SeanMoneyHands
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- Apr 18, 2019
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Has Kucherov's peak matched Malkin's peak?
- Thread starter SeanMoneyHands
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BraveCanadian
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- Jun 30, 2010
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I think at this point Kucherov's peak is probably better?
It isn't like Malkin added much beyond offense.
It isn't like Malkin added much beyond offense.
CanadienShark
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Video Nasty
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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.
filinski77
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- Feb 12, 2017
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Imo - purely based on the 2 points:
1) Scoring is a lot higher now than in any of Crosby/Ovi/Malkins peak. Can't compare raw numbers
2) All 3 were better goal scorers than Kucherov was. In the case of Malkin/Ovi, they were significantly better goal scorers.
Note that it's hard to compare Crosby's peak season, as his first Ross, he was not an elite goal scorer, and then his peak-play level he missed a bunch of time so didn't win the Ross.
But if you adjust Ovi/Malkin/Crosby's best season (full-season) to have the same level of dominance over 10th place as Kucherov, you finish off as below. Kucherov with indeed the best level of dominance over 10th place, but Malkin and Ovechkin were just so much more dominant of goalscorers. Really makes it hard to compare. Obviously this was a remarkable season for Kuch, but not easy to say any one was better than another.
| 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 |
Kucherov:
| 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% |
Ovechkin:
| 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% |
Malkin:
| 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% |
Crosby:
| 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% |
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.
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.
WalterLundy
Registered User
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.
