Nikita Kucherov vs. Evgeni Malkin

[toothlessgoon]

Who was better in his prime?

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[Connor McConnor]

Malkin easily

 

[Empoleon8771]

I feel like Malkin pretty much matched Kucherov’s results while playing with way worse linemates than Kucherov has played with.

 

[Mr Kot]

cant go wrong with big geno.

 

[Master P]

Kucherov is still in his prime and this may be his best season yet. He seems to be getting better with age.

 

[CokenoPepsi]

Malkin and it isn't even close

 

[Zine]

Malkin at his absolute peak was nasty.

5 years (2008-12)
3 - 1st team selections
2 - Art Ross
1 - Hart trophy
1 - Conn Smythe

 

[Regal]

I don’t think there’s a huge gap, and production relative to the league is close, but I think it’s definitely Malkin. Just a better play driver who seemed better able to carry lesser linemates.

 

[Peat]

I think Kucherov gets pretty disrespected at times because of position and not being one of the anointed ones. You can make a good argument he's closer to McDavid than anyone else in that generation.

Struggle with the idea this is anything other than clearly Malkin. Maybe if Kucherov finishes this season with his monster scoring lead over the rest of the league and he's done it twice. But the best of Geno man...

 

[Video Nasty]

Malkin at his absolute peak was nasty.

5 years (2008-12)
3 - 1st team selections
2 - Art Ross
1 - Hart trophy
1 - Conn Smythe

And 1 Pearson/Lindsay, 2 Hart runner ups, and an Art Ross runner up.

Interesting to consider that Malkin won more Art Rosses than Crosby and Ovechkin combined post 2007-2008 through present day.

 

[WarriorofTime]

How is it “not close”? Did people just forget Kucherov had a 128 point season and has been way less inconsistent? He’s played at a 119 point pace per 82 since 2018-19 and is a huge playoff performer.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

How is it “not close”? Did people just forget Kucherov had a 128 point season and has been way less inconsistent? He’s played at a 119 point pace per 82 since 2018-19 and is a huge playoff performer.

Because people have eyes. Kucherov plays with great support around him at all times when he's in the ice (usually multiple future HOFers), which allows him to play his preferred style of defense: cherrypicking. Malkin was a dominant force offensively that didn't need a certain playing style or linemates to be effective: he was the offense. We have only seen 4 players at that level in the last 20 years: 87, 8, 71, and 97.

 

[centipede2233]

If kucherov wins and art Ross and an mvp with a 140 plus point season this year, I’ll go kuch by a hair.

 

[KareemTrustfund]

Because people have eyes. Kucherov plays with great support around him at all times when he's in the ice (usually multiple future HOFers), which allows him to play his preferred style of defense: cherrypicking. Malkin was a dominant force offensively that didn't need a certain playing style or linemates to be effective: he was the offense. We have only seen 4 players at that level in the last 20 years: 87, 8, 71, and 97.

People think Kucherov was this way his entire career or something. It took until his fifth season for him to actually become an elite player where as Malkin was star immediately.

Malkin did what he did with scrub linemates , not 90 point centers. (Not to mention the difficulty of having to do it from the second line where he sees less ice time per game)

Kucherov has no Smyth and still couldnt match Genos 09 run.

If he wins the Ross this year its closer but right now, its not.

 

[SillyRabbit]

Malkin has two Art Ross trophies.

Kucherov winning this year would pull him even with Malkin in scoring titles.

If Kucherov won the Hart and Lindsay, that would put him ahead of Malkin in regular season awards.

Malkin also has a Calder, which isn't important in the grand scheme of things but can be used to highlight that Malkin was an elite player from his first season.

Malkin was top 20 in NHL scoring in his first season.

Kucherov didn't crack top 20 in NHL scoring until his fourth season (where he finished top 5).

Malkin also has one more Cup than Kucherov and the ever important Conn Smythe.

Kucherov has had great playoff runs but the fact that he never won one highlights that he played alongside some very strong playoff performers who he wasn't able to outshine.

 

[Connor McConnor]

Malkin has two Art Ross trophies.

Kucherov winning this year would pull him even with Malkin in scoring titles.

If Kucherov won the Hart and Lindsay, that would put him ahead of Malkin in regular season awards.

Malkin also has a Calder, which isn't important in the grand scheme of things but can be used to highlight that Malkin was an elite player from his first season.

Malkin was top 20 in NHL scoring in his first season.

Kucherov didn't crack top 20 in NHL scoring until his fourth season (where he finished top 5).

Malkin also has one more Cup than Kucherov and the ever important Conn Smythe.

Kucherov has had great playoff runs but the fact that he never won one highlights that he played alongside some very strong playoff performers who he wasn't able to outshine.

Can we do eye test now? Or have any sense of context without having to justify our entire argument on stats. Any reasonable person who has truly watched both players play their entire careers with their own eyes would put Malkin in another tier let alone a few spots on the all time rankings.

 

[olli]

Kucherovs prime will end up being longer and more consistent but Malkin probably had a higher peak.

 

[Crow]

Malkin slows down in the playoffs including his one outstanding performance. Kucherov does not nearly as much. I’d take the better playoff performer since both have a long track record

 

[Connor McConnor]

Malkin slows down in the playoffs including his one outstanding performance. Kucherov does not nearly as much. I’d take the better playoff performer since both have a long track record

Dude have you heard of context? When has Kuch carried a below average roster and won a Hart and Art Ross? When has Kuch ever had a below top 5 roster? Who entered the NHL as a true rookie and dominated vs. needed multiple more years of development?

One guy is a generational player who ran into Ovi and Crosby the other is a guy who has 5 contemporaries

 

[KareemTrustfund]

Malkin slows down in the playoffs including his one outstanding performance. Kucherov does not nearly as much. I’d take the better playoff performer since both have a long track record

Malkin alongside Sid is probably the best playoff performer of the last 25 - 30 years. Kucherovs playoff runs are about equal to the 27 Malkin put up in 2017, before the goalie gear shrinkage when the amount of PPG players quadrupled in 2018.

Not to turn this into an era debate, but It’s not a coincidence Kucherov, Mackinnon, Drai exploded after that. And probably why despite the higher regular season numbers nobody really considers Kucherov on the level of Sid, Ovie or Malkin.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

I think Malkin was more dominant at his peak but Kucherov might end up with a better career, especially if he manages to nab another art ross.

Malkin torched the league with Talbot and Fedotenko as his wings. And his numbers are actually significantly higher with Crosby out of the lineup.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Malkin, but it's close.

Those acting like it's not, are goofs.

 

[KareemTrustfund]

Malkin, but it's close.

Those acting like it's not, are goofs.

It’s not

 

[bobholly39]

I think Malkin was the better player at his best (close though, Kucherov is amazing).

But if you ask me who will end up with the stronger prime? I think there's a very good chance its Kucherov. Its already close, and Kucherov seems poised to keep adding more.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

It’s not

You just made the list.