Kane vs Modano vs Leech best American player since 90s till now

[ScaredStreit]

I don't think people realize just how great Chelios was.

 

[hilarnat]

Chelios and Kane,
I have always had a soft spot for Chelios but I can't see a world where Kane doesn't come up on top (he probably already is) unless he gets kerriganed in the near future.

 

[ScaredStreit]

There's a clear top 5 IMO (no order)

Modano
Hull
Chelios
Kane
Leetch

But I really think only Chelios and Kane have an argument for #1.

Lafontaine > Modano

 

[kingpest19]

Lafontaine > Modano

To be fair, there's probably a sizable amount of posters who never got the chance to see Lafontaine play

 

[tony d]

Leetch for me. I do think before he retires Kane's going to be #2 all time for American born players (Behind Chelios)

 

[sabrebuild]

Tge youngsters are sleeping on Chili. Dude was offensively strong and was ba mean sob. Plus he did it for longer than most guys currently in the league have been alive.

 

[Nosferatu]

Leach is the answer. Underaprisiated player and got a playoffs mvp aswell.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

A completely biased vote for Leetch.

 

[Curufinwe]

Lafontaine > Modano

Maybe if he could have stayed healthy.

 

[psycat]

Chelios
(Hull)
Kane
Leetch

LaFontaine
Modano

 

[SmellOfVictory]

Brett Hull

I know he played for team USA, but he's Canadian-born.

 

[Tofveve]

1.Kane, 2. Hull, 3.Chelios, 4. Modano, 5. Leetch

Lafontaine and Roenick in the top 10.

Matthews to be in the conversation soon.

 

[Flying Dego]

Joe Mullen gets in the team photo at least. Undrafted, undersized and in Hall of Fame. That's something!

I was literally coming in to tout my guy Mullen. Over 500 goals, PPG player... he was awesome!

 

[Tofveve]

Joe Mullen gets in the team photo at least. Undrafted, undersized and in Hall of Fame. That's something!

Totally forgot about him. Def top 10. Maybe 6 or 7.

 

[Tofveve]

If we're going to talk about Brian Leetch, then we also need to talk about Phil Housley.

Thought of him too. But I'd put him lower than Leetch. Maybe just inside the top 10.

 

[NeverBeNormal]

Only American born and raised player to win the Hart. 1 of 4 Americans to win the Smythe. 3 Rings in the Cap Era. Unless he falls off a cliff he'll easily surpass Modano for most American points. Don't even see how it's a discussion.

 

[Tofveve]

Probably the most scorn in this thread goes to Modano, I have no idea why. For me he is easily top 5, but either 3 or 4.

The guy was a fluid, deceptively fast skater and a great offensive talent.

1499 games played over 21 seasons. 561 goals, 1374 points. Stanley Cup champ and HHOFer.

 

[Montreal Shadow]

Phil Esposito was just a scorer also....are you saying he wasn't a great player? I mean, no one can honestly say that a player that scored 741 goals is not a great player.

And yes, I guess because Hull was born in Canada (but raised in America), you could say that he's technically not an American. I consider him an American because he represented America in all international tournaments. But I won't argue with anyone who thinks differently.

He was born in Canada. Spent some of his youth in the US and the rest in Canada. He also tried out for Team Canada first but was snubbed.

He’s Canadian.

 

[JThorne]

Matthews

Thread ruined on first reply. Atta boy!

 

[Maple Leaf]

Thread ruined on first reply. Atta boy!

Wouldn't be a thread without finding a way to bring up Eichel

 

[Sentinel]

If we're going to talk about Brian Leetch, then we also need to talk about Phil Housley.

As in "we need to talk about Kevin"?

Phil Housley does not belong in any "best of" conversation for anything.

 

[snipes]

Chelios is the GOAT American player.

Kane might surpass him one day soon but right now it’s Chelios

 

[Belieber]

I like Chelios the best. What a beauty.

 

[GreatGonzo]

I always feel Modano doesn’t get the credit he deserves in threads like this and just how valuable he was to those Stars team. He was both their go to offensive player AND shut down center, regularly out scoring his teammates by significant margins while being a PPG player on purely defensive teams in an era where scoring was at its lowest. People also don’t realize how slick and skilled he was with the puck, he was very Datsyuk like offensively....dynamic and dangerous. He just doesn’t have those “wow!” Numbers or trophies to back it. I always feel he’s a very underrated player when comparing all time American born players

 

[Montreal Shadow]

I always feel Modano doesn’t get the credit he deserves in threads like this and just how valuable he was to those Stars team. He was both their go to offensive player AND shut down center, regularly out scoring his teammates by significant margins while being a PPG player on purely defensive teams in an era where scoring was at its lowest. People also don’t realize how slick and skilled he was with the puck, he was very Datsyuk like offensively....dynamic and dangerous. He just doesn’t have those “wow!” Numbers or trophies to back it. I always feel he’s a very underrated player when comparing all time American born players

Scoring era is irrelevant. Even in the insane 92-93 season, he was only good for 93pts and a 24th place finish.

Look at his pts finishes and how he stacks up to Kane. Not even the same tier offensively. Add Kane's Hart, Conn Smyth, Art Ross and major contribution to 3 cups, I don't even know why Modano is being brought up. Fantastic player but Kane has far surpassed him already.