Is there an argument for Kopitar to be the 3rd best player of his generation behind Crosby/Ovechkin?

[Nadal On Clay]

As we know, there is a considerable gap between Crosby/Ovechkin and the 3rd player of their generation, which is more commonly argued to be either Malkin or Kane. I feel like a name that often gets forgotten in these discussions is Kopitar.

Kopitar entered the league at the same time as Malkin in 2006-2007, one year before Kane. Here are some of his notable accomplishments.

- Led the Kings in scoring 15 times, which would be good for 3rd place all-time I believe behind only Gretzky (20) and Howe (17) for the number of times leading his team in scoring.
- Has 2 Playoff scoring titles, which is as many as Malkin and one more than Kane.
- Won 2 Selke trophies (Finished top 10, 12 times)
- Has accumulated 16 60+ pts seasons, good for top 10 all time behind only Howe, Gretzky, Ovechkin, Jagr, Francis, Crosby, Sakic, Messier and Dionne. He would probably be only trailing Gretzky, Howe, Ovechkin and Crosby if not for the shortened seasons (2013 lockout, COVID).
- Has built an impressive longevity resume and seems to be aging better than both Malkin and Kane.

His offensive peak might not be as good as Malkin's and Kane's, but he is worlds ahead on the defensive side of the ice, played on a defensive oriented system for most of his career and did not play with any other star teammate on offense (at least for most of his career). Is it enough to be considered the 3rd best player of the 2005 lockout generation ahead of Malkin and Kane? If not currently, can he eventually get there?

 

[WarriorofTime]

what generation is that, players born 1985-1987?

 

[Nadal On Clay]

what generation is that, players born 1985-1987?

What about players drafted in between 2000 and 2010?

 

[Midnight Judges]

Kopitar has pretty much always been underappreciated imo.

But he does have one glaring weakness on his resume: he was never the best player in the world.

Malkin obviously was in 2012. Kane easily was in 2016.

Not saying that ends the argument but at this level, being that guy for a time has to count for something.

 

[Booker T]

As we know, there is a considerable gap between Crosby/Ovechkin and the 3rd player of their generation, which is more commonly argued to be either Malkin or Kane. I feel like a name that often gets forgotten in these discussions is Kopitar.

I have never seen an argument for Kane over Malkin.

Kopitar, Kane, and Giroux can fight for #4

 

[Penguin Suited Up]

In over 200 less games played, Malkin has about 80 more points than Kopitar. So no.

 

[Penguin Suited Up]

I have never seen an argument for Kane over Malkin.

Kopitar, Kane, and Giroux can fight for #4

Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin were always the trifecta.

 

[Nadal On Clay]

Kopitar has pretty much always been underappreciated imo.

But he does have one glaring weakness on his resume: he was never the best player in the world.

Malkin obviously was in 2012. Kane easily was in 2016.

While I think it's true, he was really much up there in 2017-2018. Winning the Selke with 92 pts (7th in scoring) should have put him in the conversation that year. I had him up there with McDavid and MacKinnon. He had my vote for the Hart.

 

[Hivemind]

No, there's not a valid argument for it. Next question.

 

[CokenoPepsi]

No, he doesn't.

Even if he were Canadian and got alot more hype I don't think he has an argument

 

[cowboy82nd]

In over 200 less games played, Malkin has about 80 more points than Kopitar. So no.

So, it's all about points?

 

[WarriorofTime]

Kopitar, Kane, and Giroux can fight for #4

I have never seen an argument for Giroux over Kane. Kane is 226 career points ahead of Giroux despite being a draft year behind. 3 Stanley Cups to 0. Hart/Art Ross/Lindsay trifecta in 2016 versus nothing like that. 7 Top 10 scoring seasons vs. 4. You're not making a serious argument if you're going to argue Giroux is on Kane's tier on a career level.

 

[Booker T]

I have never seen an argument for Giroux over Kane. Kane is 226 career points ahead of Giroux despite being a draft year behind. 3 Stanley Cups to 0. Hart/Art Ross/Lindsay trifecta in 2016 versus nothing like that. 7 Top 10 scoring seasons vs. 4. You're not a serious argument if you're going to argue Giroux is on Kane's tier on a career level.

Neither have I, but that's not what I said. The gap between Ovechkin/Crosby/Malkin and #4 is greater than the gaps between Kane, Kopitar, and Giroux for #4. I'd likely have Kane at #4.

Kopitar vs. Giroux for #5 is a much more interesting comparison. While Kopitar was a much better defensive player, Giroux was no slouch and was certainly better defensively than any player from 1-4. I still think Kopitar probably takes #5, though.

 

[villacco]

Nah, 1984 to 1988 had a lot great players. You named all the right reasons why Kopitar is number 5 ahead of a lot of other great players like Bergeron, Toews, Getzlaf, Giroux, Marchand, Staal,... (the list goes on)

But alltime ranking is pretty set in stone for Kopitars generation, because the guys ahead of him where way better offensively (peak and prime) and won a lot of trophies (way more than Kopitar) and cups as well, while having Kopitars longevity.

1a.) Crosby
1b.) Ovechkin
3.) Malkin
4.) Kane
5.) Kopitar

 

[barkovcanfinnish]

3rd? That’s a stretch. But I do see a valid argument for 4th.

 

[tarheelhockey]

So, it's all about points?

No, but in terms of their career pace you’re comparing a 91 point player to a 70 point player. That’s a huge gap that can’t easily be closed by defense.

 

[Rebels57]

I would have him 4th behind (swallows vomit because i'm a Flyers fan) Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin. Just ahead of Kane and then Giroux, Bergeron, Stamkos, etc.

 

[JackSlater]

No, it's clearly Malkin. I am very open to Kopitar over Kane though, as I would not have Kane fourth. Any time you can get a franchise number one centre to build around for 15+ years you've got a great player, so it's no slight to Kopitar.

 

[hamzarocks]

So, it's all about points?

When there is a projected 300 pt gap in the same amount of games played between 2 players then obviously its about points and you take the much better player.

People here just bend over backwards to try and compare 2-way Cs to players they don't belong in a conversation with

 

[authentic]

Career wise he is better than Kane or debatable atleast, and obviously Datsyuk, but peak Datsyuk > Kane > Kopitar, but the margins are slim.

 

[authentic]

Although I’d be open to the idea that Kopitar is basically equal with Kane for peak, certainly would be close on who you would take for a playoff run.

 

[Booker T]

I have just never seen a season like this out of Kopitar. 11-12 Malkin was on pace for ~55 goals, 120 points. That's a large gap from the others in the top 10.

No idea why NHL.com updates the team icons for past seasons. Stamkos on the Preds was electric.

 

[oconnor9sean]

Deserves way more than 2 Selkes too *cough Bergeron* but this site wont be able to handle that conversation

 

[WarriorofTime]

I have just never seen a season like this out of Kopitar. 11-12 Malkin was on pace for ~55 goals, 120 points. That's a large gap from the others in the top 10.

View attachment 1019937

No idea why NHL.com updates the team icons for past seasons. Stamkos on the Preds was electric.

The West was a bloodbath back in those days. So many great Defensemen and two-way centers. No surprise all the top scorers were in the east even though all the best teams were in the west.

 

[Penguin Suited Up]

So, it's all about points?

The point disparity is so great on top of the fact that Malkin has always been known to be a significantly more talented hockey player that this isn’t even a question.