Great players are often measured by their collection of championships. That's just fine, but in no way does it apply to the hot topic of Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin.
Hockey's duo of superstars dominates weekly headlines each time they go head-to-head, and they were the subject of two intermission segments on NBC's Game of the Week this past Sunday. The Penguins and Capitals were rivals based on Crosby and Ovechkin for the longest time, but only recently took the next step as playoff rivals.
Sure, Sid has a Stanley Cup to his name. He also was blessed with a deeper team, one that was feeding off extreme energy from new head coach Dan Bylsma.
But Ovechkin, the game's most dominant player, is superior.
Not only does he boast a physical edge unlike any other star player, he holds the unique ability to drag his teammates into the fight.
He, like Crosby, wears the captain's C on his jersey and leads by example better than most NHL captains.
Know this: I don't hate Crosby, nor do I worship him. I love to watch him play and admire his competitiveness, leadership and raw ability. But this argument shouldn't need to be so buttered up and twisted.
Unfortunately, it is hard for anyone other than a Penguins fan to argue that Ovechkin is not hockey's best player. Sadly, I constantly fight a losing battle.
A friend of mine (who, for his benefit, will go unnamed) claims to be the biggest Sidney Crosby fan on this planet. On one hand, I admire him, because he gets to follow a superstar with regularity.
On the other, more logical hand, I pity him -- because his knuckleheaded love for Crosby blinds his ability to appreciate the game of hockey.
In his mind, no one person or player can come between Crosby and the sun. Recently, I asked him to name the Penguins' biggest trade since Crosby's draft year, and he couldn't do it.
(Note: Marian Hossa).
Then, I asked him to tell me who the Penguins dealt to acquire winger Chris Kunitz. Alas, strike two.
(Note: defenseman Ryan Whitney, now on the USA Olympic team).
He said that Ovechkin is the lesser player because he tries to do everything by himself, and that he's a selfish player who has no concept of the team. Allow the numbers this season, considered to be Crosby's best scoring campaign yet by many hockey pundits, to speak:
*In 58 games this season, Crosby has 39 goals and 35 assists for 74 points. He holds a plus/minus rating of +7 and four game-winning goals.
*In just 51 games this season, Ovechkin has 42 goals (including a hat trick against the Penguins on Sunday), 44 assists for 86 points. His plus/minus is a staggering +41, the best mark in the NHL. He has five game-winning goals this season, as well.
And if we're going by purely point-scoring (as my friend commonly defers to), Capitals' center Nicklas Backstrom has to be right up there with Crosby. He has accumulated 73 points, one fewer than Sid, and has a +32 rating.
Of course, I could always appease my friend and use statistics.
2 Sports
Rob Mixer
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Washington Capitals
