Is Auston Matthews the greatest goal-scorer in hockey history?

[Hanji]

Not even close. Lol

 

[JAS 39 Gripen]

YES!!! And, he’s also a Selke-level centre with amazing facial hair, a proven playoff performer and worth every single penny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Sykur]

It's not an unreasonable question. He is most certainly in the conversation.

He's ahead of most of the all-time great goal scorers in goals/game. Ignoring numbers 3 and 4 on the list below, who played almost a century ago, Matthews is only behind Bossy and Lemieux.

View attachment 766593

He is well ahead of his contemporaries who are considered great goal scorers - McDavid, Pastrnak, Draisaital, Connor, Rantanen.

View attachment 766592

So if you accept that Matthews is the greatest goal scorer of his generation, because it's fairly obvious he is, then it's a matter of comparing eras to answer the question of who is the greatest in history.

As I stated above, Matthews is definitely in the conversation, if he continues producing.

It is disingenuous to compare a player who's career hasn't finished with players who's careers finished decades ago and spanned multiple decades. With the exception of Ovi, serious goal regression occurs in the 30s. Matthews is 26.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

It is disingenuous to compare a player who's career hasn't finished with players who's careers finished decades ago and spanned multiple decades. With the exception of Ovi, serious goal regression occurs in the 30s. Matthews is 26.

Nobody can predict how long Matthews will play, nor how soon or quickly his goal scoring ability will diminish.

What we can say with certainty is he is the best of his generation, unless you'd care to make the case for McDavid, Pasta, et al being superior. Matthews is in his 8th season of historically elite goal scoring. At what point is one allowed to compare him to the all-time greats?

 

[bobholly39]

Nope. probably best post 2016. Not even close to ever.

He's obviously not the greatest no, but depends what you mean by close.

In my opinion he's well on his way to being a top 10 goal scorer of all time.

Tier 1 - top 4 of all time

Ovechkin/Gretzky/Mario Lemieux/Bobby Hull

That's probably my order for greatest, but it can vary. For greatest I probably have Ovechkin #1 and Gretzky #2, and for "best" I still have Mario #1. But these 4 are tier 1, the greatest.

Tier 2 - #5 and 6 all-time

Maurice Richard/Gordie Howe

The Rocket might be the greatest playoff goal-scorer of all-time, and we know how good Gordie was. 800+ career goals.

Tier 3 - #7-10 all time

Mike Bossy/Phil Esposito/Brett Hull/Pavel Bure

Both Bossy and Bure might have done a bit better without injuries, but as it is, I have them ranked 7th and 10th all-time.

Coming back to Auston Matthews - I feel extremely confident he'll surpass Pavel Bure all-time at #10, so entering tier 3. He's well on his way to 600+ career goals, and even very likely to do 700+. 800+? Way too soon to tell.

I think Matthews has a good chance to reach as high as #7 all-time, so surpassing Bossy as a career greatest goal-scorer. Anything beyond that - seems improbable. It'll come down to how quickly he declines, and it's mostly a guessing game for now.

 

[Ned Bouhalassa]

He plays for Toronto, he must be the GOAT. Did Gretzky, Orr, Lemieux play for the Leafs? No, and so they can’t match Matthews. Simple.

 

[ricky0034]

the real question is if he's also the greatest goal scorer in Soccer history and the greatest goal scorer in Water polo history

 

[nbwingsfan]

Not at the moment. Though you have never seen Matthews fans claim that. What you have seen us the amount of goals in a number of games being similer to what Ovi did in a similer amount of games. There is a whole thread about it.

The bolded would be false

 

[TheBeastCoast]

No he isn't.

 

[AvroArrow]

You haven't seen any Matthews fans suggest this, you just hate the Leafs with every fibre in your body and that's why every single one of your posts and threads is just an attempt to stir shit up.

I'm glad he makes you this salty though, maybe not the greatest goal scorer ever, but definitely of this generation

 

[Sykur]

Nobody can predict how long Matthews will play, nor how soon or quickly his goal scoring ability will diminish.

Exactly, which is why you shouldn't compare him to players with full careers. Wait until Matthews is done -- in 2035 or however long he plays. Then you can make such a comparison.

 

[Caps8112]

He might end up there. Really good right now. We’ll see if he can make all the way thru the prime years without lockouts or injuries then thru his 30s scoring at the ovi pace.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Musta had one hell of a friday night

5 dollar beer night?

 

[SenzZen]

And you people complain about Canucks threads on the main forum.

People complain about absolutely everything.

Particularly on this board.

 

[Randyne]

He is in top 13-25 by goalscoring finishes. Needs another 8 top finishes to be the greatest.

1​	Alex Ovechkin	9​
2​	Bobby Hull*	7​
3​	Phil Esposito*	6​
4​	Charlie Conacher*	5​
	Gordie Howe*	5​
	Maurice Richard*	5​
	Wayne Gretzky*	5​
8​	Babe Dye*	4​
9​	Brett Hull*	3​
	Mario Lemieux*	3​
	Pavel Bure*	3​
	Teemu Selänne*	3​
13​	Auston Matthews	2​
	Bernie Geoffrion*	2​
	Bill Cook*	2​
	Bryan Hextall*	2​
	Doug Bentley*	2​
	Jarome Iginla*	2​
	Jean Béliveau*	2​
	Joe Malone*	2​
	Mike Bossy*	2​
	Nels Stewart*	2​
	Peter Bondra	2​
	Sidney Crosby	2​
	Steven Stamkos	2​

 

[Gee Wally]

Is Auston Matthews the greatest goal-scorer in hockey history?

I have seen some Matthews fans put forth this hypothesis but I am not sure.

I think Lemieux, both Hulls, Ovechkin, etc. rate as better goal-scorers.

no.

 

[SheldonJPlankton]

The greatest Mexican goal scorer in hockey history.

 

[Bandit]

Jesus Christ.

Sums it up.

 

[Michoulicious]

Is Auston Matthews the greatest goal-scorer in hockey history?

I have seen some Matthews fans put forth this hypothesis but I am not sure.

I think Lemieux, both Hulls, Ovechkin, etc. rate as better goal-scorers.

No.

 

[BlueBaron]

I mean why even ask? The math is there. Talent wise he is among the best ever. Will he endure long enough to join the greats? No one knows.

If the intention was to trigger HF this is not required. Rocket threads give them all they need.

 

[blundluntman]

Is Auston Matthews the greatest goal-scorer in hockey history?

I have seen some Matthews fans put forth this hypothesis but I am not sure.

I think Lemieux, both Hulls, Ovechkin, etc. rate as better goal-scorers.

Are these leafs fans in the room with you right now?

 

[Craft Beer Lover]

YES!!! And, he’s also a Selke-level centre with amazing facial hair, a proven playoff performer and worth every single penny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


!!!!!!!!!!!!

Selke level. How do these myths get started?

It would be be nice if once in a while he could actually play like a CENTER, and set his line mates up with, you know, PASSES, leading to scoring opportunities and goals for THEM. In other words, making those players AROUND him better. Incidentally, the truly generational players in the history of the sport are/were equally adept at both scoring goals, AND playmaking/passing ability.

 

[Leaf Fans]

The bolded would be false

Lol. Where?

 

[BraveCanadian]

LOL, no. Matthew$ is pretty darn good though.

 

[BlueBaron]

Selke level. How do these myths get started?

It would be be nice if once in a while he could actually play like a CENTER, and set his line mates up with, you know, PASSES, leading to scoring opportunities and goals for THEM. In other words, making those players AROUND him better. Incidentally, the truly generational players in the history of the sport are/were equally adept at both scoring goals, AND playmaking/passing ability.

Clearly you are triggered and spouting self evident falsehoods. Gretzky was a much better playmaker than goal scorer. Go down the list and you will find that in fact none of them are equal at both. This is just an imaginary rule that you tell yourself to feel better.

Also Matthews is in fact quite a good passer. You'd know that if you watched him.