So brilliant

I think he could retire tomorrow and still make it in. He's the third EVER defenceman to win the Norris and Conn Smythe Trophies in the same season. He has 198 points in 192 games. He's looking at smashing the quickest to 200 points by a defender by nearly 20 games left. He lead the team in offseason point en route to lifting the cup. Making him the defenseman with the 4th most points in a single off season. He's pretty much already in. They can't not at this point. He's broke to many records in less than 200 games played...

@@Karlmcewan Yeah, honestly with that on the resume I agree entirely. But I also know how Hall of Fames are and I would sincerely worry about them not wanting to put someone with so few games played in the hall. But that's just hypothetical anyway, the guy will almost definitely have an illustrious and long career barring injuries. He's such a treat to watch, he's easily the most gifted offensive defensemen I've seen in my life. At the very least in his pure talent with the puck and stick handling. I've seen some great offensive defensemen and Erik Karlsson in his prime, John Carlson at his best, Roman Josi, Lidstrom, Gonchar. The later years of guys like Niedermayer and Pronger. I know I've forgotten some, but none of those, maybe the closest being Karlsson at his best, show the skill that Makar possesses.

When your as mobile and hockey smart as Makar is shutting down star players is easy

Believe it, friend. It's real. The Avalanche really did win the Stanley Cup just last night. I won't pretend it was the longest drought but it can feel like a life time. Cherish it and hope you can see it again for your team as everyone else hopes it never happens again xP Watching your favorite team win a cup is truly incredible because it's just such a hard fought championship to win and watching hockey is the most stressful and heart pounding sport to watch that you feel like you've gone through the ringer by the end. Enjoy it, just remember to be humble about it and appreciate it, don't hold it over any other fan base's head, except maybe Tampa for a few weeks lol.

@@adamg7984 lol. Good words. Thank you.

Another generational Canadian defenseman, the likes of Orr, Coffee. Gonna be fun to watch

Matthews?

@@julianagostinelli9208 Don't worry about it. Matthews would certainly make it in the conversation though at times he's definitely top 5, there are times he goes cold and is pretty inarguably not. Many Pittsburgh pearl clutching fans, which I am one at times, still argue Crosby is the best. I just don't think so and haven't for a few years except my homer gets to me some times and people love to use the excuse that his complete game is what makes him the best. But, honestly, the raw production that McDavid creates cannot be argued against in my eyes. He's a modern day Gretzky or Lemieux, just a cut above the rest in talent and hockey IQ and that's saying a lot. And just bear in mind any one's top 5 or even a group's top 5 is very subjective but Matthews would certainly make it on some lists.

@@julianagostinelli9208 I debated that but Matthews would be 6 at this point. If he continues tho and gets it done in the playoffs things would absolutely change

@@zigfield723 ted lindsay, hart, rocket richard by a mile, mvp of the league and not top 5 in your list? lol

@@xyonix5193 He was voted MVP of the regular season, and that could have easily gone to the games best player who is Connor McDavid, he had 123 points. Johnny hockey could have also won that. But this is about the best in the game, not who had the best regular season. And until Matthews does anything in the playoffs he won't touch the 5 above him. Plain and simple

Actually he's 23!

Yes but he might be the first in what 4 or 5 generations who has maybe the potential to live up to the legend

Yeah I agree, but he legit might be the next best thing. He's the closest I've seen to an Orr in modern hockey which really says a lot considering Lidstrom only retired a handful of years ago and so many other legends have played in this era. But Cale Makar has some freakishly high talent offensively and extreme creativity along with some really sound defense. He might be at least capable of going into the books as a competitor to Orr and that alone is amazing if you look at it that way. Of course he's not Bobby Orr yet, but he's also very young with plenty more potential.

A long way but certainly the potential to be the best D-man ever

@@adamg7984yes you can compare makar to Orr I mean Orr never had to play against mcdavid!!

Ranking old-timey greats above modern day players just because the old players were further ahead of their peers is nonsense. You rank the players based on who's best at hockey. Makar and many of today's defenseman have physical skills totally beyond what Orr was capable of. It's much harder to stand out today because the skill level across the league is incredibly higher and there is a much higher human population today, so there is way more competition to even reach the top. The gap between the top players and the rest of the league is not what's important. It's the talent and skill of the top players that matters.