Will Connor McDavid win the Art Ross this season?

[McPoyle]

Didn't McDavid only miss 3 games?

Really was 4 games. He was injured in the first shift of a game against Columbus and played 37 seconds. Missed that game then the next 3.

 

[kevsh]

Surprised so many are counting him out.

It's shaping up to be a great but race barring injuries he absolutely can make up a 10 point deficit, and then some. Will he? I say he does and wins it by 8+ points. Clearly I'm way past the point of doubting anything he's capable of.

 

[GoldenKnight]

Was surprised when a (mostly) healthy McDavid was only the third best forward in the league last season, despite playing 76 games.

Was very surprised that a healthy McDavid had only 10 points in 10 games this season, before his injury.

Wouldn't be surprised by anything happening this year, whether a healthy McDavid wins or loses the Art Ross race.

 

[Crow]

Surprised so many are counting him out.

It's shaping up to be a great but race barring injuries he absolutely can make up a 10 point deficit, and then some. Will he? I say he does and wins it by 8+ points. Clearly I'm way past the point of doubting anything he's capable of.

Im not counting him out, just taking the field. I think he is the most likely player to win it.

What if he misses 5 more games or something like that? I’d rather have multiple other players going for it than 1.

 

[authentic]

Was surprised when a (mostly) healthy McDavid was only the third best forward in the league last season, despite playing 76 games.

Was very surprised that a healthy McDavid had only 10 points in 10 games this season, before his injury.

Wouldn't be surprised by anything happening this year, whether a healthy McDavid wins or loses the Art Ross race.

McDavid had two points per game in the last 60 games of the season and 42 points in the playoffs. That McDavid was the best player in the world still.

 

[GoldenKnight]

McDavid had two points per game in the last 60 games of the season and 42 points in the playoffs. That McDavid was the best player in the world still.

I don't disagree with your comment. McDavid had a terrific playoffs for sure, but those are never as long as the regular season is.

Over a full season, it is perfectly reasonable to take the field over McDavid, even if he is healthy.

 

[Video Nasty]

I don't disagree with your comment. McDavid had a terrific playoffs for sure, but those are never as long as the regular season is.

Over a full season, it is perfectly reasonable to take the field over McDavid, even if he is healthy.

Actually, it borders on ignoring reality. He’s won five out of the past eight Art Rosses, which means you lose more than you win betting against him.

If we want to really dig in, the guy has lost only one scoring out of those eight that he was totally healthy for (2018-2019). More like “especially if healthy.”

 

[Perfect_Drug]

He'll win it

 

[Video Nasty]

McDavid coming back quick. 8 goals and 18 points in his past 8 games.

In just 15 days, he has trimmed a 17 point deficit to Kaprizov, the leader going into November 9th, and a 15 point deficit to MacKinnon to 6 and 7 respectively.

Tried reminding most how he disintegrated a 20 point deficit in just 28 days last season, but keep on doubting.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Zero empty-net points on the season are hurting McDavid's totals. Not including empty netter's, he's already surpassed MacKinnon in points-per-game this season. And that also includes the game he got injured 37 seconds into.

 

[LTIR]

Voted no... should not be a target for him this year.. would rather see him sit a few games out near the end if Oilers are in a comfortable position in standings.

 

[Soundwave]

Looks like his goal scoring is coming back, last year his shot was crippled by an abdominal injury that he just played through.

8 goals in the last 8 games.

 

[Mulletman]

McDavid coming back quick. 8 goals and 18 points in his past 8 games.

In just 15 days, he has trimmed a 17 point deficit to Kaprizov, the leader going into November 9th, and a 15 point deficit to MacKinnon to 6 and 7 respectively.

Tried reminding most how he disintegrated a 20 point deficit in just 28 days last season, but keep on doubting.

Hard for McDavid to win the Art Ross when Hyman is on pace for just 12 goals and Nuge is on pace for just 7 goals. With this rate McDavid will fall below assist per game for his career if the supporting cast doesn't start scoring soon.

 

[Mulletman]

Voted no... should not be a target for him this year.. would rather see him sit a few games out near the end if Oilers are in a comfortable position in standings.

It should be a target for McDavid every year. A guy like McDavid doesn't sit out games, you are thinking about guys like Crosby and Forsberg. McDavid has his site set on 2000+ career points. Can't sit out in your prime when you're healthy if you want to hit that. McDavid could easily score 4 points in any single game right now and you want him to sit out?! That's crazy!

 

[lawrence]

dont ever count out mcjesus. goes through a string of 3-4 point games, for like a 4-5 games, followed by another batch of 3 3=4 point games, yea, don't count him out.

 

[Plural]

This point in the season, 7 points off the lead. Yeah, I'd say he's the favorite.

 

[LTIR]

It should be a target for McDavid every year. A guy like McDavid doesn't sit out games, you are thinking about guys like Crosby and Forsberg. McDavid has his site set on 2000+ career points. Can't sit out in your prime when you're healthy if you want to hit that. McDavid could easily score 4 points in any single game right now and you want him to sit out?! That's crazy!

I am thinking about a guy who hasn't won a single Stanley Cup. He can go after 2000 pts or whatever once he has accomplished he main goal. I'll take a fresh McD for playoffs over one that is averaging 25mins down the stretch just to win a scoring title

But I do agree, it should be A target. But not THE target

 

[Video Nasty]

I am thinking about a guy who hasn't won a single Stanley Cup. He can go after 2000 pts or whatever once he has accomplished he main goal. I'll take a fresh McD for playoffs over one that is averaging 25mins down the stretch just to win a scoring title

But I do agree, it should be A target. But not THE target

Step this way—we’re about to enter reality.

I looked at his game logs, thinking perhaps you had some real insight on a player whose career I’ve followed since before he stepped onto NHL ice and that this was something that happened before and could be expected to happen again, as you intimate.

25 minutes or more games in the second half/“Down the stretch” aka “Final 30 days of regular season”

2023-2024: 2/0
2022-2023: 4/1
2021-2022: 2/0
2020-2021: 5/2
2019-2020: 1/1
2018-2019: 8/2
2017-2018: 3/1
2016-2017: 2/1

Most of these were games that went to OT. The rest were mostly games where the Oilers trailed late and were trying to win the game. His history in the scoring race is a mix and none of them point to what you fear to happen. The closest to what you’re talking about is when he won the 2021-2022 during that final stretch, yet there we have him playing his usual low number of 25+ minute games. There’s zero reason to worry about him playing higher minutes to go for the scoring title because that thought is not grounded in reality.

Hope this helps bust the larger false narrative that McDavid only cares about winning scoring titles and will play longer minutes down the stretch to them, at the expense of being fresh for the playoffs.

McDavid isn’t an ordinary legend; his sight is set on dismantling the Big Four and remolding it into a new Big Five, which means winning scoring races and a Cup/Conn Smythe is possible in the very same season.

 

[slapKing]

McDavid of course has what it takes to win, I just don't think he'll go "all in" like in 2021 or 2023. As he said last year, individual trophies are a "been there, done that" type of feeling.

 

[DitchMarner]

He was flying last night. That game is the best I've seen him play so far this season.

He looks like he's at 100% and his shooting seems to be back to normal. I don't know what's going on with EDM's PP, but it should improve. He's going to pile up a ton of points again this season and may be a dark horse Rocket contender. MacKinnon will deserve all the credit in the world if McDavid doesn't get hurt again this season and he outscores him.

 

[Video Nasty]

He was flying last night. That game is the best I've seen him play so far this season.

He looks like he's at 100% and his shooting seems to be back to normal. I don't know what's going on with EDM's PP, but it should improve. He's going to pile up a ton of points again this season and may be a dark horse Rocket contender. MacKinnon will deserve all the credit in the world if McDavid doesn't get hurt again this season and he outscores him.

I like your dark horse Rocket contender comment. I agree. He finally seems to resemble 64 goal/153 point McDavid again.

With 60 games to go, I think he flirts with 60 and 150 again.

 

[LTIR]

Step this way—we’re about to enter reality.

I looked at his game logs, thinking perhaps you had some real insight on a player whose career I’ve followed since before he stepped onto NHL ice and that this was something that happened before and could be expected to happen again, as you intimate.

25 minutes or more games in the second half/“Down the stretch” aka “Final 30 days of regular season”

2023-2024: 2/0
2022-2023: 4/1
2021-2022: 2/0
2020-2021: 5/2
2019-2020: 1/1
2018-2019: 8/2
2017-2018: 3/1
2016-2017: 2/1

Most of these were games that went to OT. The rest were mostly games where the Oilers trailed late and were trying to win the game. His history in the scoring race is a mix and none of them point to what you fear to happen. The closest to what you’re talking about is when he won the 2021-2022 during that final stretch, yet there we have him playing his usual low number of 25+ minute games. There’s zero reason to worry about him playing higher minutes to go for the scoring title because that thought is not grounded in reality.

Hope this helps bust the larger false narrative that McDavid only cares about winning scoring titles and will play longer minutes down the stretch to them, at the expense of being fresh for the playoffs.

McDavid isn’t an ordinary legend; his sight is set on dismantling the Big Four and remolding it into a new Big Five, which means winning scoring races and a Cup/Conn Smythe is possible in the very same season.

I pulled the 25min/game number randomly. No forward should ever play that much. Lets change it to 22 or even 20. McDavid shouldn't be playing 20mins+/game down the stretch so he has a bigger tank left for playoffs.
McDavid doesnt need to win any scoring races to be among top players in NHL. He certainly needs to win a cup.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Zero empty-net points on the season are hurting McDavid's totals. Not including empty netter's, he's already surpassed MacKinnon in points-per-game this season. And that also includes the game he got injured 37 seconds into.

He also only has 6 points I believe without Draisaitl on the ice this season.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

He also only has 6 points I believe without Draisaitl on the ice this season.

7. And MacKinnon has only 4 points without Rantanen on the ice. What’s your point?

 

[Kerberos]

He also only has 6 points I believe without Draisaitl on the ice this season.

Tends to happen when RNH and Hyman are playing like ECHL level players who fan on EN tap-ins, Skinner is garbage and Arvidsson is always injured.