He has some catching up to do to get to Chelios.I dislike questions like this because it can only lead to diminishing Kane who is the best American born player ever. Saying he's not Crosby or Ovechkin isn't a slight, but he isn't, but that doesn't mean he couldn't be the better player in the later third of their careers.
damn at first I thought you had a bias, but you actually made a ton of sense there, minus a point (he is fantastic in the playoffs)Do you mean besides being nowhere remotely close to being the best player?
Seriously, how is this even a discussion. His defense and usage makes Ovechkin’s look good, and his effectiveness without the puck has to be among the lowest in the league, while he’s overwhelmingly behind the big three in terms of offensive production, too. That should be enough right there but...
He isn’t better in the playoffs, and he doesn’t have a better trophy cupboard or international record. He isn’t a leader and has bad press. He’s hyped up by preteens who’ve watched his highlight reel, filled with shootout moments and plays that have contributed to his high giveaway numbers, and don’t understand that he isn’t even special in that most rudimentary aspect of hockey - his percentage is 39th all time and behind Crosby and teammate Toews.
His awards are also put in a lot of shade when you realize his production hadn’t been anywhere near that, or has been since, without Panarin. This year is whacky for the entire league and I’m calling his recent tear an anomalous hot streak.
He could sweep the field in awards this season, although he won’t, and he still wouldn’t even be scratching at Crosby and Ovechkin, and really not Malkin, either.
Edit: Obviously, he’s a superstar and fun to watch. Likely to go down as the best American player of all time. But the premise of this thread is outrageous and the denigrating nature of my comment is in direct response to that.
malkin doesn't? he was the freaking point leader for the entire playoffs for 2 of their titles for crying out loudLots of very one dimension responses here based on goals in regular season. Do playoffs even matter here?
Anyway, was watching Pens game and Crossby was doing PK at critical time of the game and blocked the shot. Do any of the other 3 ever do it? There is more to elite game than goals in regular season. And Stamkos should not be even close in conversation to these 4, disappearing act in playoffs etc.
To me as Blackhawks fan, Crossby is unquestionably best player of this generation, and I would put Ovechkin behind him. However I can make a case for Kane over Malkin easily. At least he does not get injured that often and does not cost that many penalties to his team that need to be killed. And elevates his game 2 gears up in playoffs when it matters.
Of course he’s a great playoff performer, one of the best. But people in here are saying that they’d take him over Crosby and Ovechkin to win a series or a game. I think that’s nuts!damn at first I thought you had a bias, but you actually made a ton of sense there, minus a point (he is fantastic in the playoffs)
the bolded really takes into account his trophy case as well as scoring skyrocketing this year. I don't wanna say that he was lucky to have Panarin in 15/16 and scoring going up this year because I feel like i'm taking away from his skill, but it does play a role
I see where you're coming from, but he has come up huge in big moments we cannot take that away (2010 OT goal in the finals, hat-trick against LA to take them out in 2013, 3 points in game 7 vs. the Ducks in the WCF and 2 points in game 6 against TBL in the Final, all in 2015)Of course he’s a great playoff performer, one of the best. But people in here are saying that they’d take him over Crosby and Ovechkin to win a series or a game. I think that’s nuts!