Best U.S.-born player debated by NHL.com writers

It's hard to remember a time when the NHL was loaded with such high-end talent from the United States.

There are bona fide stars at each position: Jake Oettinger and Connor Hellebuyck in goal, Adam Fox on defense and Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes at forward, to name a few.
Many are part of the new generation of the American player pipeline.
But which United States-born player is the best in the NHL right now?
A panel of NHL.com writers came up with a list of contenders for that title to celebrate the start of Hockey Week Across America, which began Monday and runs through Sunday.
Here is the list (in alphabetical order):
Adam Fox, D, New York Rangers
On a team of big-name stars, including forwards Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and now Vladimir Tarasenko, Fox is the most underrated player on the team, and he may be the best all-around. The 25-year-old defenseman from Jericho, New York has the uncanny ability to be calm yet exhilarating at the same time with the puck on his stick. His numbers don't tell the whole story. On a team that loves to go up and down the ice, he is a steady presence on defense and drives a power play that can be lethal at times. He's already won a Norris Trophy as the best defensemen in the NHL (2020-21) and seems to be getting better each game. He's not as flashy and may not put up the same offensive numbers as some of the other players on this list, but if I'm starting a team of U.S.-born players, he's my first pick. -- Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief

Connor Hellebuyck, G, Winnipeg Jets
When it comes to U.S.-born goalies, few, if any, have had the impact Hellebuyck has had in Winnipeg the past eight seasons. Since entering the League in 2015-16, Hellebuyck leads all American goalies in wins (226), shots against (12,961), saves (11,878) and shutouts (31). The 29-year-old native of Commerce, Michigan, also has played more games during that span (423) than any other NHL goalie. Hellebuyck, to me, is asked annually to do more than almost any other goalie in the League and continues to produce strong individual numbers. Selected in the fifth round (No. 130) of the 2012 NHL Draft, he won the Vezina Trophy as the top goalie in the NHL in 2019-20 and has played in the NHL All-Star Game three times. He's also excelled for the U.S. in international competitions, going 9-1-0 with a 1.59 goals-against average, .942 save percentage and two shutouts in 10 games at the IIHF World Championship (2014, 2015, 2017). He helped the U.S. win the bronze medal in 2015. --Mike G. Morreale, staff writer
Jack Hughes, F, New Jersey Devils
The center has been on a tear all season. Hughes had two assists Saturday, his first game back after missing five because of an upper-body injury. He had five straight multipoint games before the injury, and has at least two points in 24 of his 52 games. He is on pace for more than 50 goals and 100 points, marks no Devils player has hit in the same season. He's a dynamic playmaker who has sparked New Jersey to a place in the standings not many people thought possible. Hughes, who was born in Orlando, Florida, also should receive votes for the Hart Trophy as League MVP. -- David Satriano, staff writer

Dylan Larkin, F, Detroit Red Wings
Larkin is living the American hockey dream. He was born in Waterford, Michigan; played for the USA Hockey National Team Development program and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan; broke into the pros with Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League on the west side of his home state; and has played for his home state NHL team since 2015-16. Though Larkin ranks in the top 10 in points among United States-born players this season, I'm making my case based on intangibles. As captain of the Red Wings, he's everything you want in a leader. He hustles, plays hurt, speaks well and represents the team with pride, which has been especially important while the Red Wings have gone through hard times. He can be an unrestricted free agent after this season, and it hasn't seemed to affect him. -- Nicholas J. Cotsonika, columnist
Auston Matthews, F, Toronto Maple Leafs
As someone who is fortunate enough to cover Matthews on a regular basis, this is an easy argument. His resume speaks for itself. Eight months ago, the 25-year-old was awarded the Hart Trophy as NHL most valuable player, and also was named the recipient of the Ted Lindsay Award, given annually to the most outstanding player as voted by members of the NHL Players' Association. The only other U.S.-born player to win either the Hart or Lindsay was Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane, who captured each in 2015-16. Born in San Ramon, California, Matthews became the fastest player in Maple Leafs history to reach 500 points with an assist against the St. Louis Blues on Jan. 3 in his 445th game, 50 games quicker than the previous record holders, Mats Sundin and Rick Vaive. Matthews became the eighth-fastest NHL player to score 250 goals April 2, 2022, in career game No. 397. Wayne Gretzky (302), Mike Bossy (315), Mario Lemieux (324), Brett Hull (328), Alex Ovechkin (366), Teemu Selanne (388) and Jari Kurri (389) are the only players to do it quicker. None were born in the U.S. We rest our case. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

Jake Oettinger, G, Dallas Stars
Oettinger is early in his NHL career but he's making a name for himself. The 24-year-old, born in Lakeville, Minnesota, got his first NHL taste with the Stars during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when he saved all eight shots he faced in two brief appearances. The next season Oettinger showed he could handle a heavy workload and he hasn't looked back. In the playoffs last season he was the Stars' best player, with a 1.81 goals-against average and .954 save percentage in a seven-game loss to the Calgary Flames in the Western Conference First Round. He's carried that outstanding play into this season, where he ranks in the top 10 among NHL goalies (minimum 20 games) in wins (23, tied for sixth), GAA (2.20, third), save percentage (.926, second) and shutouts (four, third). Oettinger also has won gold medals with the U.S. at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship (2015) and the World Junior Championship (2017), and a bronze medal at the World Championship (2021). -- Tracey Myers, staff writer
Jason Robertson, F, Dallas Stars
Since entering the NHL full-time during the 2020-21 season, the forward has been an elite scorer, averaging 1.07 points per game (195 points in 182 games), tied for fourth among U.S.-born forwards. And at 23 years old, he's younger than the players ahead of him, Matthews (1.31; age 25), Matthew Tkachuk (1.15; age 25) and Johnny Gaudreau (1.12; age 29). Robertson also arguably is relied upon more by his team than any of the other deserving skaters on this list. Born in Arcadia, California, Robertson leads the Stars with 71 points (34 goals, 37 assists) in 57 games, 21 points ahead of any Dallas teammate (Roope Hintz, 50). -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

Tage Thompson, F, Buffalo Sabres
Who is leading all U.S.-born NHL players in goals this season? Not Auston Matthews. Not Jack Hughes or Jason Robertson. It's Thompson, the player who has taken the Buffalo Sabres (and the NHL) by storm, lifting his team, his profile and his hockey-mad city, with 36 goals in 54 games, one season after he scored 38 in 78 games. Thompson has 71 points in 54 games, tied for seventh in the NHL. The Phoenix-born power forward has entered his name into the Hart Trophy conversation, but he's done more, putting himself into the conversation for the best active U.S.-born players with his dynamic 2022-23 season. And he's made the trade that sent him to Buffalo from the St. Louis Blues look a lot different than it once did, with Sabres having acquired Thompson on July 1, 2018, in the deal that sent Ryan O'Reilly to St. Louis. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer
Matthew Tkachuk, F, Florida Panthers
Skill? No question about it. Production? Tkachuk had 104 points (42 goals, 62 assists) in 82 games last season, and with 76 points (28 goals, 48 assists) in 56 games he's on pace to surpass that this season. He scores from close to the net arguably better than any player in the NHL. Size? He's 6-foot-2, 201 pounds, and he uses all of it to outmuscle and overpower the opposition. He's also quite good at getting under the skin of the opposition. In his prime? Tkachuk is 25. He's approaching 500 NHL games played. He's signed through the 2029-30 season. He's elite and will remain that way for a long time. Facts are facts, and there is not another U.S.-born player, or player of any nationality, in the NHL quite like Tkachuk, with all he does for the Panthers, all his traits that make him one of the hardest players to play against in the League. On top of all of it, the native of Scottsdale, Arizona loves the spotlight and relishes being a star. And, yes, that matters too. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer