Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Tim, Portland, OR — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:54:13 GMT

Crosby is better than Ovechkin. He's not a flashy goal scorer, but he's a better leader, a brilliant set up man, he backchecks and plays D (something Ovechkin rarely does). Crosby is a playoff warior, check his face off stats for round one.

I'm not taking anything away from Ovechkin's goal scoring abilities, but he did shoot the puck 290 more times than Crosby. Let's say that Crosby dedcides to shoot as much as Ovechkin (some would call that a puckhog or selfish player), he would have scored 73 goals.

This is going to be one intense series. The hockey gods have smiled upon us.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Justin, Pittsburgh PA — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 05:57:52 GMT

Actually, quite a few who watch the game think that Crosby and/or Malkin are better than Ovechkin. There is more to the game than merely scoring goals. Yes, Ovechkin scores more of them than anyone... but how good is his passing? His vision? Playmaking? Forechecking? Defensive checking? The point is, there's a lot more to "being the best" than scoring exciting goals. I'm not denying the guy's skills, but I definitely don't think he's a more complete hockey player than either Crosby OR Malkin.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Mike, Arlington, VA — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:42:48 GMT

"Nobody who watches thinks either is better than Ovechkin."

Thanks for the gross over-generalization. Mike, do you ever write about hockey? Actually, Ovie didn't win the scoring title this year - that honor went to Malkin. Ovie had more goals, but the scoring title goes to the player with the most points (which include assists you moron).

No one disuputes Ovechkin's greatness, but his game is inconsistent at best when it comes to backchecking and playing defense. He plays 2/3 of the ice. That's not to say he isn't the MVP... take him off of the Caps lineup and they're a borderline 8 seed. Malkin is the most complete player in the game though. Plays at both ends of the ice, hustles, scores, hits, backchecks. He probably won't win the award, but do yourself a favor and watch some tape of these guys before making bad generalizations.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

pete ,Vienna, VA — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:52:40 GMT

Bravo Mike.. Excellent comments, I personally believe Hockey is the greatest TEAM sport ever played on earth, more than BASKETBALL, BASEBALL or SOCCER given the fact that one has to learn how to skate on razor blade first and a lot of other skills, in my opnion "the KId " is overrated, OV is the real deal !!

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

BG, Arlington, VA — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:05:58 GMT

More complete? Ovechkin only had 37 takeaways.
Evgeni Malkin led the league with 94 takeaways. Ovechkin led the league with 107 giveaways.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Jason McCauley, Pittsburgh,pa — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:20:47 GMT

I dont usually go on websites that really care nothing about hockey..I went on this one because NBC is carrying the game and is the reason why game one is on at 1pm instead of 7pm which is the correct time to start a NHL playoff game.After reading this article i know why i never come on this site..You know nothing about hockey, stick to the Kentucky derby and golf NBC.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

The More Literate Mike — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:42:59 GMT

Actually, Mike (the poster), if you could read, Mike (the columnist) was correct when he said Ovechkin has won the GOAL-scoring title two straight years (which doesnt include assists, you moron.) Also, complete does not mean better. You want complete, look to the Selke finalists, you want a workhorse, look to Malkin. There's a reason there isnt a "best player" award, its becasue its a ambiguous term.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Dan, Centreville, VA — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:46:01 GMT

Celzic you apparently do not know how they award the scoring title in the NHL. Malkin won the scoring title by having the most points (goals + assists). Ovechkin barely won the title last year; he may have more goals scored, but he is nowhere the complete player Crosby and Malkin are in the game. Ovechkin is not the team player he needs to be in order to win the Stanley Cup. Remember there is no "I" in team loser.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Mark — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:04:15 GMT

Ovechkin plays for Ovechkin (thus number of goals). Crosby plays for his team (thus total number of points and assists). Ovechkin acts like a hot dog. Crosby acts like he has scored before. Sorry, but I know who I would rather play with and I speak from experience.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Frank, Fairfield, PA — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:20:22 GMT

Ovechkin's a punk, without a complete game. Malkin has a more complete game, as does Sid, and they both make others around them better. Ovechkin's only out for his own stats. Plus Sid is a true LEADER.

I got a beef with NBC (aside from the start time). At Mellon Arena they put a HUGE screen on the side of the arena, so that fans that couldn't get tickets can come to the arena and watch the game. Very cool. However, NBC won't allow them to do it for Game 1, since NBC has the rights. Bogus!

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Mike G, Arlington VA — Fri, 01 May 2009 16:53:37 GMT

To Mike in Arlington, VA. Ovechkin indeed did win the "goal-scoring title," as was correctly stated in the article. It's the Rocket Richard trophy, if you're keeping score at home. He scored more goals than anyone else. Assists can be overrated, since they can give out two assists for every goal scored. How many of those are primary assists? Being from Arlington, have you ever watched a game of him live and in person against Malkin and Crosby? Ovechkin stands out from any other player in speed, skill and puckhandling, not to mention his hitting ability, which Malkin and Crosby rarely use. As for setting up goals and dishing the puck, for all the shooting he does, Ovechkin has done a lot more passing this offseason, adjusting his game to help his team win. While everyone criticizes the volume of shots, if you ever played the game (sounds like you didn't) you would have heard that 100% of the shots you take don't go in.

~The Real Mike from Arlington

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Kristin, Fairfax, VA — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:06:33 GMT

Ovechkin is a great hockey player. Crosby is a great hockey player. But it takes much more than being a great hockey player to win. You need a team around you. Ovechkin has the makings to win many Cups, but Crosby is the one who can not only win, but be the leader that takes an entire team along with him.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Mike, Wyandotte, MI — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:22:49 GMT

It is apparent some of the respondents here do not really watch Ovechkin. Sure he scores goals, but it seems the biggest knock against him is a perception that he does not play D. Maybe, maybe not, but what I do know is that, however he does it, Ovechkin is always exactly where he is supposed to be when I comes to playing D. It really is amazing. He is certainly unconventional when it comes to D, but again, he is always exactly where he needs to be. He just visualizes the game so well and analyzes what the other team is trying to do that he can get to the correct spot somehow.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Rod Kaufmann — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:39:58 GMT

What bothers me is the "put down" marker on Sidney Crosby. You folks in the media invented the moniker "Sid the Kid", and you were the ones who did his PR for him....promoting him as the "next Gretzky." I watch a lot of hockey, and I think the case can be made that Crosby is the best all around player, and the same for Ovechkin or Malkin. If Crosby isn't the best, stop putting him down. Blame your colleagues who make their living building up athletes and then criticizing those who don't live up to YOUR hype.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

sabrefan, buffalo, ny — Fri, 01 May 2009 19:02:07 GMT

Crosby and Malkin are great players but Ovechkin makes them both look silly. This from a buffalo fan who hates both teams

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Mark McKee, Albuquerque, NM — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:06:22 GMT

If I were starting a team and they gave me one player, I would be grudgingly forced to pass on Ovechkin, Crosby and Malkin. I would build my team around Pavel Datsuk, who I believe to be the most complete player in the NHL. He chooses to be unselfish and it costs him the Hart every season. I guess he actually prefers winning Stanley Cups. Go figure... Too bad the league doesn't consider unselfish play in the Hart balloting. Too bad Sean Avery gets more coverage than Datsuk. Family fun, indeed!

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Chris KC,MO — Fri, 01 May 2009 22:05:56 GMT

It is almost impossible to compare these two players... I am a Pens fan all the way, but these two players are so different in style, it's impossible to judge whom is better... It'd be easier to compare Evgeni Malkin and Alex Ovechkin. Both are shooters and powerhouses on their team.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Peter North, Alexandria,Virginia — Fri, 01 May 2009 22:57:09 GMT

Ovechkin is in a class by himself. Crosby is nowwhere close to being as good as the great one. Rock the Red.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

KJW, Redford, MI — Sat, 02 May 2009 11:37:22 GMT

Sorry everyone, but Nick Lidstrom is the best player in the league and has been for years. Yes, he's a defenseman, so there may not be a direct comparison to these forwards, but watch him play.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

john pileggi, New York, NY — Sat, 02 May 2009 16:24:29 GMT

It is great filler of content need to write the "best player is......." article. The fact is that it mostly changes from season to season and even from game to game. If you take Howe, Orr, Gretzky and Lemieux, you can have an endless argument over "and the best is......", and at any given point in time over their respective careers, you would be correct. Ovechkin is a wonderful player. Crosby is as well.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

B.A. Alexander, Washington, D.C. — Sat, 02 May 2009 17:32:52 GMT

The NBC play-by-play has the worst bias I've ever heard. They were the same way during the Caps-Rangers series - everything NY did was great, everything Washington does is weak/a mistake, etc. Already in the first period, they're pushing for Pittsburgh.I can hardly wait for the rest of the series on Versus.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

jarrod, Pittsburgh — Sat, 02 May 2009 17:55:58 GMT

nbc needs to find new talent if they are going to continue broadcasting hockey games.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Doug,Murrysville PA — Sat, 02 May 2009 18:00:09 GMT

Thanks again NBC......blacking out the game on the BIG SCREEN at Mellon Arena....got another idea for you....blacken out the audio. Piere definitely has a man crush on Mike Richards....but now he is cheating on him with Ovechkin.......

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Jim Potee Sea Isle City New Jersey — Sat, 02 May 2009 23:54:57 GMT

Not the slightest mention of Malkin.What a load of crap.Malkin's a beast, if Pittsburgh wins(doubtful)it'll be because of him.Pens dont have the goaltending to win any championship.Malkin's never going to get the respect he deserves with Crosby around.The salary cap will get the best of the Pens if egoes dont first.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Bud Cook Townsend, DE — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:45:50 GMT

I truly think Crosby is a much better and complete player than Ovechkin and being a Flyer fan, I have certainly had the opportunity to view both, Crosby is definately more of a team player and leader who will stick to the game plan, even when behind and find a way to win, the only reson that the Caps are still playing is that the Rangers took their foot off of their throats. The Pens play in a division where four of the five teams in the division are playoff teams, who is in the Southeast???? Crosby and or Malkin would score 60 goals playing against that division on a regular basis. Sorry Caps fans, certainly not trying to offend you but can you say overrated???

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

pippy took — Sun, 10 May 2009 02:23:48 GMT

ovechkins hit on gonchar illustrates the difference between him and crosby or malkin, he should have been suspended for at least a game. it was obvious he tried for the knee, what a classless piece of crap he has shown himself to be, scoring goals is but one part of the game, time will tell the story of these future nhl hall of famers but the true measure of a great player is championships at the end of the day alex the wannabe will not match what crosby malkin and fluery will achieve

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Steve Harmanos, Exeter, PA — Sun, 10 May 2009 17:27:09 GMT

Ovechkin is one of the dirtiest playing big names in the game. Somebody is going to take him dopwn in one of these games.

Ovechkin, not Crosby, NHL's true king

Chris, Chambersburg, PA — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:37:02 GMT

Sorry guys, but I've got to agree with Mark from NM. If you're talking best overall player the award goes hands down to Pavel Datsuk (with the possible steel by Nick Lidstrom) Ovie is argueably the most dynamic goal scorer, with Sid and Malkin up there also, but overall I'd take Datsuk anyday