Nikita Kucherov is the clear favorite for the Art Ross Trophy

[Bank Shot]

depends how his skating ages I imagine

he'll lose a step eventually and will still be very good but won't be quite the same

the question is does that happen in the next couple years or so or does it take till like his mid 30s?

Do most exceptional skaters lose a step until their late 30s?

Lots of examples of guys like Cogliano that stuck around forever because they remained amazing skaters.

 

[authentic]

46 assists in his last 24, and the next highest scorer in this timeframe has 38 points.

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Do most exceptional skaters lose a step until their late 30s?

Lots of examples of guys like Cogliano that stuck around forever because they remained amazing skaters.

It’s really the stamina that will decline before their skating ability. McDavid will be blowing by defenders for the rest of his career he will just gradually do it less often.

 

[T REX]

If he didn’t get injured and played hurt so long this year we might have seen a 160 season. Biggest question to how many art Ross he wins into his 30s depends on the next generation and bedard, who emerges that can put up 120+ cause I can see Mcdavid scoring 120 at 34 years old

We can play the IF game all day long.

McDavid is the best player since Lemieux. Period.

Again, he's the greatest in a long time.

His game is hyper-dependent on his speed/acceleration.

When he eventually slows down will he adjust like the other greats?

THAT is the biggest question. He can easily be #2 all time.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

My money is on 97.

Dude's the Michael Phelps of scoring races. Incredible.

 

[Despote]

If McDavid wins his 6th scoring race and has a strong playoff performance to cap offf the season he'll establish himself in the top 5 all time at age 27. From then on he'll be chasing down players in the top 4.

 

[Regal]

Explain how he has better all around play

Better defensively and the better play driver. I mean it’s pretty obvious watching them and every underlying metric suggests it

 

[Regal]

Do most exceptional skaters lose a step until their late 30s?

Lots of examples of guys like Cogliano that stuck around forever because they remained amazing skaters.

Yea, a lot of great skaters seem to keep their skating pretty well into their 30s unless they get specific injuries or they’re a particularly big player. I don’t see it being an issue any more than the usual aging curve

 

[DownIsTheNewUp]

Amazing how many "I told you so" posts happen when somebody has a big night. This race is essentially tied and has been for many weeks (McDavid is catching up in games played). A lot can still happen in 10 games.

 

[syz]

McDavid gave guys like a 20 game head start, forgot how to score goals over the summer, and he still might end up leading the league in points...

 

[JFedol]

Honestly, next couple years might be even more insane for the remaining prime years of Connor for hockey fans. If McDavid can record 100+ assists in a season, possibly win a ross, slump in the first half due to injury and easily produce his way back while having a career low shooting percentage, I think 160-175+ is easily attainable in a normal dual threat year for him. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the projections for next season are at 60g, 112 assists or something like that.............because this is genuinely f***ing insane. As mentioned earlier, there was a 20pt lead lol during the 40+games mark, wtf

 

[Video Nasty]

Amazing how many "I told you so" posts happen when somebody has a big night. This race is essentially tied and has been for many weeks (McDavid is catching up in games played). A lot can still happen in 10 games.

It’s long overdue and well deserved.

Few cared whenever I reminded people throughout the season that it was going to take McDavid until now to catch up because he constantly had 5-6 games in hand. McDavid was seen as out of the race by all but a few here months ago.

A big night. Please. The guy has 106 points in his past 53 games. He’s averaging 2.21 PPG for an entire third of a season (over his last 28 games). He’s had a lot of big nights and when he’s closed a 20-22 point gap to 2 points in just 2 months, people are going to rightly crow a bit, especially when most of the people talking smack the entire way can’t be bothered to show up for any of it lately and play ball a bit.

Let’s not rewrite history here about what the perception of this race has been the entire season.

 

[olli]

What’s so crazy about McDavids catch up in the scoring race is while he has caught up from the 22 point gap, Kucherov and MacKinnon have actually increased their pace slightly too.

 

[Whoot Whoot]

Can’t wait til the rangers get 97 when he is like 35 years old

 

[Gnome17]

What’s so crazy about McDavids catch up in the scoring race is while he has caught up from the 22 point gap, Kucherov and MacKinnon have actually increased their pace slightly too.

Yeah 3 players having amazing years. They are pretty much a lock for ending up as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th highest point seasons of any players since the 95-96 season.
Only McDavid has been above 130 points since Lemieux and Jagr did it back then.

 

[Video Nasty]

What’s so crazy about McDavids catch up in the scoring race is while he has caught up from the 22 point gap, Kucherov and MacKinnon have actually increased their pace slightly too.

Exactly. It’s not like they’ve slumped to allow him to catch up. They’ve been awesome.

For those wondering what those PPG might be, since MacKinnon and Kucherov were ahead 22 and 20 points respectively on January 24:

MacKinnon 1.708 PPG before vs. 1.64 PPG after

Kucherov vs. 1.702 PPG before vs. 1.833 PPG after

McDavid isn’t making this comeback against scrubs who over-performed for awhile (or failing mind you).

 

[Buck Naked]

Better defensively and the better play driver. I mean it’s pretty obvious watching them and every underlying metric suggests it

I know, you're gonna blame the cards, but at least they use the exact same ways of measuring for both players.

Just putting in a reference point for a guy who is generally considered elite defensively.. It manages to capture that at least. Weird how MacKinnon doesn't show up too well. Could it be....?

 

[Bank Shot]

I know, you're gonna blame the cards, but at least they use the exact same ways of measuring for both players.

View attachment 843039
View attachment 843040

Mcdavid can also win a faceoff.

Also, looking at natural stat trick, all the underlying possession numbers are in Connor's favor. Not the other way around.

 

[Satire]

I know, you're gonna blame the cards, but at least they use the exact same ways of measuring for both players.

View attachment 843039
View attachment 843040

McDavid's advanced stats have been excellent this year. MacKinnon is no slouch either, but I always chuckle when folks try to somehow knock McDavid on his advanced stats or folks on only a single element of them... Like giveaways per game - no recognizing McDavid is the person on his line and the PP that is carrying the puck into the offensive zone and/or the one trying to get the cycle set up so innately is going to have a higher number of total giveaways.

Anyways I could go on. Both players are studs and any team would be lucky to have either one. I hope McDavid wins the Ross, but I genuinely don't think he cares all that much. Kuch on the other hand clearly wants it (see: most recent ENG), so I still think he's the favourite in my mind... Gonna be a tight race to the end.

 

[Bank Shot]

McDavid's advanced stats have been excellent this year. MacKinnon is no slouch either, but I always chuckle when folks try to somehow knock McDavid on his advanced stats or folks on only a single element of them... Like giveaways per game - no recognizing McDavid is the person on his line and the PP that is carrying the puck into the offensive zone and/or the one trying to get the cycle set up so innately is going to have a higher number of total giveaways.

Anyways I could go on. Both players are studs and any team would be lucky to have either one. I hope McDavid wins the Ross, but I genuinely don't think he cares all that much. Kuch on the other hand clearly wants it (see: most recent ENG), so I still think he's the favourite in my mind... Gonna be a tight race to the end.

The only reason Kucherov is still in the race is due to empty net points:

Kucherov- 11
MacKinnon- 7
McDavid- 5

If only McDavid was an empty net merchant.....

 

[Satire]

The only reason Kucherov is still in the race is due to empty net points:

Kucherov- 11
MacKinnon- 7
McDavid- 5

If only McDavid was an empty net merchant.....

McDavid has always been weird about empty netters. He pretty much always tries to defer the points/goals away for some reason.

 

[Ol' Jase]

It’s a golden age offensively right now in the league.

The top 10 scorers are all phenomenal hockey players, and all of them have been consistently elite for at least a few seasons in a row.

Good, good times.

 

[Matsun]

The only reason Kucherov is still in the race is due to empty net points:

Kucherov- 11
MacKinnon- 7
McDavid- 5

If only McDavid was an empty net merchant.....

McDavid vs TOP 10	GP	G	A	P
NYR	1	0	1	1
DAL	2	0	1	1
CAR	2	0	4	4
BOS	2	0	4	4
COL	1	0	0	0
VAN	3	1	2	3
FLO	2	2	1	3
WIN	3	0	5	5
TAM	2	1	1	2
TOR	2	0	4	4
	20	4	23	27

Kucherov vs TOP 10	GP	G	A	P
NYR	3	2	5	7
DAL	2	1	2	3
CAR	2	2	5	7
BOS	4	3	3	6
COL	2	2	2	4
VAN	2	2	0	2
FLO	3	2	2	4
WIN	2	1	2	3
EDM	2	3	3	6
TOR	2	4	3	7
	24	22	27	49

If only McDavid was a top team merchant...

 

[VainGretzky]

McDavid vs TOP 10	GP	G	A	P
NYR	1	0	1	1
DAL	2	0	1	1
CAR	2	0	4	4
BOS	2	0	4	4
COL	1	0	0	0
VAN	3	1	2	3
FLO	2	2	1	3
WIN	3	0	5	5
TAM	2	1	1	2
TOR	2	0	4	4
	20	4	23	27

Kucherov vs TOP 10	GP	G	A	P
NYR	3	2	5	7
DAL	2	1	2	3
CAR	2	2	5	7
BOS	4	3	3	6
COL	2	2	2	4
VAN	2	2	0	2
FLO	3	2	2	4
WIN	2	1	2	3
EDM	2	3	3	6
TOR	2	4	3	7
	24	22	27	49

If only McDavid was a top team merchant...

Now do last season,and they don't ask how it's how many but don't worry Kucherov will be hanging around center ice for the next empty netter as well

 

[syz]

McDavid vs TOP 10	GP	G	A	P
NYR	1	0	1	1
DAL	2	0	1	1
CAR	2	0	4	4
BOS	2	0	4	4
COL	1	0	0	0
VAN	3	1	2	3
FLO	2	2	1	3
WIN	3	0	5	5
TAM	2	1	1	2
TOR	2	0	4	4
	20	4	23	27

Kucherov vs TOP 10	GP	G	A	P
NYR	3	2	5	7
DAL	2	1	2	3
CAR	2	2	5	7
BOS	4	3	3	6
COL	2	2	2	4
VAN	2	2	0	2
FLO	3	2	2	4
WIN	2	1	2	3
EDM	2	3	3	6
TOR	2	4	3	7
	24	22	27	49

If only McDavid was a top team merchant...

If only like half of those games didn't happen when McDavid had 1 good hip.

Like I said, dude probably wasn't healthy until like the start of December and he still might end up passing Kucherov's career year.

 

[Matsun]

Now do last season,and they don't ask how it's how many but don't worry Kucherov will be hanging around center ice for the next empty netter as well

...It sure sounds like you are questioning how .