Where Does Auston Matthews Rank For You As A Goal Scorer All Time?

[CascadiaPuck]

Ovi plays a more rough and tumble style. Also, Matthews scores from areas that are much more sustainable long term. Much more net front than Ovi.

IMO you’re setting yourself up for massive disappointment if you’re expecting Ovi-like longevity from any player. What Ovechkin did post-30 as a goal scorer has no precedent.

Matthews has it in him to clear 600 goals and pass 700. To me, if he gets to that upper bound, I’ll likely see him as Top 5. Where he sits more precisely than that I can’t say yet.

Edit: as to right now? It’s really hard to say. Top 20-ish? There’s too much still in front of him.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Anywhere from 1st to ~10th depending on how he ages. Leafs have a ton invested in sports science and their health staff, their primary goal every year should be keeping this man in peak form for as long as possible.

He hasn't exactly been super healthy in his career so far though so I'd be very surprised if he aged as well as Ovechkin. Probably still ends up top 5 though.

I'll say this: he's the most versatile goal scorer I've ever seen. He has arguably the best shot in the game but is also one of the absolute best at tipping pucks, scoring dirty goals. He beats goalies clean like Ovechkin and is masterful in tight like Crosby.

And I still think the best goal he's ever scored was in his very first NHL game lol

 

[Busher]

If he finishes the season with another Rocket, he’ll be around top 10-15.

Dye, Conacher, Richard, Howe, Hull, Esposito, Bossy, Kurri, Gretzky, Lemieux, Hull, Bure, Selanne, Yzerman, Ovechkin, Matthews.

Those are the list of 3 time Rocket winners or multiple 60 goal scorers, and Matthews is trending to accomplish both after this season.

 

[34]

He is undoubtably the undisputed best goal scorer in the world right now. No one has any argument against that. Where he finishes at the end of his career, he may go down as the best goalscorer to ever play the game.

 

[The Podium]

He's one of the best I've ever seen on capitalizing on freebies. Score 3-4 in a nothing game or easy W covers for the frequent no-shows in high stakes games. 'Goal scoring' vs. what he and his team have ultimately accomplished on the ice so far through his career (nothing) go hand in hand imo.

Very entertaining player. Will pad the stats for a very lucrative but ultimately underwhelming career. Ovechkin-lite.

Where do you even come up with this stuff

 

[Slats432]

If he finishes the season with another Rocket, he’ll be around top 10-15.

Dye, Conacher, Richard, Howe, Hull, Esposito, Bossy, Kurri, Gretzky, Lemieux, Hull, Bure, Selanne, Yzerman, Ovechkin, Matthews.

Those are the list of 3 time Rocket winners or multiple 60 goal scorers, and Matthews is trending to accomplish both after this season.

An interest comparison for sure. As a pure goal scorer he is going to be in the top 10 of all time.

 

[PositiveCashFlow]

Jagr Bure Forsberg Kane Hull tier but just below the Gretzky Howe Lemieux Richard tier

 

[pcruz]

Jagr Bure Forsberg Kane Hull tier but just below the Gretzky Howe Lemieux Richard tier

Is this Filip Forsberg and some mythical Kane we're talking about here?

 

[Raging Bull]

Jagr Bure Forsberg Kane Hull tier but just below the Gretzky Howe Lemieux Richard tier

Forsberg never scored more than 30 goals. Matthews will have 100 more career goals after this season then him lol

 

[TheOrangeDesk]

easily top 5 already and possibly will be best goal scorer of all time by time his career is over. and this is coming from someone who hates leaf fans

 

[EazyE1]

Only jaromir knows the answer

 

[wetcoast]

Nowhere as of now . For all I know he could retire early or fall off a cliff play wise or god forbid his career gets ended early . If he keeps it up at the rate he’s going he’ll be fairly high on the list provided he plays long enough. But for what it’s worth I don’t see him having ovi type longevity .

8 seasons is more than enough to get a general idea though right?

Okay so it's 7.5 really but he is already the leaders in goals in the NHL during his 7.5 years and looking like a top 20ish goal scorer of all time one would think right?

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He will also have 3 Richards and a 2,3 finish as well but the thing holding him back will probably be playoff goal scoring, which is still pretty good, although there is still time.

 

[Sheppy]

Probably top 250

 

[McPoyle]

Its a few to years early to start looking at how he ranks all time. If he can continue on his current torrid production of 0.7-0.8 GPG for a few more seasons then he is on the short list.

 

[MessierII]

I can’t answer that question in the middle of his career. Best pure goal scorer since Ovy.

 

[Video Nasty]

Probably among the top 10 greatest starts to a career. I think that’s pretty fair.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

No one is catching Ovechkin and Gretzky. And I doubt he catches Espo or Bobby Hull but that’s certainly not impossible.
I’ll say top 5-10. Still too early to tell.

 

[wetcoast]

Probably among the top 10 greatest starts to a career. I think that’s pretty fair.

To the age of 26 for sure but from the start of their NHL careers maybe not was looking at Nels Stewart who had this start.

1,8,3,2,4,4,7,9

Maybe it's as good maybe not hard to say.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Top 30. His start isnt unprecedented.

For reference, Selanne started as hot as Matthews has. In his first 7 seasons he had 3 Rockets, and 313 G in 485 games (0.64 GPG)

 

[FrozenJagrt]

I actually don't expect Matthews to age very well as a goal scorer. He's already got a history of shoulder and wrist issues that have plagued him constantly in his career. One more and we could see a pretty sharp decline.

 

[pcruz]

I actually don't expect Matthews to age very well as a goal scorer. He's already got a history of shoulder and wrist issues that have plagued him constantly in his career. One more and we could see a pretty sharp decline.

This is 100% correct.

He's been on the decline for 2 years now.

60 Goal season, followed by a 50% decline to 40 goals and now, he hasn't even hit 40 goals yet.

The end is just around the corner for his offensive production.

As has been predicted now for 12 months.

 

[34]

No one is catching Ovechkin and Gretzky. And I doubt he catches Espo or Bobby Hull but that’s certainly not impossible.
I’ll say top 5-10. Still too early to tell.

Matthews 100% catches Ovechkin. Book it.

 

[AvroArrow]

Top 10 already. But looking at his skill level, top 5, but I understand that there's guys that produced into their late 30s. But if we're looking at all players primes, he's easily in the top 5. If he can stay healthy I don't see any reason why he can't finish as a top 3 goal scorer of all time.

 

[Straight Fire]

For me he's on pace to be a top 5 goal scorer all time. Top 5 to 10 at least.

I think longevity with all great players is the only question.

 

[Dust]

I have him sitting about 175th.

NHL & WHA Career Leaders and Records for Goals | Hockey-Reference.com

1. Wayne Gretzky (894), 2. Alex Ovechkin (872), 3. Gordie Howe (801), 4. Jaromír Jágr (766), 5. Brett Hull (741), 6. Marcel Dionne (731), 7. Phil Esposito (717), 8. Mike Gartner (708), 9. Mark Messier (694), 10. Steve Yzerman (692)

www.hockey-reference.com