Will Auston Matthews retire as the greatest American born player?

[Filthy Dangles]

Will Auston Matthews retire as the greatest American player?

Click to read more...

 

[M2Beezy]

I love your avatar, makes me giggle

 

[Satoru Gojo]

I love your avatar, makes me giggle

Dropped in to say just this

 

[summer tooth]

Maybe, but he would need to win a cup to ever be above Kaner or Phil Kessel

 

[Del Preston]

That's a nice David Wells avatar you've got there.

 

[Zach716]

Patrick Kane exists

 

[Phion Keneuf]

Most likely.

 

[Artemi Panarin]

Good luck surpassing the god

 

[Aashir Mallik]

He’s gonna need more accolades to pass players like kane and hull

I’m thinking a Ross, a hart and a Lindsay to go along with a few rockets

or

win a cup or two with Toronto with conn smythe level runs and let the media push him to the top, even if it’s undeserved

realistically I don’t think he does, but he probably falls short of only kane and hull

 

[snipes]

He’s gonna need more accolades to pass players like kane and hull

I’m thinking a Ross, a hart and a Lindsay to go along with a few rockets

or

win a cup or two with Toronto with conn smythe level runs and let the media push him to the top, even if it’s undeserved

realistically I don’t think he does, but he probably falls short of only kane and hull

Chelios?

 

[Chef de Cuisine]

kane's too good

 

[Michael HOMERUNing]

Best ever? Maybe. Greatest? No, unless he wins a Cup.

 

[bobholly39]

He's on a career trajectory that could easily see him pass Hull, Kane and Chelios

So - its possible. I voted no, because thats more likely. But, possible

 

[sr edler]

Who knows about the future, but so far he's not even better than Modano.

 

[Xspyrit]

Patrick Kane exists

Brett Hull, Mike Modano, Chris Chelios and Phil Housley existed too

 

[Green Snow Storm]

My God does it bum me out to see how little we appreciate the players we have playing in front of us today. Nothing like a McDavid or Matthews thread to remind me how much people love nostalgia. Modano, Housley? Get out of here seriously. There is nothing that suggests he doesn't have what it takes or have a legit shot to end his career as the best thus far, but it's early.

 

[Green Snow Storm]

Patrick Kane exists

kane's too good

Oh yeah? Matthews vs. Kane first 5 seasons:
Matthews:
351 points in 334 games 1.05 ppg with 199 goals.
Kane:
369 points in 399 games 0.92 ppg with 126 goals

Of course the kicker is Kane had a cup by this point in his career, but comments like these two are ridiculous as Matthews is already trending to have a significantly more productive career than Kane while being a generational goal scorer at center, it's just a matter of staying healthy and longevity and eventually winning some hardware which is admittedly easier said than done.

 

[Holymakinaw]

Hull was born in Canada, folks. He might have had duel citizenship and he might've chosen to play for Team USA, but he is a Canadian, first & foremost, which is why he was so great.

Kane & Chelios & Housely are Matthews' only real American competition(I don't see Modano as a serious choice). I bet he surpasses them, when it's all said & done.

 

[Nocashstyle]

Oh yeah? Matthews vs. Kane first 5 seasons:
Matthews:
351 points in 334 games 1.05 ppg with 199 goals.
Kane:
369 points in 399 games 0.92 ppg with 126 goals

Of course the kicker is Kane had a cup by this point in his career, but comments like these two are ridiculous as Matthews is already trending to have a significantly more productive career than Kane while being a generational goal scorer at center, it's just a matter of staying healthy and longevity and eventually winning some hardware which is admittedly easier said than done.

Comparing black and white point totals like that without context is disingenuous. Kane’s first years in the league were lower scoring.

Matthews also needs some more individual hardware, and whether it’s fair or not, post season team success is still going to be a factor when considering all time legacy. Matthews also needs to remain elite enough to, at worst, be a top 10 player in league year over year for over a decade.

Matthews certainly has had a great start to his career, but he has a long way to go to Kane.

 

[Green Snow Storm]

Comparing black and white point totals like that without context is disingenuous. Kane’s first years in the league were lower scoring.

Matthews also needs some more individual hardware, and whether it’s fair or not, post season team success is still going to be a factor when considering all time legacy. Matthews also needs to remain elite enough to, at worst, be a top 10 player in league year over year for over a decade.

Matthews certainly has had a great start to his career, but he has a long way to go to Kane.

I agree with you, I pretty much stated what you stated and completely agree putting together a career like Kane's is not easy when you factor in longevity. I was just responding to the ridiculous posts I quoted.

 

[The Macho King]

Chelios is so friggin underrated. It's him by a mile.

I feel like people on this site only remember his 48 year old season and not his long and spectacular prime.

I would say he comfortably ends up ahead of Modano. Housley is a friggin joke and I don't know why he's being brought up here if it's not a bit. Kane... eh I like Matthews' trajectory a bit more than Kane's but he certainly has a ways to go. And of course Mr. Zero should be considered - Frank Brimsek is probably the greatest goalie of the 30s/early 40s.

Postseason is going to be the biggest issue. So far his postseason performances have ranged from "meh" to bad. Chelios and Kane significantly add to their resume in the postseason.

 

[member 334057]

My God does it bum me out to see how little we appreciate the players we have playing in front of us today. Nothing like a McDavid or Matthews thread to remind me how much people love nostalgia. Modano, Housley? Get out of here seriously. There is nothing that suggests he doesn't have what it takes or have a legit shot to end his career as the best thus far, but it's early.

It's not about appreciating the skill level of current players. It's about recognizing that having played 5 seasons does not vault a player to the top of the list of greatest American players. Longevity plays a role in that as well. So many people seem to have trouble differentiating between most skilled and greatest. McDavid for example may be one of the most skilled NHL players ever, but that alone does not make him the greatest, just like Matthews may have one of the best shots ever but that does not automatically make him the greatest among American players.

 

[Xspyrit]

Hull was born in Canada, folks. He might have had duel citizenship and he might've chosen to play for Team USA, but he is a Canadian, first & foremost, which is why he was so great.

You said it yourself so why bury head in sand?

Brett Hull stands by his decision to play internationally for U.S.

It's possible to be a dual citizen. I personally am, I have 2 passports, I can play for my 2 countries.

 

[Regal]

He certainly could, but it’s too early to say he will or even is likely. He’d have to be a McDavid/Crosby/Ovechkin type to be likely after 5 seasons

 

[Legionnaire]

I voted no, but if "possibly" would have be an option I would have gone with it.

I think he has the potential to pass Hull as all time goal leader, but with defensive ability. That puts him among those top guys *if* he can continue to progress and can lead TO to a Cup or two.