an impossibility in the future.

It's within the realm of possibility for sure, we just saw Karlsson post over 100 points a few seasons ago and who's to say that someone like Makar can't challenge for it in a healthy season at his peak, especially if he's really trying for it. I think it would be amazing to see but no I still don't think it's very likely given the seasons MacKinnon, Kucherov and McDavid have just shown.

Only Orr has done it (twice), roughly 50yrs ago.

The combination of goalies being much better, and the game being much faster, don't lend well to defencemen winning an Art Ross any time soon. The game would need to change drastically.

I'd argue the game has already changed enough in the last 10 years that make it more likely than it was during the dead puck era and shortly after. We see a lot more offensively skilled defensemen who are a lot more involved in overall offensive play now.

 

[jigglysquishy]

In the next 100 years, ya it's likely. We will one day again get a super talent defenseman.

That Bobby Orr did it twice was incredible. Since the NHL merged with the WCHL in 1926 here is a list of all times a defenseman finished top 5 in points.

Paul Coffey- 1983-84 (2nd)
Paul Coffey- 1984-85 (5th)
Paul Coffey- 1985-86 (3rd)
Erik Karlsson- 2015-16 (5th)

Oh and then Bobby Orr
1969-70 - 1st
1970-71 - 2nd
1971-72 - 2nd
1972-73 - 3rd
1973-74 - 2nd
1974-75 - 1st

He was just on another level.

 

[authentic]

In the next 100 years, ya it's likely. We will one day again get a super talent defenseman.

That Bobby Orr did it twice was incredible. Since the NHL merged with the WCHL in 1926 here is a list of all times a defenseman finished top 5 in points.

Paul Coffey- 1983-84 (2nd)
Paul Coffey- 1984-85 (5th)
Paul Coffey- 1985-86 (3rd)
Erik Karlsson- 2015-16 (5th)

Oh and then Bobby Orr
1969-70 - 1st
1970-71 - 2nd
1971-72 - 2nd
1972-73 - 3rd
1973-74 - 2nd
1974-75 - 1st

He was just on another level.

Wow never seen it broken down this way before, that's absolutely insane.

 

[PavelBure10]

Not unless they cloned Bobby Orr. I just don't see it happening.

 

[Bozo Nicholson]

Allow me to introduce you to Lane Hutson.

 

[paragon]

Makar is currently the NHL’s scoring leader and, while it’s unlikely that he’s still there at the end of the season, what are the chances that a defenseman will ever with the Art Ross again?

It’s only been done twice in NHL history (1970 and 1975 by Bobby Orr).

It's not impossible. Maybe on a shortened season when all the top forwards get injured.

 

[JoVel]

I think it will happen, but not with what we currently think of a defenseman being. The position will progress into a much more fluid playing style.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

If the NHL lasts for 200 more seasons it will probably eventually happen

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Yea Hutson is winning it next year

 

[NVious]

This question should be "Will a Forward Win The Art Ross During the Lane Hutson Era?"

 

[PettersonHughes]

If Toews enables Makar to go full rover mode I could definitely see it.
Not sure if anyone else (Josi, Fox, etc.) has it in them to be that elite offensively to keep up with someone like Kucherov/ McDavid but guess we'll just have to see how the league evolves.

 

[Tacitus Kilgore]

What are the Fan Duel odds?

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

i think nov 23 of last year was the deepest into the season a dman has been leading the league in scoring since orr

although for a lot of the spring of 2017 brent burns was within reach of mcddavid in number one, being as close as two pts on multiple occasions in february, and before he went cold through the middle half of march he was in a five way tie for second, four pts back of first. at the time i couldn’t believe a dman actually had a real shot at the art ross.

 

[Killer Orcas]

I think Makar has a chance to be honest if healthy and say some of the usual suspects have a down year or miss some games ala Benn's Art Ross.

 

[Ghost of Murph]

Never say never, but I cannot see it happening unless multiple elite forwards get injured in the same season, combined with a D-man having an epic scoring season. Very low odds.

Orr redefined an entire position and is the best to ever play the game. If a D-man ever wins the Art Ross again I hope I'm still around to see such a player.

 

[CanadienShark]

Hutson will do it a few times.

 

[Rowlet]

Ever?? Sure, probably at some point.

Realistically, not any time soon.

 

[BallardEra]

Kaprizov leads the league in points.

 

[Mogo]

No

 

[Pancakes]

I don't think any current defenseman is going to ever do it but if a McDavid/Crosby/Ovie type prospect came along on defense and if they happened to join the league at a time when a similar player did not exist on forward....then maybe.

A part of me wonders if any player that gifted would ever spend their youth/junior hockey even playing defense though. Like imagine if Crosby or McDavid had wanted to play defense instead of forward....would their youth coaches have even encouraged that? I feel like any kid showing that type of talent at such a young age would be encouraged to play forward.

 

[My3Sons]

Ever is a long time