Auston Matthews - POTENTIALLY Greatest American player of all time?

[WingsMJN2965]

Exactly... if he's this good at 20, imagine what he can do over the next 10 years.

Never criticized what he's done or can't do... But this discussion is ridiculous this early on.

 

[Jot]

The way this question is being answered in this thread is similar to a YES or NO poll...
Or.. a bunch of Sarcastic comments, which discourages any REAL DISCUSSION.

Maybe this is how forums are supposed to be nowadays... i dont know. I dont spend enough time on here.
______________________________________________________________________

Back to the REAL topic. "But what are the chances he gets there?"

In my opinion, closest person in Todays NHL is Patrick Kane, for an overall career he is averaging a PPG career.

If Matthews matches Kane's 1st two season in the NHL, and i believe the has the talent to do it(and he's pacing himself to do so). He would also have to stay relatively healthy throughout his career, and at minimum Point Per Game Center, and consistently in TOP 10 Selke voting, which he also has the talent to do so.

With that in mind, i believe he could do it. He also could mold himself into a consistent 40 Goals Center as well. His skillset is quite unique, and he plays very maturely, and is a stud defensively.

Its awesome for the league to have top talents come from US, it disheartens me, we may not see a USA vs CAN re-match for Gold.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

I think he's got a pretty good shot at it if everything goes well.

Kid is a beast at this age and with experience he will only get better. Plays for a team that is already good and have a very bright future. Great player playing for a good team for majority of his career is a pretty darn good combination.

Of course a lot can happen, but theoretically speaking, i don't think it's ridiculous to say he could be considered the greatest American player of all time one day.

 

[Soliloquy of a Dogge]

He is the best American hockey player already.

The real question is if he becomes the best athlete ever.

Jordan, Ali, Federer, Brady, Matthews.

You forgot Messi, Serena Williams, Rafa, Bo, Pele, Tiger and Robinson.

All look like chopped liver next to Matthews.

 

[Riddum]

He's already the greatest American talent to grace the NHL. Better raw talent than Gretzky and Lemieux.

 

[Stuzchuk]

no.1: like you said, he have 2 seasons in the NHL, it's like posters that call McDavid generational talent after 2 full season in (missed half of one due to injury)
no.2: he still have lots to do to go above my top 5 (Chris Chelios, Brett Hull, Mike Modano, Jeremy Roenick, Brian Leetch)

 

[Sniperr]

I have a feeling at the end of his career he will be.

Still he got ALOT to do to be in the convertation.

 

[deletethis]

Maybe. But Mike Modano was pretty darn good.

 

[txpd]

Modano played 21 NHL seasons. Matthews hasn't gotten off the school bus yet.

 

[TheGoldenGod]

Do we honestly need another one of these threads

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

Every American player is potentially the greatest American player of all time. They're just not all equally likely to achieve it.

 

[Dotter]

How much would more would Kane have to score to be the best?

2 or 3 more goals and Kane is a lock for the greatest American born NHL the next 50+ years!

 

[Rorschach]

He's maybe a bottom-sixer on the all-time Team USA. Probably 4th line center.

 

[Spazkat]

Oh FFS.... yet another Matthews thread? Yes, hes good. No he's not "the best" of anything yet.

 

[Kane One]

Threads like this, and there are hundreds of them it seems, make me really dislike the kid. And he's a good player but for Chrissake, let's stop with the extreme overrating of Matthews.

This.

And GOAT username and avatar. Greatest books I ever read.

 

[Saekk]

See who made the post -> Not surprised.

 

[Martinez]

Nope, Jack Hughes

 

[IslesBro715]

He still has a longgg way to go. I dont think he will hit the career acolades that Kane or Chelios already have so I said no. But it's possible, imo its more likely finishes among top 5-10 Americans all time which is pretty damn good. Ironically I can see some leafs fans still be upset with my answer.

 

[Legion34]

He still has a longgg way to go. I dont think he will hit the career acolades that Kane or Chelios already have so I said no. But it's possible, imo its more likely finishes among top 5-10 Americans all time which is pretty damn good. Ironically I can see some leafs fans still be upset with my answer.

Again. Leaf fans aren’t saying this. Still gets ignored

 

[IslesBro715]

Again. Leaf fans aren’t saying this. Still gets ignored

I never generalize; would say the same thing thing if we were talking about Barzal and Isles fans.

He still has a longgg way to go. I dont think he will hit the career acolades that Kane or Chelios already have so I said no. But it's possible, imo its more likely finishes among top 5-10 Americans all time which is pretty damn good. Ironically I can see some leafs fans still be upset with my answer.

 

[Barrie22]

Um, he's proved a lot in a short amount of time.

He has proved he is a good player. He has not even proved he can be a top american in the league right now. Let alone in the history if the game.

 

[Gordon Lightfoot]

Ill wait to hear Gretzky’s take

 

[Barrie22]

Ill wait to hear Gretzky’s take

Gretzky has short term memory loss. His opinion changes daily depending on which media member is asking him the question.

 

[Mattilaus]

Yep, potentially.

 

[Maurice Del Taco]

Modano and Chelios tops the list. AM has waaaaaaaaaaaays to go..............