Do you consider Matthews a 'Generational' player or talent?

[TheNumber4]

So a guy whose forte is scoring goals has ONE single 50 goal season in 6 years and the word generational is already thrown out?

Nah....

The word generational was thrown out there the first time Leafs fans saw Matthews hit em with the 4. This isn’t new unfortunately.

He’s not wrong though. Everything he said is a verifiable fact

Yeh a bunch of facts that show he’s not generational.

 

[JD1]

I'd want to see more individual success. He's young still and doesn't have the trophy case of McDavid.

I think he also needs to start having some playoff success. Playoff success matters when talking about players on historical lists

 

[Mickey Marner]

I think it's debatable, but if it's debatable then the answer is no. With guys like Crosby or McDavid it was never in doubt. Matthews is a step down from them. An elite franchise player.

 

[Face Of Bear]

He very clearly is AINEC. HFers out to lunch with anti-Leaf bias on this one. Typical .

Best goal scorer of his generation and will go down as one of the best all time.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Wasn't Ovechkin considered Generational along with Crosby throughout majority of his career?
If Matthews' goal scoring isn't considered generational it cant be far off

 

[GOilers88]

These are the kinds of discussions that don't have an answer until the career is basically over.

 

[tfwnogf]

I would say yes. I think a lot of people would say generational is once per generation, so 1 player per generation. But to me I would consider him a generational goal scorer, in the same sense that Ovie is a generational goal scorer. Or Mike bossy. None of these guys are considered "best of the generation" but all of them separated themselves from their peers. Guys like gretzky or lemieux or orr I consider a tier higher than generational, whose skill might only come once in a lifetime. So if generational is 15-20 years, then yes I consider Matthews to be generational for his goal scoring ability.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

The phrase "generational player" has lost all meaning if Matthews is considered one.

He's a top 5 player in the league, some may argue only top 10.

But if he was generational then he'd be at the very least considered a top 2 player.

The title of generational player should be reserved for very few.

It's not an insult to say Matthews isn't, because he's not one. His fans don't need to defend *everything*.

I know what Im about to say is fantasy but Ive done about 7 or 8 bestball hockey drafts and Ive yet to see Matthews go later than 2nd.
Ive seen him go 1st almost as many times as Ive seen McDavid go 1st this year.
not saying Matthews is 100% generational. but his goal scoring ability along with his 2way game can't be too far off

No but he is very good and that should be enough idk why it isn’t

Dont think anyone has said it's not good enough but even if Matthews is generational. majority of people here would disagree just because you know why

 

[leafsfan5]

These are just facts.
You can come up with reasons for many players not producing like they could.
Mitch Marner is in the same ballpark in career points.
Is he talked about as generational?

Sure they are literal facts, but they mean nothing without the proper context behind them

 

[BlueBaron]

Lol at not knowing the facts, I posted them, 500 plus goals since 10/11,
That is a fact.

NHL Stats

The official source for NHL Stats including skaters, goalies, teams stats and more.

www.nhl.com

It's also a fact he dipped which is what I proved and you denied. Sorry.

 

[BlueBaron]

Source for what?

An old example of him being called generational.

 

[Evilo]

Sure they are literal facts, but they mean nothing without the proper context behind them

No, some players have injuries, some players have lockdowns, etc...
Facts is what matters. And I repeat, nobody is calling Marner a generational player. Nobody is even asking the question.
And yet? AM 457 in 407, MM 435 in 427.
What's the excuse there? Covid again?

 

[SmoggyTwinkles]

The phrase "generational player" has lost all meaning if Matthews is considered one.

He's a top 5 player in the league, some may argue only top 10.

But if he was generational then he'd be at the very least considered a top 2 player.

The title of generational player should be reserved for very few.

It's not an insult to say Matthews isn't, because he's not one. His fans don't need to defend *everything*.

How many players are "generational" until they become "generational"?

The people watching, are a generation of people, and they appoint this legendary superstar after watching their entire career.

Can you be generational before you even really start doing that?

I just don't understand.

 

[Golden_Jet]

It's also a fact he dipped which is what I proved and you denied. Sorry.

you proved nothing I said he scored 500 goals after 25, and you came back with a ya but, he dipped lol

And who cares, it’s about Matthew’s.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Because when HF was an actual prospect site that this was just a forum attached to it, 'generational' was the top tier ranking they used.

Yup and I remember Crosby was the first prospect to get that ranking. The comparables in that tier were Gretzky, Lemieux and Orr. I believe even Ovechkin only got a franchise player ranking.

Regarding Matthews I think he has generational goal scoring ability, so if he wins 8-9 rockets like Ovy he'll join that. But I don't think his overall production is generational, more like franchise player.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

He hasn’t done anything really generational….

1 mvp, that was obviously stolen…. Honestly still feel bad for Mcdavid.

Top 10 player in the league sure, could argue top 5…. But generational is laughable

What did McDavid do that was so great to over take Matthews? been how long since the last 60 goal season? and how long since the last 50 in 50?

 

[BlueBaron]

Lol at OVs game falling off at 25, he also played and hit like a truck.

Over 500 goals , since he turned 25.

So you don't think suddenly dipping to 5 30sh goal seasons the following 7 years is falling off? including two straight after the time you reference. Let's agree to disagree.

 

[leafsfan5]

No, some players have injuries, some players have lockdowns, etc...
Facts is what matters. And I repeat, nobody is calling Marner a generational player. Nobody is even asking the question.
And yet? AM 457 in 407, MM 435 in 427.
What's the excuse there? Covid again?

I don't think Matthews is generational, nothing in my responses to you have said that. We're not even arguing about that lol

Our disagreement is the fact that I believe you saying he only has 1 50 goal season is disingenuous. You're using that to downplay his goal scoring ability when the reality is he would've had 3 50 goal seasons if a pandemic didn't happen.

Some players have injury, sure, but nothing compares to a once in a century pandemic wiping out a significant portion of your prime seasons lol. It's a very valid reason as to why he only has 1 50 goal campaign at this point

 

[Arthur Morgan]

No.

If he can somehow challenge Ovie for total goals by the end of their careers then possibly.

But for now its just McDavid.

I recall OV being called generational due to his goal scoring ability. just dont see how Matthews scoring isnt considered generational.
not that it even matters anyways

 

[TopChedder]

If Howe isn't generational then Lemieux isn't. People look at Howe playing into his 50s and don't realize that in his prime he dominated the league to a degree that only Wayne and Mario have since.

Agreed

99
66
4
9

The separation from these guys and the rest of the league was BONKERS and it’s not even debatable.

 

[Evilo]

I don't think Matthews is generational, nothing in my responses to you have said that. We're not even arguing about that lol

Our disagreement is the fact that I believe you saying he only has 1 50 goal season is disingenuous. You're using that to downplay his goal scoring ability when the reality is he would've had 3 50 goal seasons if a pandemic didn't happen.

Some players have injury, sure, but nothing compares to a once in a century pandemic wiping out a significant portion of your prime seasons lol. It's a very valid reason as to why he only has 1 50 goal campaign at this point

How many lockdowns did Matthews get?
So excuses for others don't count?
Jagr had lockdown seasons. Ovechkin as well.

I don't blame Matthews for not scoring in games he couldn't play, but the fact is that the guy has ONE single 50 goal season. And that his scoring pace is barely better than Mitch Marner.

Jagr could be considered generational. Mc David as said before.

 

[norrisnick]

So you don't think suddenly dipping to 5 30sh goal seasons the following 7 years is falling off? including two straight after the time you reference. Let's agree to disagree.

Which 5 of which 7 seasons is this?

 

[cannucky]

5 years ago I called him one of if not the best snipers in the game , the next Phil Kessel , much like Phil Kessel was in his prime that doesn't make him the best player in the game and it sure doesn't make him a "Generational" player . Truth is he like JT and Tyler Bozak before them had his best seasons playing with Mitch , for my eyes if you want to be called Generational you carry the mail yourself no matter who your line mates are , look at McJesus he gets it done no matter who he's with , he made Zack Kassian look like a player ffs and Mathews just can't do that so maybe just accept what he is and forget about what he isn't eh !

 

[BlueBaron]

Which 5 of which 7 seasons is this?

I'm not recapping an argument you weren't involved in. You can follow the trail or look at his stats and figure it out pretty fast.

 

[BlueBaron]

5 years ago I called him one of if not the best snipers in the game , the next Phil Kessel , much like Phil Kessel was in his prime that doesn't make him the best player in the game and it sure doesn't make him a "Generational" player . Truth is he like JT and Tyler Bozak before them had his best seasons playing with Mitch , for my eyes if you want to be called Generational you carry the mail yourself no matter who your line mates are , look at McJesus he gets it done no matter who he's with , he made Zack Kassian look like a player ffs and Mathews just can't do that so maybe just accept what he is and forget about what he isn't eh !

He already scored a lot of goals before last season with most being a 50+ while also leading the league in goals per 60 since he entered the league.

Try harder.