Nobody has mentioned that Kucherov with 16pts in 5 games recently has just claimed the scoring title. its over, absolutely, and Connor isn't getting that margin back, even a healthy Connor isn't making up that stagger. Kuch now has 99pts and a staggering 16pt lead over Connor who is having an ordinary year by his own standards. Even Patrick Kane has 7pts more than Connor in a reborn year.
I don't think Connor matches his total of 108pts last season. Now it may seem odd to see his 2nd best season as not all that great. But one has to consider how much scoring has amplified this season.
That Connor is 3rd in scoring, 16pts off the pace is putting a bit of a pause on Generational player talk. Really given the ramp up in scoring this year Connor should be having a 125pt season. Somebody could reach that mark this season, it looks like.
Looking at the sum of the work this season I have a bit of concern that Connor didn't get better this season. Not as much as Drai and Nuge did. While Connor continues to have all kinds of jump and blinding speed his finish is holding him back. His conversion on scoring chances is not exceptional this season. I've stated that the challenges this season could result in Connor coming back more determined, and I suspect he will, I think he has some things to work on and he's fallen into some of the Hall type frustration impeding him just a bit. Pissed off McD used to bring more results. That's not working for him anymore. He's kind of grinding his gears.
McD getting into a groove where stress may even be taking a bit of a toll on him physically. Getting ill a lot is sometimes a sign of stress wearing the body down. Toews really struggled for years with this in Chicago and it cut short the Hawks dynasty. Toews contracted two very stubborn respiratory infections a few seasons ago and has never come close to getting back to his game. One season Toews stated he felt like he could hardly breathe on the bench. Hockey players are so susceptible to this. This season and last I note that Connor has had extended times of feeling not well, enough that it kept him out of the Allstar game and a couple other games. This too mirrors Toews who was so sick he had to miss an Allstar game.
Anyway that's just me thinking out loud. I hope people don't read wrong things in that.