Auston Matthews vs Cam Neely

[Regal]

Clearly? At 23?

Uh, yea. Most star players who aren't late bloomers are in their primes at 23, and the scoring peak of the average player is from 23-26. Do you honestly expect him to significantly improve from 41 goals in 52 games? He came into the league as the top overall pick, with a man's body at 19 and finished 2nd in goals and has since had 4 more seasons to improve. Other than some tweaks here or there, or a spike season, this is what he is.

Much.

Laughable

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Clearly? At 23?

Yes, that's when primes are.

Gretzky's best seasons were 21-25
Lemieux's best season was 23
Orr was out of the league by 26
Crosby's was 21
Malkin's was 22
Ovechkin's was 22
Jagr's was 23

 

[Albatros]

Yes, that's when primes are.

Gretzky's best seasons were 21-25
Lemieux's best season was 23
Orr was out of the league by 26
Crosby's was 21
Malkin's was 22
Ovechkin's was 22
Jagr's was 23

Joe Mullen 31.

 

[weaponomega]

Imagine Auston shooting pucks in the 80s and 90s. 100 goal szns.

Until April comes along

 

[wetcoast]

Except they weren't.

Neely scored 55 in 76 and 51 in 69 before Oates came to town. He did that with Craig Janney as his center.

Neely was already hobbled by the time Oates came around only playing 9, 13, 42, 49, 49 games in the 5+ seasons Oates was in Boston.

Neely is THE prototypical power forward, among the best in the league at scoring, hitting and fighting.

Not to mention Neely owned Roy like no one could. He scored 20 goals in 26 playoff games against him, and we're talking prime 87-92 Roy.

And of course...50 in 44

You are really underrating Craig Janney as a playmaker, he was an elite playmaker.

NHL Stats

From 89-96 he was 8th in assists playing with 4 different NHL teams.

 

[Fatass]

Clearly this is Cam. He could influence a game in multiple ways. Score, make plays, intimidate, fight, heavy hits. Far and away a superior player.

 

[Killer Orcas]

Cam by a mile and Matthews is a very good player I might add. However Neely was a beast and probably best ever power forward.

 

[Hisch13r]

The guy who won a Rocket and was a Hart nominee before his 24th birthday rather than the one who never did either.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

The guy who won a Rocket and was a Hart nominee before his 24th birthday rather than the one who never did either.

Jonathan Cheechoo and Taylor Hall also better than Neely, then? Both won awards Neely never did.

 

[Varan]

Jonathan Cheechoo and Taylor Hall also better than Neely, then? Both won awards Neely never did.

I think that poster's point has to do more with age than awards. Matthews winning it at 23 is very impressive and could be a sign of (great) things to come.

 

[jcs0218]

Neely is winning 92-72 in vote totals.

"Kick his ass, Seabass".

 

[Byron Bitz]

If we’re bringing Auston to the 80’s/90’s I’ll go with him

I’ll also go with Auston if we’re bringing Cam up to this era. Voted Cam because I assume they are both playing their own respective eras and Cam in his prime was more Dominant than Auston has shown so far.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

Except they weren't.

Neely scored 55 in 76 and 51 in 69 before Oates came to town. He did that with Craig Janney as his center.

Neely was already hobbled by the time Oates came around only playing 9, 13, 42, 49, 49 games in the 5+ seasons Oates was in Boston.

Neely is THE prototypical power forward, among the best in the league at scoring, hitting and fighting.

Not to mention Neely owned Roy like no one could. He scored 20 goals in 26 playoff games against him, and we're talking prime 87-92 Roy.

And of course...50 in 44

Was just going to say this, I remember Neely playing better with Janney than he did with Oates