# Who's the greatest AMERICAN hockey player of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 22, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-greatest-american-hockey-player-of-all-time/597140 "2011-09-22T02:17:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-greatest-american-hockey-player-of-all-time/597140/21 "2011-09-23T01:45:39Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > One. > > The conversation about the second best Canadian hockey player will revolve around maybe 5 guys, but the conversation about the best is just boring. > > Coffee shop patron #1: So who’s the greatest hockey player ever? > Coffee shop patron #2: Wayne, of course. > Coffee shop patrons #3-17: Yup. Well, I have to disagree. I can’t imagine any conversation about the best player ever that doesn’t include Bobby Orr. I can imagine that Mario and Gordie become after thoughts, but to ignore Orr? I can’t see it happening. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-greatest-american-hockey-player-of-all-time/597140/22 "2011-09-23T03:14:25Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Well, I have to disagree. I can’t imagine any conversation about the best player ever that doesn’t include Bobby Orr. I can imagine that Mario and Gordie become after thoughts, but to ignore Orr? I can’t see it happening. You give me 5 Bobby Orr’s and a goalie and I will beat 5 of anybody else and a goalie. ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-greatest-american-hockey-player-of-all-time/597140/23 "2011-09-26T12:12:56Z")
The discussion starts and ends with Modano, and it’s not close. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-greatest-american-hockey-player-of-all-time/597140/24 "2011-09-26T20:53:16Z")
I voted for LaFontaine who I think was the best American Player if you compare them all at their peaks. However, who was the best over their entire careers? I probably have to go with Chelios or Modano. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2011, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-greatest-american-hockey-player-of-all-time/597140/25 "2011-09-26T21:16:35Z")
I was going to suggest that Jimmy Carson shold also be on the list, but then I rechecked his career stats. His first 3 seasons were outstanding, but after that he started missing large chunks of seasons and never was the same again. Still, 561 points is nothing to sneeze at… I went with Modano, but then I never particularly liked Hull, Chelios, Leetch, Lafontaine, or Roenick, who I would say are the other players worthy of discussion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-the-greatest-american-hockey-player-of-all-time/597140.md?page=1)