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

[Albatros]

How many assists did he have? Gretzky and the Oilers were a dominant offensive team.

Gretzky gave himself way more opportunity all around - so its a relative thing. He could have broke 100 if he only focused on goals scoring. Instead he just double up Matthews best points total...

All season Gretzky had 370 shots on goal, Anderson 252 and Kurri 211. If someone was taking a shot it was most often Wayne, I'm not convinced that being more one-dimensional would have helped his numbers.

 

[42]

Can people not read stats? What the hell is this crap.

 

[authentic]

Remember that Ovechkin played in a relatively low scoring era. These days goals are up 10-15% compared to the bulk of Ovechkins career, which tilts statistical comparisons in Matthews favor.

And once again, Ovechkin had more than double the powerplay time which erases the slight difference in scoring eras up to the beginning of their 8th seasons. I don’t get why it’s so hard for people to admit Matthews is every bit his equal as a goal scorer at the very least.

 

[authentic]

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.

Up to the age of 26 Matthews is just as good if not better than Ovechkin who’s considered the greatest goal scorer of all time… so you were saying?

 

[Randyne]

I don’t get why it’s so hard for people to admit Matthews is every bit his equal as a goal scorer at the very least.

Not equal.
Young Ovechkin separated himself by 40+ goals from 2nd place. Matthews by 2.
Top GPG and goals finishes first 7 seasons.

Ovechkin	GPG	GPG	Matthews
2005-06	5​	5​	2016-17
2006-07	5​	2​	2017-18
2007-08	1​	7​	2018-19
2008-09	1​	4​	2019-20
2009-10	1​	1​	2020-21
2010-11	6​	1​	2021-22
2011-12	5​	13​	2022-23

Ovechkin	G	G	Matthews
2005-06	3​	2​	2016-17
2006-07	4​	17​	2017-18
2007-08	1​	17​	2018-19
2008-09	1​	3​	2019-20
2009-10	3​	1​	2020-21
2010-11	5​	1​	2021-22
2011-12	6​	14​	2022-23

upd.

 

[McFlash97]

Bra

Is this thread some sort of joke ?

 

[authentic]

Not equal.
Young Ovechkin separated himself by 40+ goals from 2nd place. Matthews by 2.
Top GPG and goals finishes first 7 seasons.

Ovechkin	GPG	GPG	Matthews
2005-06	5​	5​	2016-17
2006-07	5​	2​	2017-18
2007-08	1​	7​	2018-19
2008-09	1​	4​	2019-20
2009-10	1​	1​	2020-21
2010-11	6​	1​	2021-22
2011-12	1​	13​	2022-23

Ovechkin	G	G	Matthews
2005-06	3​	2​	2016-17
2006-07	4​	17​	2017-18
2007-08	1​	17​	2018-19
2008-09	1​	3​	2019-20
2009-10	3​	1​	2020-21
2010-11	5​	1​	2021-22
2011-12	1​	14​	2022-23and

Why do you have a 1 for 11-12? Ovechkin scored 30 something goals that season, same as 10-11. This also ignores how Matthews has missed games, but even still Matthews has more goals after the same amount of games anyway.

 

[Randyne]

Why do you have a 1 for 11-12? Ovechkin scored 30 something goals that season, same as 10-11.

Thanks, missed with next season 2012-13.

This also ignores how Matthews has missed games,

Less games better per game stats.

but even still Matthews has more goals after the same amount of games anyway.

Raw goals and not by much. Ovi played in DPE 2.0 it's like 30+ goals more adjusted

 

[Silky Johnson]

All season Gretzky had 370 shots on goal, Anderson 252 and Kurri 211. If someone was taking a shot it was most often Wayne, I'm not convinced that being more one-dimensional would have helped his numbers.

Paul coffey also had 234 shots.

Gretzky had 120 assists that season. That was the highest total ever to date & the fifth highest alltime (only ever beat by him)

There is no doubt that he could have squeezed out at least 10 more goals by being more focused or selfish.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

This 50 in 39. Can you imagine how many more goals he would have had if he just concentrated on goal scoring only like Matthews and OV do.

I just don't get takes like this.

Do you seriously think the pretty much unanimous GOAT player just decided "ya know what, now that I've scored 50 in 39, I'm gonna focus on assists now"?

 

[The Panther]

Every time I think I've seen some good posts and good information on the main forum, I log in and see one like this.

I'm out again...

 

[Moose Head]

His story isn’t written, so who knows. Not impossible he ends up there, but I doubt it.

 

[authentic]

Thanks, missed with next season 2012-13.

Less games better per game stats.

Raw goals and not by much. Ovi played in DPE 2.0 it's like 30+ goals more adjusted
View attachment 767144

2887 on the powerplay vs. 1438, adjust that too

 

[BigEezyE22]

Jesus Christ.

Meh...Jesus' goal totals aren't that impressive. Didn't really have the hands to nail down a good shot.

 

[ole ole]

Yes, he's impossible to contain, especially in the playoffs where he elevates his game to unseen levels.

You got that right it was unseen.

oh I can't wait for the day when Leafs win the Cup. HF Boards would be a fun day!!!

You don't have 3 lifetimes to live.

 

[Moose Head]

Meh...Jesus' goal totals aren't that impressive. Didn't really have the hands to nail down a good shot.

That’s because he was a goalie

 

[Larry Hanson]

TO fans wonder why they get picked on.

 

[BlueBaron]

TO fans wonder why they get picked on.

Because HF posters are triggered by anything that is positve about the Leafs? Oh we know. We just can't control the morons. Imagine the audacity of some random poster thinking the best goal scorer in the league could be compared to the other greats. Leaf fans must suffer endlessly because they have an elite player and HF is obsessed with him.

Oh wait. You probably thought you were disparaging Leaf fans and not pointing out the massive insecurity around here? Oh well.

 

[Haatley]

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.

Lol not even close. At the same age many players had a higher goal per game rate.

 

[amnesiac]

Lets wait until hes at AT LEAST 700GP please

for now, its still:

Ovie
Gretzky
Mario
Bo.Hull
Howe
Bossy
Br.Hull
Bure


that said, yeah, hes on his way to being top 10 if he continues his pace. Big IF.

 

[Stealth1616]

Since Leaf fans love comparisons to Ovechkin so much, why don’t we also compare the level of talent they played with.

Think there’s some selective forgetfulness how dominant young Ovy was

 

[Nona Di Giuseppe]

The stats don't lie, Auston is greater than Ovechkin in pure scoring prowess. Ovi has of course longevity and length of career. So Austin best scorer, Ovi best career (just from goal scoring pov). Mario would have been greater than either (and Gretzky) without his injuries.

this is not how it works.

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.

sample size in " best ever " are vital

reopen this in 10 years

 

[Lord Flashheart]

Ridiculous thread, he has just over 300 goals. In 10 years this might be a conversation.

 

[ForsbergForever]

Is this reality?

 

[Namikaze Minato]

Is this reality?

No. THIS IS OUT HOUSE!