People look at simplicity and it's why analytics gets a lot of pushback.
Ovechkin is on the cusp of doing something that pretty much nobody ever thought was possible, which is take down one of Gretzky's records. Along with that, he is currently 13th all time in points and unless he retires this year, will probably finish 11th ( or 10th if Crosby retires or misses significant time).
I see a lot of team related stats being thrown around, but to the majority of people, they don't matter.
Yes, Kucherov has done something that only 4 (or 5) other players have ever done, in reach 100 assists in a season, a list that does includes Gretzky, but that's the only time he will ever be mentioned in the same sentence as some of the greats. Unlike Ovechkin who because of both goals and points, will end up being one of the top 10 players of all time.
What does Kucherov have to do to surpass Ovi? Very simple. Pass him in points. Even if he does that, Ovi's goal totals and being 1st (assuming he gets there), will still keep him ahead of Kucherov in a lot of peoples eyes most likely.
Kucherov will most likely end up being a 1st ballot hall of famer. I only say most likely because he's only 30 and you just never what will happen. He'd still be a hall of famer if he retired now, just maybe not first ballot, and they certainly wouldn't waive the mandatory waiting period like they will with Ovechkin.
But while he is a supremely amazing player, it did take him until his fifth season to truly breakout. Along with that, what exactly has he done to separate himself from any of the other top players to play the game. How is he any different from other players? Did he change the way the game way played? Was there something that he did that no other player did on the ice? What made him so special?
I say that like I'm trying to shit on him but I'm not. It's just that we're talking about the absolute great of the greats. You're also trying to compare someone who's career could only be 2/3's of the way done versus someone who has 1 to 2 years left tops. Kucherov may end up being among the greats. But in some ways, Ovechkin will be considered among the greatest.
