Is Pat LaFontaine the Greatest American Hockey Player of All Time?

Some people believe Pat LaFontaine is the Greatest American Hockey Player of All Time. (The A-GOAT? The GAOAT?) This is despite an injury-shortened career and no Stanley Cups.

Does this claim hold up to scrutiny?

Listen to us talk about LaFontaine here:

Pat LaFontaine’s Career:

• NHL: 1983-98; 15 seasons, 11 quality
• Totals:
  • 468G, 
  • 545A for 
  • 1013, 
  • -6 in 
  • 856 Games; 
  • 92.8 PS
• Per Game:
  • 3rd American All Time in Goals Per Game
  • 15th All Time in Points Per Game (1st American)
• Draft: Drafted 3rd overall in 1983, LaFontaine is
  • 2nd in Goals
  • 2nd in Assists (behind by over 500)
  • 2nd in Points
  • 67th in Plus Minus [This includes players who barely played in the NHL]
  • 4th in Point Shares but
  • 18th in Games Played
• Era: Of the 97 players to play in at least 820 games between 1983 and 1998, LaFontaine is
  • 8th in Goals
  • 2nd in Goals Per Game
  • 23rd in Assists
  • 16th in Assists Per Game
  • 15th in Points
  • 7th in Points Per Game
  • 66th in Plus Minus
  • 9th in Point Shares
  • 19th in Point Shares
• 82-game average: 44G, 52A for 96P, -1
• 3-year peak (1990-93): 82-game average of 54G, 69A for 124P, +6
• No possession stats
• Playoffs:
  • 26G, 37A for 63P, -13 in 69 Games
  • Per Game: Among American-born players, Lafontaine is
    • T-4th All Time in Playoff GPG
    • 5th All Time Playoff PPG
• Adjusted:
  • Hockey-Reference:
    • 414G, 488A for 902P
    • Per Game: LaFontaine is not in the Top 25; However, if the qualifier is raised to 820 games (10 seasons), LaFontaine is
      • 19th All Time in Adjusted GPG
  • VsX:
    • Totals:
      • 422G
      • 509A
      • 832P
    • Per Game: LaFontaine is not in the Top 25; However, if the qualifier is set to 820 games (10 seasons), LaFontaine is
      • 18th All Time in VsX Adjusted GPG
• Trades:
  • Traded at 26 with Randy Hiller (31), Randy Wood (28) a 1992 4th Rounder (Dean Melanson) to the Sabres for Pierre Turgeon (22), Uwe Krupp (26), Benoit Hogue (25) and Dave McLlwain (24)
  • Traded at 32 to the Rangers for a 1998 2nd Rounder (Andrew Peters) and future considerations

Pat LaFontaine’s Accomplishments:

• Top 5 in Hart voting twice
• Masterton (‘94)
• Top Player:
  • Top 5 Player (by PS) once (‘93)
  • Top 5 Offensive Player (by OPS) twice (‘92, ‘93)
  • Top 10 Offensive Player three times (‘90)
• Goals:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 twice
  • GPG leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in GPG twice
    • Top 10 three times
  • Single-season totals:
    • 50 goals twice
    • 45 goals five times (1 of only 18 players ever)
    • 40 goals seven times (1 of only 17 players ever)
    • 35 goals eight times (1 of only 22 players ever)
    • 30 goals nine times
    • 20 goals ten times
• Assists:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in Assists once
  • APG leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in APG once
  • Single-season totals:
    • 90 assists once (1 of only 11 players ever)
    • 50 assists three times
    • 40 assists seven times
• Points:
  • Leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in Points once
    • Top 10 twice
  • PPG leader-boards:
    • Top 5 in PPG three times
  • Single-season totals:
    • 140 points once (1 of only 9 players ever)
    • 100 points twice
    • 90 points five times
    • 80 points seven times
    • 70 points eight times
    • 60 points nine times
    • 50 points eleven times
• All Star:
  • 2nd Team All Star once
  • 5 All Star Game appearances
  • Rookie of the Month once
• VsX Peak:
  • Best 7 Seasons:
    • Goals: 61st All Time
    • Assists: 225th All Time
    • Points: 115th All Time
  • Best 10 Seasons:
    • Goals: 61st All Time
    • Assists: 201st All Time
    • Points: 109th All Time

Pat LaFontaine’s Great Teams:

• NHL:
  • Top 6? Forward (by points, but missed 5 games) on one Runner Up (‘84 Islanders)
• Canada/World Cup:
  • Top 6? Forward by points on one Champion (‘96 USA) and one Runner Up (‘91 USA)