SeanMoneyHands
Registered User
- Apr 18, 2019
- 13,231
- 11,259
Kucherov's peak wasnt better then Ovi/Crosby peak.
Malkin's was.
I agree with the mindset that Malkin reached a gear higher than those two (very briefly).
But I’m also struggling with why 100 assists and 144 points wouldn’t equal or surpass any of Ovechkin and Crosby’s top campaigns either.
2024 - 10th in goals | 2024 - 10th in points | |
2023/2024: | 44 | 98 |
Ovi | 63% | 29% |
Malkin | 39% | 40% |
Kucherov | 0% | 47% |
Crosby | 6% | 32% |
Ovi | 72 | 126 |
Malkin | 61 | 137 |
Kucherov | 44 | 144 |
Crosby | 47 | 129 |
Points | Goals | |||||
Kucherov | 144 | 1 | 69 | -36% | ||
2 | 138 | 4% | 2 | 57 | -23% | |
5 | 110 | 31% | 5 | 49 | -10% | |
10 | 98 | 47% | Kucherov | 44 | ||
30 | 77 | 87% | 30 | 33 | 33% |
Points | Goals | |||||
Ovechkin | 112 | Ovechkin | 65 | |||
2 | 106 | 6% | 2 | 52 | 25% | |
5 | 96 | 17% | 5 | 43 | 51% | |
10 | 87 | 29% | 10 | 40 | 63% | |
30 | 72 | 56% | 30 | 29 | 124% |
Points | Goals | |||||
Malkin | 109 | 1 | 60 | -17% | ||
2 | 97 | 12% | Malkin | 50 | ||
5 | 83 | 31% | 5 | 38 | 32% | |
10 | 78 | 40% | 10 | 36 | 39% | |
30 | 67 | 63% | 30 | 30 | 67% |
Points | Goals | |||||
Crosby | 104 | 1 | 51 | -29% | ||
2 | 87 | 20% | 2 | 43 | -16% | |
5 | 82 | 27% | 5 | 37 | -3% | |
10 | 79 | 32% | Crosby | 36 | ||
30 | 65 | 60% | 10 | 34 | 6% | |
30 | 28 | 29% |
63 goal and 138 point pace in this year’s environment with the linemates he had (and no Crosby) gives me the inclination to pick Malkin. I went to a bunch of games that year and Malkin was utterly dominant. When I look at the stats adjusted to 2024 his year was on par/better than 1987-88 and 1996-97 Mario Lemieux. 1.63 for 88 and 1.67 for 97 Mario. So beginning and end of prime years for Lemieux was what peak Malkin was essentially equal to. When I saw him I got flashed back to those days as well (more 87-88) and to me I take that guy over Nikita. Malkin’s peak season was incredible.Malkin - 75 GP: 58 G, 68 A, 126 P (1.68)
Kucherov - 81 GP: 44 G, 100 A, 144 P (1.78)
That's how they compare adjusted to this seasons scoring levels, SH, PK and ES adjusted separately (borrowed from WalterLundy in the Kucherov vs. Jagr thread)
Once again, anyone thinking Kucherov's season is undeniably better (not saying he has no argument at all but rather saying Malkin doesn't have one) based on the raw totals is really selling Malkin short because once again having watched both, I think Malkin was firmly the better player based on linemates, far less empty net points, and just overall dominance carrying the play and his edge in goal scoring. He was almost as good a goal scorer as Stamkos that season per game while being far and away the best offensive player. Compare that to Kucherov this season who has 37 goals on a goalie and plays with Point, Hedman and Stamkos on the powerplay instead of Letang, Neal and Crosby on the powerplay for 22 games.