Art Ross winners - largest margins of victory

TheDevilMadeMe

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First a technical note: The Art Ross was first awarded for the 1947-48 season, but I am including the scoring leaders for all NHL seasons.

Disclaimer: Competition isn't taken into account. Obviously, Wayne Gretzky at #2 in 1989 is a lot tougher than Teemu Selanne at #2 in 1999.

Everyone who won an NHL scoring title by more than 15% is included in the following table:

year | player | margin | percentage
1987 | Wayne Gretzky | 183-108 | 41.0
1984 | Wayne Gretzky | 205-126 | 38.5
1983 | Wayne Gretzky | 196-124 | 36.7
1985 | Wayne Gretzky | 208-135 | 35.1
1986 | Wayne Gretzky | 212-141 | 34.4
1982 | Wayne Gretzky | 212-147 | 30.7
1941 | Bill Cowley | 62-44 | 29.0
1953 | Gordie Howe | 95-71 | 25.3
1928 | Howie Morenz | 51-39 | 23.5
1951 | Gordie Howe | 86-66 | 23.3
1973 | Phil Esposito | 130-104 | 20.0
1952 | Gordie Howe | 86-69 | 19.8
1991 | Wayne Gretzky | 163-131 | 19.6
1966 | Bobby Hull | 97-78 | 19.6
1981 | Wayne Gretzky |164-135 | 17.7
1967 | Stan Mikita | 97-80 | 17.5
1935 | Charlie Conacher | 57-47 | 17.5
1970 | Bobby Orr | 120-99 | 17.5
1954 | Gordie Howe | 81-67 | 17.3
1940 | Milt Schmidt | 52-43 | 17.3
2014 | Sidney Crosby | 104-87 | 16.3
2016 | Patrick Kane | 106 - 89 | 16.0
1974 | Phil Esposito | 145-122 | 15.9
1999 | Jaromir Jagr | 127-107 | 15.7
1989 | Mario Lemieux | 199-168 | 15.6
1922 | Punch Broadbent | 46-39 | 15.2
1919 | Newsy Lalonde | 33-28 |15.2
1930 | Cooney Weiland | 73-62 | 15.1
1969 | Phil Esposito | 126-107 | 15.1

Notes:
  • 8 of Gretzky's 10 Art Rosses were by more than 15%
  • 4 of Howe's 6 Art Rosses were by more than 15%
  • 3 of Esposito's 5 Art Rosses were by more than 15%
  • One-timers before World War 2: Cowley, Morenz, Conacher, Schmidt, Broadbent, Lalonde, Weiland
  • One-timers after World War 2: Hull, Mikita, Orr, Jagr, Lemieux , Crosby, Kane
  • It was obviously easier to lead the league by a higher percentage before WW2, when the seasons were shorter and seasonal totals were lower.
  • Lemieux won 6 Art Rosses, but only 1 by a 15%+ margin. Two reasons: Gretzky & injuries.
  • Teammates who led the league in scoring by wide margins in back-to-back years: Schmidt/Cowley, Hull/Mikita, Orr/Esposito
 
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TheDevilMadeMe

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Aug 28, 2006
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As for the margins of victory by the "big 4," here is a repost of FissionFire's work during the 2008 Top 100 project. I corrected an error with his calculation of Howe's 1952-53 numbers. Otherwise, this is basically a cut and paste job.

Gordie Howe
1950-51: 23.26% scoring margin (86 to 66) Age: 22
1951-52: 19.75% scoring margin (86 to 69) Age: 23
1952-53: 25.26% scoring margin (95 to 71) Age: 24
1953-54: 17.28% scoring margin (81 to 67) Age: 25
1956-57: 4.49% scoring margin (89 to 85) Age: 28
1962-63: 5.81% scoring margin (86 to 81) Age: 34

Wayne Gretzky
1980-81: 17.68% scoring margin (164 to 135) Age: 19
1981-82: 30.66% scoring margin (212 to 147) Age: 20
1982-83: 36.73% scoring margin (196 to 124) Age: 21
1983-84: 38.54% scoring margin (205 to 126) Age: 22
1984-85: 35.10% scoring margin (208 to 135) Age: 23
1985-86: 34.42% scoring margin (212 to 141) Age: 24
1986-87: 40.98% scoring margin (183 to 108) Age: 25
1989-90: 9.15% scoring margin (142 to 129) Age: 28
1990-91: 19.63% scoring margin (163 to 131) Age: 29
1993-94: 7.69% scoring margin (130 to 120) Age: 32

Mario Lemieux
1987-88: 11.31% scoring margin (168 to 149) Age: 21
1988-89: 15.58% scoring margin (199 to 168) Age: 22
1991-92: 6.11% scoring margin (131 to 123) Age: 25
1992-93: 7.50% scoring margin (160 to 148) Age: 26
1995-96: 7.45% scoring margin (161 to 149) Age: 29
1996-97: 10.66% scoring margin (122 to 109) Age: 30

Bobby Orr
1969-70: 17.50% scoring margin (120 to 99) Age: 21
1974-75: 5.93% scoring margin (135 to 127) Age: 26
 

silkyjohnson50

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Jan 10, 2007
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Thanks for posting.

Gretzky... Yeah, enough said.

Howe's 51-54 stretch is also very impressive. 2nd greatest offensive peak ever?
 

TheDevilMadeMe

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Thanks for posting.

Gretzky... Yeah, enough said.

Howe's 51-54 stretch is also very impressive. 2nd greatest offensive peak ever?

I think I would still give 2nd greatest offensive peak to Lemieux. I think that once you account for Gretzky and injuries, Lemieux's advantage over his peers is similar to Howe's. But Howe's peak was spent with Red Kelly, the best offensive defenseman in the world and Ted Lindsay, probably the 3rd best offensive forward in the world behind Howe himself and Maurice Richard.

But yes, when you consider all-round game, there is a very good reason to pick Howe's peak over Lemieux's.
 

LeBlondeDemon10

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Jul 10, 2010
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If nothing else, Espo has to get a little more respect even if he played with Orr. He just knew how to score. I'm surprised his name hasn't come up in the greatest goal scorers poll. Is Howe the oldest player (34) to win the Art Ross?
 

Plural

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If nothing else, Espo has to get a little more respect even if he played with Orr. He just knew how to score. I'm surprised his name hasn't come up in the greatest goal scorers poll. Is Howe the oldest player (34) to win the Art Ross?

Well, St.Louis won last season. So I would think he is if Howe is 2nd oldest.

Espo gets maybe too much negatives for playing with Orr. He was one of the best offensive players ever, no matter how we look at it.
 

steve141

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Aug 13, 2009
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I think I would still give 2nd greatest offensive peak to Lemieux. I think that once you account for Gretzky and injuries, Lemieux's advantage over his peers is similar to Howe's. But Howe's peak was spent with Red Kelly, the best offensive defenseman in the world and Ted Lindsay, probably the 3rd best offensive forward in the world behind Howe himself and Maurice Richard.

But yes, when you consider all-round game, there is a very good reason to pick Howe's peak over Lemieux's.

Didn't Lemieux have the exact same situation (best offensive defenceman, 3rd best forward) on his team? You could argue that they didn't peak at the same time, but on the other hand their offensive peaks were higher.
 

Hawkey Town 18

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Didn't Lemieux have the exact same situation (best offensive defenceman, 3rd best forward) on his team? You could argue that they didn't peak at the same time, but on the other hand their offensive peaks were higher.

Who's the forward? Jagr wasn't even close to 3rd best in the league when Coffey was there
 

Pominville Knows

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Percentages against the second best scorer is all fluky. Compare them to the tenth best or something, that would actually mean something. Or preferably in a 30 team league against the 30th best, in a 21 team against the 21th best, all to adjust for the added first line minutes on the ice that has popped up during expansion.
 
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Fred Taylor

The Cyclone
Sep 20, 2011
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First a technical note: The Art Ross was first awarded for the 1947-48 season, but I am including the scoring leaders for all NHL seasons.

Disclaimer: Competition isn't taken into account. Obviously, Wayne Gretzky at #2 in 1989 is a lot tougher than Teemu Selanne at #2 in 1999.

Everyone who won an NHL scoring title by more than 15% is included in the following table:

year | player | margin | percentage
1987 | Wayne Gretzky | 183-108 | 41.0
1984 | Wayne Gretzky | 205-126 | 38.5
1983 | Wayne Gretzky | 196-124 | 36.7
1985 | Wayne Gretzky | 208-135 | 35.1
1986 | Wayne Gretzky | 215 -141 | 34.4
1982 | Wayne Gretzky | 212-147 | 30.7
1941 | Bill Cowley | 62-44 | 29.0
1953 | Gordie Howe | 95-71 | 25.3
1928 | Howie Morenz | 51-39 | 23.5
1951 | Gordie Howe | 86-66 | 23.3
1973 | Phil Esposito | 130-104 | 20.0
1952 | Gordie Howe | 86-69 | 19.8
1991 | Wayne Gretzky | 163-131 | 19.6
1966 | Bobby Hull | 97-78 | 19.6
1981 | Wayne Gretzky |164-135 | 17.7
1967 | Stan Mikita | 97-80 | 17.5
1935 | Charlie Conacher | 57-47 | 17.5
1970 | Bobby Orr | 120-99 | 17.5
1954 | Gordie Howe | 81-67 | 17.3
1940 | Milt Schmidt | 52-43 | 17.3
1974 | Phil Esposito | 145-122 | 15.9
1999 | Jaromir Jagr | 127-107 | 15.7
1989 | Mario Lemieux | 199-168 | 15.6
1922 | Punch Broadbent | 46-39 | 15.2
1919 | Newsy Lalonde | 33-28 |15.2
1930 | Cooney Weiland | 73-62 | 15.1
1969 | Phil Esposito | 126-107 | 15.1

Notes:
  • 8 of Gretzky's 10 Art Rosses were by more than 15%
  • 4 of Howe's 6 Art Rosses were by more than 15%
  • 3 of Esposito's 5 Art Rosses were by more than 15%
  • One-timers before World War 2: Cowley, Morenz, Conacher, Schmidt, Broadbent, Lalonde, Weiland
  • One-timers after World War 2: Hull, Mikita, Orr, Jagr, Lemieux
  • It was obviously easier to lead the league by a higher percentage before WW2, when the seasons were shorter and seasonal totals were lower.
  • Lemieux won 6 Art Rosses, but only 1 by a 15%+ margin. Two reasons: Gretzky & injuries.
  • Teammates who led the league in scoring by wide margins in back-to-back years: Schmidt/Cowley, Hull/Mikita, Orr/Esposito

Fixed that 1986 year. Not sure if you put in 215 when you calculated the percentages.

It's unreal by how much Gretzky dominated, and how many times he did it. Lemieux's margins of victory would be a lot more impressive if he was healthier, but it's still interesting that it seems as though someone else was also scoring a ridiculous point total the years Lemieux did.
 

TheDevilMadeMe

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Percentages against the second best scorer is all fluky. Compare them to the tenth best or something, that would actually mean something. Or preferably in a 30 team league against the 30th best, in a 21 team against the 21th best, all to adjust for the added first line minutes on the ice that has popped up during expansion.

I realize that the value of the second best scorer fluctuates, but I'm really not interested in a measure based off league size, where #6 in 1966 = #12 in 1967
 

amnesiac

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Jul 10, 2010
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this is the stat of stats, imo.

the only case in which that may be "deceiving" is if you had 2 dominating players throughout a long period. So in that case we would've have to have seen the % from 2nd to 3rd.
 

Hawkey Town 18

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this is the stat of stats, imo.

the only case in which that may be "deceiving" is if you had 2 dominating players throughout a long period. So in that case we would've have to have seen the % from 2nd to 3rd.

It's not the % from 1st to 2nd, it's std dev from a 100 player mean, one other dominating player will barely change anything.
 

Stonefly

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Would be interesting to see this broken down by position. Centres against centres, LW against LW etc... Largest margins of victory by position.
 

steve141

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Aug 13, 2009
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Who's the forward? Jagr wasn't even close to 3rd best in the league when Coffey was there

You know what I mean. Hence my comment that they didn't peak at the same time.

The point is that Howe didn't necessarily have more help than Lemieux.
 

kmad

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Jun 16, 2003
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I wish you history people would get together for a blog and post these things to a static page so I could submit them to reddit hockey.
 

Plural

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Mar 10, 2011
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You know what I mean. Hence my comment that they didn't peak at the same time.

The point is that Howe didn't necessarily have more help than Lemieux.

I think Howe definitely had more help than Lemieux. But his competition was also tougher.
 

Eisen

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Sep 30, 2009
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And this is the reason it makes me sad when I read about the big3. Orr, Gretz and Mario. Howe seems forgotten by many fans.
 

Pominville Knows

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I realize that the value of the second best scorer fluctuates, but I'm really not interested in a measure based off league size, where #6 in 1966 = #12 in 1967

So, you dont agree that double the amount of first line minutes in the league will give more high scoring forwards, defenders as well obviously?

this is the stat of stats, imo.

the only case in which that may be "deceiving" is if you had 2 dominating players throughout a long period. So in that case we would've have to have seen the % from 2nd to 3rd.

I dont think so. It also becomes deceiving if the league simply miss a dominant second best player. And since percentages against the second best really comes down to this, then perhaps we need to look at Gretzkys opposition, where they actually not as great after all compared other eras? I also see a big problem with players teammates finishing as clear seconds to these greats, such as Esposito for Orr, Lindsay for Howe, and Jagr for Lemieux. This aside from numerous other problems present, such as Lemieux missed games each season, Kurris missed games compared to Gretzky, and Orr being a defenseman compared here straight up against forwards.
 
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pnep

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Mar 10, 2004
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Would be interesting to see this broken down by position. Centres against centres, LW against LW etc... Largest margins of victory by position.

Player|SEASON|Franch.|POS|Games|GOALS|AST|PTS|%
Denneny Cy|1918-19|OTT1|LW|18|18|4|22|45.45%
Mcdonald Jack|1918-19|MTL|LW|17|8|4|12|
Hull Bobby|1965-66|CHI|LW|65|54|43|97|41.24%
Bucyk John|1965-66|BOS|LW|63|27|30|57|
Moore Dickie|1958-59|MTL|LW|70|41|55|96|37.50%
Bucyk John|1958-59|BOS|LW|69|24|36|60|
Hull Bobby|1963-64|CHI|LW|70|43|44|87|36.78%
Henry Camille|1963-64|NYR|LW|68|29|26|55|
Lindsay Ted|1952-53|DET|LW|70|32|39|71|36.62%
Olmstead Bert|1952-53|MTL|LW|69|17|28|45|
Moore Dickie|1957-58|MTL|LW|70|36|48|84|33.33%
Henry Camille|1957-58|NYR|LW|70|32|24|56|
Denneny Cy|1922-23|OTT1|LW|24|23|11|34|32.35%
Noble Reg|1922-23|TOR|LW|24|12|11|23|
Lindsay Ted|1956-57|DET|LW|70|30|55|85|31.76%
Moore Dickie|1956-57|MTL|LW|70|29|29|58|
Denneny Cy|1920-21|OTT1|LW|24|34|5|39|30.77%
Noble Reg|1920-21|TOR|LW|24|19|8|27|
Shutt Steve|1976-77|MTL|LW|80|60|45|105|29.52%
Williams Tom C.|1976-77|LA|LW|80|35|39|74|
||||||||
Esposito Phil|1970-71|BOS|C|78|76|76|152|44.08%
Ullman Norm|1970-71|TOR|C|73|34|51|85|
Gretzky Wayne|1983-84|EDM|C|74|87|118|205|41.95%
Stastny Peter|1983-84|COL|C|80|46|73|119|
Gretzky Wayne|1986-87|EDM|C|79|62|121|183|41.53%
Lemieux Mario|1986-87|PIT|C|63|54|53|107|
Esposito Phil|1973-74|BOS|C|78|68|77|145|40.00%
Clarke Bobby|1973-74|PHI|C|77|35|52|87|
Gretzky Wayne|1984-85|EDM|C|80|73|135|208|37.50%
Hawerchuk Dale|1984-85|PHO|C|80|53|77|130|
Gretzky Wayne|1982-83|EDM|C|80|71|125|196|36.73%
Stastny Peter|1982-83|COL|C|75|47|77|124|
Gretzky Wayne|1981-82|EDM|C|80|92|120|212|34.43%
Stastny Peter|1981-82|COL|C|80|46|93|139|
Gretzky Wayne|1985-86|EDM|C|80|52|163|215|34.42%
Lemieux Mario|1985-86|PIT|C|79|48|93|141|
Morenz Howie|1927-28|MTL|C|43|33|18|51|31.37%
Boucher Frank|1927-28|NYR|C|44|23|12|35|
Beliveau Jean|1958-59|MTL|C|64|45|46|91|30.77%
Sullivan Red|1958-59|NYR|C|70|21|42|63|
||||||||
Howe Gordie|1951-52|DET|RW|70|47|39|86|37.21%
Geoffrion Bernie|1951-52|MTL|RW|67|30|24|54|
Howe Gordie|1952-53|DET|RW|70|49|46|95|35.79%
Richard Maurice|1952-53|MTL|RW|70|28|33|61|
Cleghorn Odie|1918-19|MTL|RW|17|22|6|28|35.71%
Pitre Didier|1918-19|MTL|RW|17|14|4|18|
Dye Babe|1920-21|TOR|RW|24|35|5|40|35.00%
Darragh Jack|1920-21|OTT1|RW|24|11|15|26|
Dye Babe|1924-25|TOR|RW|29|38|8|46|34.78%
Boucher Billy|1924-25|MTL|RW|30|17|13|30|
Lafleur Guy|1976-77|MTL|RW|80|56|80|136|33.82%
Mcdonald Lanny|1976-77|TOR|RW|80|46|44|90|
Lafleur Guy|1977-78|MTL|RW|78|60|72|132|31.06%
Bossy Mike|1977-78|NYI|RW|73|53|38|91|
Cook Bill|1932-33|NYR|RW|48|28|22|50|30.00%
Gagnon Johnny|1932-33|MTL|RW|48|12|23|35|
Bailey Ace I.|1928-29|TOR|RW|44|22|10|32|28.13%
Cook Bill|1928-29|NYR|RW|43|15|8|23|
Bossy Mike|1981-82|NYI|RW|80|64|83|147|27.89%
Ciccarelli Dino|1981-82|DAL|RW|76|55|51|106|
||||||||
Orr Bobby|1969-70|BOS|D|76|33|87|120|63.33%
Mckenny Jim|1969-70|TOR|D|73|11|33|44|
Orr Bobby|1970-71|BOS|D|78|37|102|139|54.68%
Tremblay J.C.|1970-71|MTL|D|76|11|52|63|
Orr Bobby|1972-73|BOS|D|63|29|72|101|46.53%
Lapointe Guy|1972-73|MTL|D|76|19|35|54|
Orr Bobby|1974-75|BOS|D|80|46|89|135|43.70%
Potvin Denis|1974-75|NYI|D|79|21|55|76|
Pilote Pierre|1964-65|CHI|D|68|14|45|59|40.68%
Green Ted|1964-65|BOS|D|70|8|27|35|
Coffey Paul|1985-86|EDM|D|79|48|90|138|40.58%
Howe Mark|1985-86|PHI|D|77|24|58|82|
Orr Bobby|1971-72|BOS|D|76|37|80|117|37.61%
Park Brad|1971-72|NYR|D|75|24|49|73|
Coffey Paul|1988-89|PIT|D|75|30|83|113|33.63%
Duchesne Steve|1988-89|LA|D|79|25|50|75|
Kelly Red|1950-51|DET|D|70|17|37|54|33.33%
Thomson James R.|1950-51|TOR|D|69|3|33|36|
Orr Bobby|1973-74|BOS|D|74|32|90|122|32.79%
Park Brad|1973-74|NYR|D|78|25|57|82|
 

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