Kucherov wins his 2nd Art Ross!! Joins Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr & McDavid in '100 Assists Club'!!

[The Gongshow]

Scrub MacKinnon couldn't even get 6 points when it mattered. Smdh.

 

[These Are The Days]

1.78 vs 1.74. Excuses excuses. He played 76 games and lost period.

Funny how no one mentions Kucherov lost basically 2 years of his prime to injuries and a shortened season too

 

[Bobby9]

Amazing. A player who can get it done on the regular season and the playoffs. A real hall of famer.

 

[AndreRoy]

Gretz was sor far ahead of the rest.......nobody before or since was that much better than the rest of the league.
I chuckle at the guys today who try to diminish that. It just tells me they were not around then.

I was around then but I still have to laugh every time I see some stat about “the only players ever to ______” and it’s two guys who did it once, Lemieux who did it twice, and then Gretzky who did it eight times. I mean it’s just absurd how dominant that guy was.

 

[Coffey]

Excuses? Excuses on behalf of whom? I was just stating a fact, I'm a Leafs fan.

That dude is just the biggest anti-McDavid antagonist on HF.
He doesn't care who you cheer for, you became a target because you seemingly defended 97!

 

[flying squirrel]

Gretz was sor far ahead of the rest.......nobody before or since was that much better than the rest of the league.
I chuckle at the guys today who try to diminish that. It just tells me they were not around then.

Agree, what player has done or is doing -vs- their era of players is correct standard to use: when judging players historical worth. Any player during that era, or any era, had/has same opportunities to do special things. Gretzky did out-of-this-world achievements compared to his peers. That hasn't been seen since.... "The Great One" is on a tier by himself when it comes to who separated themselves from their era's pack. Anyone trying to diss what Gretzky did -vs- any era will sound ignorant to facts, silly, or ate-up for whatever reasoning.

Players today who could somewhat reach Gretzky's greatness

• Kucherov has what it takes, but doubt we see him on any other NHL teams. So we won't see if Kuch could lead other team to playoff greatness (Think he would, but.....). Plus, Kucherov has sweet stats, but needs more insane individual stats to even be mentioned with Gretzky. Kuch has got Gretzky playoff pedigree going on though. As a Lightning fan: feel very fortunate to watch what Kucherov and teammates have done and still do. Most likely feel just like others fans of these NHL stars do.
• McDavid is probably one who could get there best, but...... Gretzky carried any team he was on to success during post-season. McDavid is an individual stat machine, but needs more playoff & "Cup" pedigree to even be mentioned within same sentence with Gretzky greatness. As I just finish up mentioning both McDavid and Kucherov in same sentence as Gretzky greatness. Hopefully everyone understands what I'm trying to say.... lol
• MacKinnon could reach it also if he continues stat path. But he's got to carry his team through playoffs more so. Those playoff short-comings from around 2018-2022, when Ave's were everyone's "Cup" favorites yr & yr out. Hurt MacKinnon NHL street credibility, especially with Ave's not even making deep runs to boot those years.
• Ovi & Crosby gave it a great go, but don't think there's enough road left on their tracks, to reach Gretzky level of greatness -vs- peers. Both are NHL legends without question though. Like all the above are too, but...............
• What the heck am I saying, just tried convincing myself others could do it. But..... no one is reaching Gretzky greatness! Must be dreaming right now or on something really strong. Or maybe both?

 

[Absolut]

The guy who isn't the biggest, strongest, fittest, fastest etc keeps dominating by being the smartest.

 

[abax44]

The NHL cannot be not happy with this outcome with 2 golden boys at 2nd and 3rd.

It's weird to think the NHL panders to Canadians in terms of needing it's top talent(s) to be Canadian, but then wants it's teams/audience to be American... no?

You'd think they'd be more concerned with getting Matthews to 70 g, Hughes to 80 a, Miller to 110 p (top 5), and Helle to 40 w's.

 

[Voight]

Players who have led their team in scoring by 50+ points

Player	Season	Team	Margin
Doug Gilmour	1993	Toronto	53
Guy Lafleur	1979	Montreal	52
Joe Sakic	1991	Quebec	50
Mario Lemieux	1986	Pittsburgh	58
Mario Lemieux	1988	Pittsburgh	89
Mario Lemieux	1989	Pittsburgh	84
Nikita Kucherov	2024	Tampa Bay	54
Paul Kariya	1996	Anaheim	64
Pavel Bure	2001	Florida	55
Steve Yzerman	1989	Detroit	62
Wayne Gretzky	1981	Edmonton	89
Wayne Gretzky	1982	Edmonton	107
Wayne Gretzky	1983	Edmonton	90
Wayne Gretzky	1984	Edmonton	89
Wayne Gretzky	1985	Edmonton	73
Wayne Gretzky	1986	Edmonton	77
Wayne Gretzky	1987	Edmonton	75
Wayne Gretzky	1991	Los Angeles	72

In all of NHL history, there have only been 18 instances where a player has led his team in scoring by 50+ points (Gretzky has eight of those - everyone else in NHL history has ten).

Close calls: Lemieux (1993), Ovechkin (2006), Dennis Maruk (1982) - 49 points each

I feel like most of Gretzky's records read like this (bolded).

Kucherovs been on a helluva run since 2017. Injuries in 2021 + 2022 result in a weird aberration of his peak but still impressive nonetheless.

 

[Voight]

Random Note: this is the 11th straight season a CHL alumni won the scoring title, after a stretch of six seasons where the winner played in Europe.

 

[34]

That is awesome! Kuch is a beast of a player!

 

[klefbombs shoulder]

Players today who could somewhat reach Gretzky's greatness

• Kucherov has what it takes, but doubt we see him on any other NHL teams. So we won't see if Kuch could lead other team to playoff greatness (Think he would, but.....). Plus, Kucherov has sweet stats, but needs more insane individual stats to even be mentioned with Gretzky. Kuch has got Gretzky playoff pedigree going on though. As a Lightning fan: feel very fortunate to watch what Kucherov and teammates have done and still do. Most likely feel just like others fans of these NHL stars do.
• McDavid is probably one who could get there best, but...... Gretzky carried any team he was on to success during post-season. McDavid is an individual stat machine, but needs more playoff & "Cup" pedigree to even be mentioned within same sentence with Gretzky greatness. As I just finish up mentioning both McDavid and Kucherov in same sentence as Gretzky greatness. Hopefully everyone understands what I'm trying to say.... lol
• MacKinnon could reach it also if he continues stat path. But he's got to carry his team through playoffs more so. Those playoff short-comings from around 2018-2022, when Ave's were everyone's "Cup" favorites yr & yr out. Hurt MacKinnon NHL street credibility, especially with Ave's not even making deep runs to boot those years.
• Ovi & Crosby gave it a great go, but don't think there's enough road left on their tracks, to reach Gretzky level of greatness -vs- peers. Both are NHL legends without question though. Like all the above are too, but...............
• What the heck am I saying, just tried convincing myself others could do it. But..... no one is reaching Gretzky greatness! Must be dreaming right now or on something really strong. Or maybe both?

I don't think any of these players can be mentioned in the same breath as Gretzky.

 

[Rschmitz]

I don't think any of these players can be mentioned in the same breath as Gretzky.

OV's the only guy because he will actually break one of Gretzky's records

 

[klefbombs shoulder]

OV's the only guy because he will actually break one of Gretzky's records

Even if Ovi gets to 895 he is still a much lesser player than Gretzky was.

 

[Stammertime91]

Even if Ovi gets to 895 he is still a much lesser player than Gretzky was.

I don't think anybody would disagree but in the sense of goal scoring, if Ovechkin gets the record, "in the same breath," is no longer a consideration but a reality.

He's probably going to get it, but the conclusion won't be that he surpasses Wayne as a player.

 

[Rschmitz]

Even if Ovi gets to 895 he is still a much lesser player than Gretzky was.

Thought we were talking about records, nobody living now or in the future will ever compare to Gretzky overall

 

[PaulD]

Agree, what player has done or is doing -vs- their era of players is correct standard to use: when judging players historical worth. Any player during that era, or any era, had/has same opportunities to do special things. Gretzky did out-of-this-world achievements compared to his peers. That hasn't been seen since.... "The Great One" is on a tier by himself when it comes to who separated themselves from their era's pack. Anyone trying to diss what Gretzky did -vs- any era will sound ignorant to facts, silly, or ate-up for whatever reasoning.

Players today who could somewhat reach Gretzky's greatness

• Kucherov has what it takes, but doubt we see him on any other NHL teams. So we won't see if Kuch could lead other team to playoff greatness (Think he would, but.....). Plus, Kucherov has sweet stats, but needs more insane individual stats to even be mentioned with Gretzky. Kuch has got Gretzky playoff pedigree going on though. As a Lightning fan: feel very fortunate to watch what Kucherov and teammates have done and still do. Most likely feel just like others fans of these NHL stars do.
• McDavid is probably one who could get there best, but...... Gretzky carried any team he was on to success during post-season. McDavid is an individual stat machine, but needs more playoff & "Cup" pedigree to even be mentioned within same sentence with Gretzky greatness. As I just finish up mentioning both McDavid and Kucherov in same sentence as Gretzky greatness. Hopefully everyone understands what I'm trying to say.... lol
• MacKinnon could reach it also if he continues stat path. But he's got to carry his team through playoffs more so. Those playoff short-comings from around 2018-2022, when Ave's were everyone's "Cup" favorites yr & yr out. Hurt MacKinnon NHL street credibility, especially with Ave's not even making deep runs to boot those years.
• Ovi & Crosby gave it a great go, but don't think there's enough road left on their tracks, to reach Gretzky level of greatness -vs- peers. Both are NHL legends without question though. Like all the above are too, but...............
• What the heck am I saying, just tried convincing myself others could do it. But..... no one is reaching Gretzky greatness! Must be dreaming right now or on something really strong. Or maybe both?

Excellent post.
Cheers

 

[These Are The Days]

It was like 1-6AM my guy...

Yeah....the time had nothing to do with it. We've gone all day and have cracked all of like 20 responses. HF is mad and deliberately just ignoring that this ever happened. That's exactly why I pointed it out. Had MacKinnon edged out Kucherov with Kucherov not getting the 100 assists HF would have had an all night bender.

 

[Video Nasty]

Have never seen this level of paranoia from fans of a franchise who have seen so much recent success at a team and individual level.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

I was told I was wrong and it was not possible when I said Mcdavid might not win the ross this year. As soon as kuch opened up a 10 point lead I knew it was game over. He is no stranger to outscoring mcdavid. He led the nhl in scoring for 99% of 17-18. Won in dominant fashion against mc in 18-19 and 23-24 now.

Also competiton aside...Certain oiler fans liked to make a point that Crosby lost an Art ross at 27 years old.
27 year old Crosby. 3rd in scoring, 1st in ppg
27 year old mcdavid. 3rd in scoring 2nd in ppg. Oh the irony.

 

[WalterLundy]

I think the 79pt margin in 1984 might be better when you consider the teammate was 2nd leading scorer in the league that year

He was on pace for 240 points and 102 goals that year through 57 games. Could have been even more comical of a record margin than it actually was. He also won the Ross after game 42 of that season ended. Teammate Paul Coffey was second with 126. Could have sat the remaining half of the season (38 games) with a scoring title win. Nothing like it.

 

[Video Nasty]

I was told I was wrong and it was not possible when I said Mcdavid might not win the ross this year. As soon as kuch opened up a 10 point lead I knew it was game over. He is no stranger to outscoring mcdavid. He led the nhl in scoring for 99% of 17-18. Won in dominant fashion against mc in 18-19 and 23-24 now.

Also competiton aside...Certain oiler fans liked to make a point that Crosby lost an Art ross at 27 years old.
27 year old Crosby. 3rd in scoring, 1st in ppg
27 year old mcdavid. 3rd in scoring 2nd in ppg. Oh the irony.

Competition aside? Umm no, that, in combination with playing what if video games all night, is why Crosby losing a scoring race is brought up to begin with.

Repeat after me. Benn and Tavares do not equal Kucherov and MacKinnon. Also repeat after me, McDavid will win scoring races past the age of 26, unlike Crosby.

Your crowing would be more effective if you didn’t disappear each and every time throughout the journey when McDavid trimmed a 22 point deficit and took the lead.

 

[WalterLundy]

I was told I was wrong and it was not possible when I said Mcdavid might not win the ross this year. As soon as kuch opened up a 10 point lead I knew it was game over. He is no stranger to outscoring mcdavid. He led the nhl in scoring for 99% of 17-18. Won in dominant fashion against mc in 18-19 and 23-24 now.

Also competiton aside...Certain oiler fans liked to make a point that Crosby lost an Art ross at 27 years old.
27 year old Crosby. 3rd in scoring, 1st in ppg
27 year old mcdavid. 3rd in scoring 2nd in ppg. Oh the irony.

You also said McDavid wouldn’t score 100 at a certain point yet he hit 132 points at game 75 in what was his third best statistical season due to injuries. That’s a number Sidney Crosby was only ever on pace to hit in 82 games with only half of a season sample. Crosby never wins an art Ross against Kucherov this year no matter what version you choose in 2024 levels. Kucherov has the third best point per game adjusted season of the salary cap era. No guarantee Crosby hits that in 2011 even with pace.

Competition matters greatly as does context. The 132 points this year wins every Art Ross from 1997-2022. 2024 McDavid wins the 2015 Art Ross off of assists alone even when you adjust to 2014-15 levels (88) and it would be one of the most dominant Art Ross wins in history.

I don’t know why Crosby keeps being brought up in relation to McDavid stuff. As great as Crosby is and was McDavid has clearly been better through their first 9 seasons respectively. He’s beyond that. He’s actually been statistically virtually the same as Lemieux’s first 9 seasons in a relative sense (127 to 125 per 82 GP adjusted) but with more personal awards. Before anyone attacks Lemieux is better at peak and I’m not arguing there just that in the long run McDavid can make it interesting and potentially end second. And for the record Kucherov deserves an immense amount of credit and respect for a historic season.

2015-16 to 2023-24:
EVG: 2.27, PPG: 0.60, SHG: 0.08

1984-85 to 1992-93:
EVG: 2.56, PPG: 0.98, SHG: 0.14

Connor McDavid (16-24):
645 GP: 335 G, 647 A, 982 P (1.52)

Mario Lemieux (85-93 adjusted to 16-24)
577 GP: 371 G, 526 A, 897 P (1.55)

 

[Senor Catface]

I was told I was wrong and it was not possible when I said Mcdavid might not win the ross this year. As soon as kuch opened up a 10 point lead I knew it was game over. He is no stranger to outscoring mcdavid. He led the nhl in scoring for 99% of 17-18. Won in dominant fashion against mc in 18-19 and 23-24 now.

Also competiton aside...Certain oiler fans liked to make a point that Crosby lost an Art ross at 27 years old.
27 year old Crosby. 3rd in scoring, 1st in ppg
27 year old mcdavid. 3rd in scoring 2nd in ppg. Oh the irony.

How many Art Ross trophies has Crosby won again, since we are talking about individual awards?

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Competition aside? Umm no, that, in combination with playing what if video games all night, is why Crosby losing a scoring race is brought up to begin with.

Repeat after me. Benn and Tavares do not equal Kucherov and MacKinnon. Also repeat after me, McDavid will win scoring races past the age of 26, unlike Crosby.

Your crowing would be more effective if you didn’t disappear each and every time throughout the journey when McDavid trimmed a 22 point deficit and took the lead.

27 both third in scoring. And by dissapear you mean when I was on vacation? Mcdavid tied for the lead for 1 hour the entire dambln season lol. He was outplayed all year long proving once again he is not lemieux, gretzky tier. And why that huge "mcdavid will go down as the second best of all time" thread is laughable.

How many Art Ross trophies has Crosby won again, since we are talking about individual awards?

2 along with more importantly 3 cups and 2 smythes