Is there a reason Patrick Kane is never named as a top 5 player?

[sr edler]

He's a smallish American winger.

 

[Sky04]

He's been widely considered a top-3 forward, where have you been?

 

[maacoshark]

But where does it show? The eye test? The reality is his CF% is solid, his GF% is solid and he puts up tons of points. If you're excellent defensively but terrible offensively, you might be a decent 4th liner. If you're excellent offensively but terrible defensively, you are a star.

There are dozens of guys who can execute and defend within the system but there are only a few players who can be a threat like Kane with the puck on his stick. And remember, being a winger, he has the least important defensive responsibilities on his line. It's not like he's a C where being bad defensively could be a big deal.


We actually arrive at my argument that being a great offensive player as a C is perhaps not as good as being one as a winger because of the added defensive responsibilities possibly holding you back. How do you think Gaudreau could do his thing as a C, for instance? It's just a relic of outdated thinking.

All of you guys are obsessed with how many points someone scores. There is alot more to the game than offense. Kane is a very skilled player but ius weak defensively. He might be the softest player in the league and he makes poor decisions at times. He is a player that needs to be sheltered.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

He's not a good person, to me, that is also very important.

Assault, sexual assault, xenophobe...real class act.

Him not being a nice guy off the ice has nothing to do with his on-ice abilities. Some of the best players of all time were also massive jerks off the ice.

 

[Spotty 2 Hotty]

The cab thing happened but how can you claim sexual assault when he was cleared on all charges? With everything that came out from that, you think he still did it?

There have been a few other claims of similar things over the years that just weren't pursued further, so if nothing else, there seems to be a pattern of him being a drunk a-hole. Though the cab thing by itself is enough for me to never root for the POS.

As far as the topic of the thread, it's pretty obvious that he has been considered a top player with the awards he has won. The reason he may not be moving forward is because you have more complete players emerging who may not offer quite as much offense, but also are able to play good defense and not need sheltering. He is a one dimensional player, and while that dimension is at a high level, it's not as attractive as someone who is more the complete package.

 

[eviohh26]

No idea. I got him in my top 5. Guy does what very little can do.

 

[CokenoPepsi]

He has been but he never had the hype of A Toews when all the media was saying he was in the top 5

 

[CokenoPepsi]

What does Canadian have to do with it?

I would take Kucherov over him AINEC.

Nah Kane is better than Kucherov who gets to play with Stamkos

 

[Seanaconda]

Nah Kane is better than Kucherov who gets to play with Stamkos

Those two are debatable but stamkos was injured most of last year. Anyways op was wrong kane has been considered a top 5 player or at least forward for most of the last five years by most people

 

[CogNoman]

Because his acting skills are so bad.
That Christmas commercial is terrible...

 

[Rodgerwilco]

There have been times over the last few seasons that people have said he's better than Crosby which is absolutely insane.

 

[GoJetsGo55]

There have been a few other claims of similar things over the years

What similar things? Being a drunk a-hole or being accused of rape?

 

[Frankie Blueberries]

He's a top 5 "player".

 

[b1e9a8r5s]

I'm not sure I get the premise.

Obviously, this isn't gospel, but TSN had him #4 to start this year and #2 to start last season. The guy won a Hart trophy as well. At some point he was clearly considered a top 5 player.

A new No. 1: McDavid edges Crosby in TSN's Top 50 player poll - Article - TSN

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Because his acting skills are so bad.
That Christmas commercial is terrible...

I don't know ,, Compared to Toews acting he looks like Marlon Brando

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

Let's see:

#3 in scoring over the last 2 seasons (so far)
#1 in scoring over the last 3 seasons
#1 in scoring over the last 4
#2 in scoring over the last 5
#2 over the last 6
#2 over the last 7
#1 over the last 8
#3 over the last 9
#3 over the last 10

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say he's earned a top 5 spot.

 

[OVrocks]

I believe they Kane is not mentioned as a top 5 player because he is not a top 5 player.

 

[NeverBeNormal]

I'm not sure there's a winger you want on your team over Kane when it comes down to crunch time...

There isn't a player in the game I'd rather have in crunch time, winger or otherwise.